Spiritual Accompaniment
An Introductory Course
APR – NOV 2014
April 2nd
May 14th, 21st
June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
July 2nd
October 1st, 8th, 15th,
November 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Led by: Sylvia Griffiths, Jean Sims, Chris Ellis,
Tim Pownall-Jones
Venue: St Martin’s Church, Sherwood
More info and application forms available in SeptemberInterviews in the New Year
Good preparation for this course would be to participant in the
“Finding Direction in Prayer Course”, details available from
Are you finding that people come to you for help in deepening their relationship with God?
-Do you sense a call to the ministry of Spiritual Direction?
-Are you accompanying others in their faith journey and wish to develop the ministry?
This course is an experiential course for both lay and ordained, exploring the basics of listening, accompanying others and supervision.
The key elements to the programme are:
-Personal prayer and reflection using different approaches to prayer
-listening to one another in small groups and developing the ability to respond appropriately.
-Reflection in groups on areas of learning and growth
-Teaching and exploration of the significant themes in spiritual direction and accompaniment.
By the end of the course, the participants will have:
-Explored the relationship between personality, temperament and ways of praying and Christian maturing, and be able to apply these insights to the lives of others.
-Studied and reflected on the varied expressions and understanding of ministry within scripture and church history.
-Grown in self awareness and discernment on their own life journey as an essential precondition for travelling alongside others.
The course consists of a half day introductory session, 14 one-day sessions and a 4-day residential retreat. The one-day sessions begin at 9.45 and finish at 3.30.
The dates are as follows:
Wednesdays April 2nd
May 14th, 21st
June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
July 2nd
October 1st, 8th, 15th,
November 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
The retreat will take place at Launde Abbey from the evening of September 16th to the morning of Friday 19th. This is an integral part of the course.
The Course leaders:
Sylvia Griffiths is vicar ofSt Martin’s Sherwood. She was trained in Spiritual Direction at St Beuno’s in North Wales and has led the Spiritual Direction Training Course within the Diocese over the last few years. She has also led courses on Prayer, Weeks of Guided Prayer and Quiet Days. She is a member of the Spirituality Group.
Jean Sims trained in Spiritual Direction in Sheffield Diocese and the Llysfasi workshop. She is a member of the Diocesan Spirituality Group and has led courses on prayer, quiet days and a residential creative retreat. She particularly enjoys using creativity in prayer.
Chris Ellisis the Baptist Minister of West Bridgford Baptist Church and an author. He has been a University lecturer in Worship and Spirituality. He trained in Spiritual Direction on the Oxford Spider Course and regularly accompanies people on their spiritual journey.
Tim Pownall-Jones is an Associate Priest working in the North of the Diocese. He is qualified in Counselling and Spiritual Direction. He designed and teaches the Diocesan Course, ‘Journeying Deeper in Faith.’ He also teaches Biblical interpretation to Readers and Ordinands.
Those attending the course from within the Diocese will receive a subsidy from the Diocesan budget and therefore will be expected to offer £450 if non-ordained and £400 if ordained. The cost of the course is £600 for those attending from outside the Diocese.
For more information and Application Forms please write to:
The RevdCanon DrNigelRooms
Department for Development
Jubilee House
Westgate
SOUTHWELL
NG25 0JH
E-mail:
Closing date for applications - January 12th 2014
This is part of the Southwell and Nottingham Spirituality Group