Beyond Beginnings of Spiritual Direction 2 (DD9743Z)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This intensive unit is aimed to assist the spiritual direction student in developing their own spiritual direction practice. Students will continue exploring themes related to spiritual direction practice, in particular grief, loss and transition. A large part of the assessment for this unit is the development and evaluation of the student’s own practice exploring a specific context or aspect of spiritual direction.

Unit code: DD9743Z

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Spiritual Direction

Proposing College: Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

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Learning outcomes

1.

Reflect on implementation of the code of ethics and professional practices for spiritual directors.
2.

Articulate the essential aspects of the grief process and how these impact accompanying people experiencing grief, loss or times of transition.
3.

Critically analyse the relevance of advanced theoretical concepts for the practice of spiritual direction.
4.

Establish and evaluate own spiritual direction practice examining a specific context or aspect of spiritual direction.
.

Unit sequence

Required unit for the Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction (program 3)

Prerequisite Units: DD8740ZContemplative stance and soul care DD8741ZSpiritual Direction Praxis 1, CH8740ZHistory of Contemplative and Apophatic Spirituality, DD8743ZBeyond Beginnings of Spiritual Direction 1

Pedagogy

The unit engages students through readings, workshops, group discussions, spiritual direction practicum sessions and personal reflection. Students will also begin to develop their own spiritual direction practice as part of this unit.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bentley, Peter, and Ann Lock, eds. Companioning at the Edges: Exploring New Dimensions of Spiritual Direction in
    Australia.     Ashburton, Vic.: Wellspring Centre Inc., 2021.
  • Calvin, Bruce. “Availability and Vulnerability: A Rule for Spiritual Direction.” Presence 19.3 (September 2013), 33-39.
  • Empereur, James L. The Enneagram and Spiritual Direction: Nine Paths to Spiritual Guidance. New York: Continuum, 2001.
  • Goroncy, Jason, and Rod Pattenden, eds. Imagination in an Age of Crisis: Soundings from the Arts and Theology. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2022.
  • Lundy, Janice. “Serving Spiritual Independents: Companionship without Bias.” Presence 24.3 (September 2018), 18-25.
  • Ruffing, Janet. Spiritual Direction: Beyond the Beginnings. New York: Paulist Press, 2000.
  • Stabile, Suzanne. The Journey Toward Wholeness : Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance, and Transformation. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2021.
  • Weller, Francis. The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 2015.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Critical Review

Critically assess the implications of a specified articles

2000 30.0
Project Report or Project Journal

Detail the planning, implementation and evaluation of a spiritual direction practice.

 4500 60.0
Oral Presentation

20 min oral presentation to peers outlining the learning received from implementing their own spiritual direction practice.

 1500 10.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 09:13:45 +1000