CREATIVE SPACES FOR FAITHFUL LIVING
2025 Winter/Spring Course Catalog
What can lifelong learning offer you?
Interests don’t motivate us. Unrealized needs are what encourage us to get out and learn something new. Adult learners and practitioners seek learning that will solve an immediate problem. Granted, there is not a universal continuing education program that can satisfy all the needs clergy will encounter during their vocation.
However, lifelong learning programs do offer:
• The opportunity to claim one’s calling, identity, and commitment to ministry.
• The chance to cultivate support from peer communities.
• Space to develop a rigorous theory of practice for ministry.
• Room to develop adaptive leadership.
• The freedom to explore our curiosities.
transition, the only constant is the need to learn.”
–Dr. Helen Blier Director of Lifelong Learning Columbia Theological Seminary “
The 2025 winter/spring course catalog offers creative spaces for faithful living wherever your path may lead. Delve into the following courses and programs to discern how lifelong learning fits into your vocational toolkit.
Center for Lifelong Learning www.ctsnet.edu/academics/lifelong-learning/
Where are you on the map?
In 2023-24, CLL participants came from thirty-two states and two countries: 1-5
Participant Denominational Profile
CLL participants represent more than nine faith traditions:
1 from Singapore
1 from Canada
Data Source: 2023-2024 CLL Dashboard Report
Have it your way!
Don’t let finances be a barrier to continuing education! Explore our FREE, or pay-what-you-are-able, CLL offerings, such as Women’s Work, Pastor Do You Have a Minute? and Leadership in Ministry webinars.
“
It was like having a long, cool drink of water –refreshing and energizing. I loved every minute of learning and relating to people who are my tribe.”
— Contemplative Spiritual Formation Course Participant
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY PROGRAMS
awakened from the illusions of self and circumstance, allowing you to connect
The Center for Lifelong Learning’s
Contemplative Spirituality programs are grounded in Christian spirituality, Scripture, theology, and a history of traditions. They are designed to help participants fully partake in the world and make choices rooted in their relationship with God.
Which of these programs resonates with you the most?
Certificate in Contemplative Spiritual Formation
Choose from three concentrations:
Contemplative Spirituality programs provide a space to pause, reflect, and connect with the Divine in everyday life. You can discover meaningful formation that employs your entire being, cultivating an increased awareness of your true self while nurturing inner and outward peace.
General: Enrich your spiritual insights and growth through diverse courses of your choosing.
Spirituality in the Second Half of Life:
Whether you are entering this phase or supporting others on this journey, discover a profound spiritual outlook and tools to navigate life’s second half.
Contemplative Living: Are you drawn to the contemplative dimension of Christian teachings and practices? Experience everyday life as prayer by integrating spiritual practices into daily activities.
Certificate in Contemplative Spiritual Direction
Sensing a call to accompany others on their spiritual path through compassionate listening? The Contemplative Spiritual Direction program focuses on spiritual formation and experiential learning, complemented by individual and group supervision.
The deadline to apply for the next cohort is May 1, 2025. Visit https://qrco.de/SDApp2425 to apply.
NEW
Certificate in Contemplative Prayer Retreat Facilitation
Become a facilitator of lifegiving prayer retreat experiences by receiving step-by-step mentoring to help others engage in God’s presence. Thomas Keating’s teachings on the Centering Prayer Method, Human Condition, and other contemplative practices form the foundations of this certificate.
January-April 2025
Contemplative Living II: Daily Life as Prayer ONLINE
Contemplative Living I is a prerequiste for CLII. Contemplative Living II (CL II) directs its focus towards fostering greater intentionality in your daily living. In this course, you will learn practices like forgiveness, prayer, and discernment to assess where you are in your life and embrace the practice of living each day as a form of prayer.
With: Julie Saad
Program Fee: $700
February 4-25, 2025
God beyond God: Meister Eckhart’s Radical Vision of Freeing Faith ONLINE
In one of his sermons, Thomas Eckhart (ca. 1260 – 1328) claimed that we must “take leave of God for the sake of God.” To find God or to formulate
an idea of God, we must abandon normative thinking and see “God beyond God.” If silence intrigues yet puzzles you, this course may be for you.
With: Mark S. Burrows Program Fee: $210
April 21-25, 2025
Contemplative Retreat: Five-day
Centering Prayer Intensive / Post Intensive Retreat
Centering Prayer Practitioners get the opportunity to deepen their contemplative journey in the contemporary world through a fiveday, intensive retreat experience. The retreat integrates contemplation and action through silence, solitude, and community, and is best suited for those who have practiced Centering Prayer for at least four months.
Program Fee: $700
Need help discerning if these courses are right for you? Email Rev. Sharon Junn (junns@ ctsnet.edu), Associate Director of Contemplative Spirituality Programs and trained Spiritual Director for a consultation. For complete program details fees and to register for spirituality courses and programs, visit https://qrco.de/ CLLSpiritualityPrograms. @SpiritualityatCTSeminary
100% of us have been called to do God’s work in the world, and 100% of us have the gifts to do that work. Where do you go to discern and cultivate your call?”
— Dr. Helen Blier Director of Center for Lifelong Learning
CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Whether you want to broaden your knowledge on the state of clergy mental health or explore the countless contributions from clergywomen to the Church, these practical, post-graduate courses offer unique opportunities to remain a lifelong learner.
