Program Overview

The Pneuma Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Leadership provides study, skill building, and practical integration focusing on:

• Scripture and theology as they relate to the Spiritual Exercises and the ministry of spiritual direction and spiritual leadership;
• spirituality, particularly methods of prayer, personal, and corporate discernment, and models of growth in Christian maturity;
• ministry design for effective spiritual leadership and creatively adapting the Spiritual Exercises to various contexts for groups.

Pneuma is transitioning into becoming Pneuma Institute, an independent organization with cooperative affiliations with various academic and pastoral institutions in the Pittsburgh area. Pneuma Institute will continue the two year Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction and Leadership, offering three residential class sessions each year (see schedule for dates), each three to five days in duration with online learning opportunities between class sessions. Residential class sessions will be held at at Martina Spiritual Renewal Center.

Year One

Participants meet for presentations, discussion of required reading, and small group practice of spiritual direction and development of leadership skills in spiritual formation. Course material is taught by the director of the program along withguest lecturers, workshop leaders, and small group facilitators who provide additional instruction and resources for learning and skill building. In late spring, participants engage in discernment interviews prior to continuing into year two and select their specializations among five options: Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Leadership, Spiritual Direction and Leadership, Direction of Ignatian Spiritual Exercises with Individuals, or Direction of Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in Congregations or Small Groups. Spiritual Direction emphasizes ministry with individuals and small groups while Spiritual Leadership emphasizes ministry with larger groups and institutions such as congregations, judicatories, non-profits, or corporations. Participants develop a plan for their internship in consultation with the program director and their supervisor. All supervisors must be approved by the Director of Pneuma Institute. Supervisors are expected to engage in ongoing assessment of students as well as the Spiritual Direction and Leadership Program through established program evaluative forms and procedures and periodic supervisory meetings of supervisors.

Year Two

Participants engage in their Internships with ongoing assessments during their second year. In addition, participants meet for three residential class sessions of the same duration as for Year One. Certificates in the chosen area of concentration will be given upon completion of all requirements of the Pneuma Institute program and the discernment of readiness for this particular ministry by the leadership team of the program.