Certificate in Spiritual Guidance of Children
Spiritual Guidance of Children
Children have a natural, deep spirituality. They know God even before stories and symbols. They need adults who can help them discover a language for their faith. General Seminary's Certificate in the Spiritual Guidance of Children program invites you to become a leader who can nurture children’s relationship with God.
This innovative program provides both academic learning and practical training for the spiritual guidance of children. The program includes academic courses in the major theological disciplines, with a focus on children’s spirituality; scholarly courses addressing the theory and history of children’s spirituality; and practicum courses conducted in learning spaces where children explore their relationship with the holy through story, wonder, silence, prayer, and play.
As someone who cares about children's spirituality, you are welcome to apply for the certificate program or simply take a course to enhance your ministry, spiritual life and relationships with children.
Summer 2012 Courses
To learn more about these courses, visit General Seminary's online registration.
The Spirituality of Children
Jerome Berryman
July 23-27, 9:00am-2:30pm
Keeping Silence with Children Practicum
Clair McPherson and K. Jeanne Person
July 23-27, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Godly Play for the Spiritual Guidance of Children, Practicum I
Jerome Berryman
July 30-August 3, 9:00am-5:00pm
Other Courses in the Program
Challenge of Children to the Church: Theology and Grace; Parables: Inviting Wonder about God; Playful Orthodoxy; Pretending Bible Stories Practicum: Embodying Texts for Memory and Meaning; Children's Literature and Spiritual Transcendence; Retreats and Quiet Days for Children and Families; Biblical Theology for the Spiritual Guidance of Children; Children's Spirituality in Worship; Children's Spirituality in Literature and Film.
Program Specifics
You must complete 18 credits to earn a Certificate of Study in the Spiritual Guidance of Children. Courses are designed in both traditional six- and 12-week formats and often in intensive weekday and weekend formats, allowing you to pursue the certificate concurrently with other commitments. Courses are taught by seminary faculty and expert scholars and ministers in the field of children's spirituality. In Summer 2012, the Spiritual Guidance of Children program is introducing a three-summer track to complete the certificate: Each summer will inlcude six credits of intensive-format courses. Beginning in Spring 2013, the seminary will hold the first course in the program, Parables: Inviting Wonder about God, to be offered online synchronously, allowing you to participate in the course fully as a distance learner.
Any course in the certificate program which you successfully completed as a non-matriculated student can count towards the requirements for your certificate, should you later decide to apply for the program. General Seminary will require that you apply for admission after you complete six credits.
Who May Pursue the Certificate?
Directors of Christian Formation
Sunday School Teachers
School Chaplains
Hospital Chaplains
Child Educators
Spiritual Directors
Parish Clergy
Seminarians
Parents, Grandparents & Godparents
Anyone Who Cares about Children's Spirituality
With inquiries about the Certificate of Study in the Spiritual Guidance of Children, or to express your interest in enrolling in the program, please contact the Rev. K. Jeanne Person, Director of the Center for Christian Spirituality, either by email or by telephone, toll-free (888) 487-5649, ext. 271, or (212) 243-5150, ext. 271.
General Seminary is grateful for its partneship with Trinity Wall Street, which graciously offers classroom space for practicum courses in Godly Play.
Partial funding for the inaugural year of the certificate program was provided by a generous grant from the William M. Wood Foundation.