Which of our upcoming offerings speak to you?
February 13, and March 13, 2025
Women’s Work ONLINE
Join us for the opportunity to spend time centering down with inspiring women whose wisdom will help you reacquaint yourself with your work, your sense of self, and that which is asked of you.
With: Chanequa Walker-Barnes, Mai-Anh Le Tran, Eileen Campbell
Reed, Christine Yoder, and Carrie Newcomer.
Program Fee: Pay what you can.
January 15, 22 and 29, 2025
Pastor, Do You Have a Minute? Mental Health and Ministry ONLINE
Join us for this synchronous webinar lunchtime series for ministers to refresh your pastoral care knowledge and learn new insights to provide compassionate and appropriate care in your ministry setting.
With: James Lamkin, Joanne Spence, and Shavon Starling-Louis
Program Fee: Pay what you can.
Suggested: $50
January 20- February 28, 2025
Teaching for Transformation with Older Adults ONLINE
Teaching and learning methods that enhance engagement in, and ownership of, the learning process are as important for older adults as they are for all ages. This course will explore learning styles, examine effective teaching methods, explore current teaching-learning theories, and practice their adaptation for older adults.
With: Joyce MacKichan Walker Program Fee: $265
March 2 – April 11, 2025
Zen for Christians ONLINE
Discover introductory teachings and meditative practices from Zen Buddhism, addressing interests particular to Christians. You’ll learn basic Buddhist teachings and reflect
on the similarities and differences between Zen meditation and Christian contemplative prayer.
With: Kim Boykin
Program Fee: $220
April 1-8, 2025
Sea Kayaking and Camping in the Bahamas
Enjoy time for education, conversation, and reflection on important questions about how to live more deliberately in a wild, beautiful, and fragile world being reshaped by climate change and how such deliberate living might shape disciplines that we can carry back into our lives upon our return. For more information, please contact Mark Douglas at DouglasM@ctsnet. edu or 404-668-1282.
August 4-6, 2025
PW/Horizons Bible In-Person
Leader Seminar
Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ with the Rev. Dr. Rhashell Hunter.
Program Fee: $250
For full program details, and fees and to register for spirituality courses and programs, visit https://qrco.de/CLLConEdPrograms.
The relationships of trust and learning that are created at LIM, have made space to risk trying new ways of functioning that change interpersonal dynamics. The candor and intelligence of our conversations are rich gifts.”
— An Episcopal Priest and LIM Participant
PASTORAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS
Ministry is hard and getting harder.
The support of peers can uplift the often-strenuous work clergy encounter during their vocation. The Pastoral Excellence Programs of the Center for Lifelong Learning offer two peeroriented professional development programs for clergy: Ministering to Ministers and Leadership in Ministry (LIM) Workshops.
Wounded Ministers Retreats
As a Ministering to Ministers program, Wounded Ministers Retreats help clergy and their spouses experience help, hope, and renewal after a forced termination. When a minister is involuntarily separated from a church, both the minister and the church are damaged. The clergy retreat provides spiritual, emotional, and
vocational support for ministers from all faith groups. It is also open to those encountering congregational conflict that may lead to dismissal. The retreat costs $100 for a single participant OR $150 for couples. It is offered multiple times throughout the year at various locations.
May 19-22, 2025 Montreat, NC
Location: William Black Lodge
Leadership In Ministry Workshops
Explore how Bowen Family Systems
Theory can help leaders like you apply its concepts to your ministry context.
Bowen Theory offers a way of thinking that affects every aspect of leadership in ministry and organizations. It focuses on leadership through differentiation
of self to impact administration, supervision, change, and other leadership functions. Participants can attend LIM workshops in person at three locations across the country and virtually for those who cannot meet inperson. Free, monthly webinars are also available for those interested in systems theory but don’t want to register for an entire cohort.
The program fee is $880 for spring and fall sessions, $528 for a single session. Housing and meal pricing vary depending on location. Financial aid is available for all locations.
LIM Faculty
Andrew Archie, Elaine Boomer, Michael Cook, Vanessa Roulette Ellison, Israel Galindo, Meg Hess, Skip Johnson, Julie Josund, Lance King, Dan Koger, James Lamkin, Rebecca Maccini, Margaret Marcuson, Bill Pyle, and Carla Toenniessen
For full Pastoral Excellence Program details, fees and to register, visit https:// qrco.de/beFVsG.
Leadership in Ministry Workshop Schedule
ATLANTA, GA
March 17-19, 2025
November 10-12, 2025
Leadership in Ministry ONLINE
The online cohort of the Leadership in Ministry program runs February
1-May 30 and September 1November 28, 2025. Participants will negotiate meeting times with their cohort and faculty coach.
RICHMOND, VA
March 17-19, 2025
September 15-17, 2025
BOSTON, MA
May 5-7, 2025
September 29-October 1, 2025
FREE Leadership in Ministry Webinars
January 10, 2025
“Blast from the Past”
With: Rebecca Maccini
February 14, 2025
“The Burden of Multigenerational Trauma”
With: Meg Hess
March 14, 2025
“Writing and Self”
With: Margaret Marcuson
April 25, 2025
“Going Home Again”
With: Joel Alvis
701 S. Columbia Drive
Decatur, GA 30030
Winter 2025
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY PROGRAMS
CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
PASTORAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS
ctsnet.edu/academics/lifelong-learning