History of the Program in Christian Spirituality

The formal history of the PCS begins in 1979, when author Dr. Morton Kelsey approached Margaret Veneman (then Director of Continuing Education) and SFTS Professor Roy Fairchild with a proposal for a program to train pastors and therapists in spiritual direction according to the vision articulated in his book, Companions on the Inner Way. The SFTS Board of Trustees accepted a multi-year gift from Robert and Betty Buffam of San Diego towards the funding of Dr. Kelsey’s proposal, named Dr. Fairchild as Professor of Spiritual Life and Psychology, and affirmed the creation of the Center for Christian Spiritual Disciplines (CCSD), as the Program was then named. Dr. Fairchild introduced spiritual direction to the campus and encouraged students in the “faithful friendship” model. Dr. Fairchild also offered courses in the area of spirituality and psychology within the MDiv curriculum.

Another significant influence in the establishment of the PCS was the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Howard Rice, SFTS Chaplain and Professor of Ministry from 1969-1997. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Dr. Rice organized retreat opportunities at SFTS for students and local clergy. He also collaborated with Drs. Kelsey and Fairchild in launching “Companions on the Inner Way”—an annual series of lectures and guided retreats on themes of Christian spirituality. In 1991, Dr. Rice published Reformed Spirituality: An Introduction for Believers (with an introduction by Dr. Kelsey) and in 1998, The Pastor as Spiritual Guide.

In 1985 the seminary committed itself to a faculty position in Christian Spirituality and to an ongoing program, which it renamed the Program in Christian Spirituality (PCS) . In 1987, Dr. Elizabeth Liebert was named the new Professor of Spiritual Life and Director of the Program in Christian Spirituality.

In the early years of Dr. Liebert’s leadership, she set a priority to broaden services to MDiv students while continuing outreach to the church community through conferences and retreats. Discussions also began about establishing spiritual direction as a regular service to SFTS students and the larger community through the Lloyd Center for Pastoral Counseling. Such service began in 1989 and presently continues at the Lloyd Center.

Dr. Liebert continued to develop and offer a range of courses for MDiv students. In the Spring Semester 1992, the first MDiv students were accepted into the MDiv Concentration in Christian Spirituality. More than 100 MDiv students have completed the requirements for the Concentration since its first graduates.

The founding vision for the PCS moved another step forward with the inauguration of a spirituality emphasis in the Doctor of Ministry degree. This emphasis treats spiritual formation and guidance as an important aspect of congregational ministry. The first spirituality emphasis group convened in 1990.

A significant donation enabled the PCS to take another important step, establishing a program for the preparation of persons for the ministry of spiritual direction. After a year of group discernment and planning, the Certificate in the Art of Spiritual Direction admitted its first students in January 1994, under the directorship of Dr. Andrew Dreitcer. In 1995, the Certificate in Spiritual Formation Studies, also under the directorship of Dr. Dreitcer, began serving a group of Korean-American pastors in the Bay Area. Its constituency has subsequently broadened to include all those who wish an in-depth focus on Christian spirituality, either standing alone or in conjunction with another seminary degree.

During this same period, the PCS at SFTS began to sponsor and house the Lilly Endowment-funded research of Mark Yaconelli (DASD 1997) named the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project. This project sought to reinterpret and introduce various classic Christian practices to church youth and their leaders, and has resulted in the spiritual renewal of young people, youth leaders, and congregations across the country. The insights of Mr. Yaconelli and the YMSP have been published in numerous magazines and journals, as well as in his books, Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (2006) and Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry (2007).

In 1999, Certificates were renamed Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction and Diploma in Spiritual Formation Studies in order to further clarify the status of these two advanced programs as graduate-level and credit-bearing—essentially half a master’s degree whose course work may stand alone or be transferred into the Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, or equivalent degrees in other institutions. In 1995, the first students began to combine their work in the DASD with the DMin, and this dual program continues today. Dr. Kelsey’s original vision—the preparation of clergy for specialized ministry in spiritual direction—was finally a reality, but in the process a much broader program, touching many other constituencies, also flourished.

In recent years the PCS has continued to deepen its base within the seminary. In 2000, Dr. Mary Rose Bumpus, then Interim Director of the Diploma Programs, became Director of the Program in Christian Spirituality and Visiting Professor of Christian Spirituality. The addition of this second faculty position at the San Anselmo campus significantly strengthened the ability of the PCS to assist with the spiritual formation of MDiv students. In recognition of the importance of spiritual formation in ministry preparation, a spiritual formation component has now been added to the MDiv curriculum.

In 2004, the signature program of the PCS, Companions on the Inner Way, moved to its new home at Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. SFTS continues to co-sponsor these well-loved retreats, and Joan Currey (DASD 1996) continues as its director.

From July 2004 to March 2006, the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Langer assumed the position of Interim Director of the PCS and Visiting Faculty in Christian Spirituality. In April 2006, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Hamilton-Poore (DASD 1998) became the Director of the PCS and Assistant Professor in Christian Spirituality. Dr. Langer continues to serve the DASD as Director of the Supervised Practice of Spiritual Direction, and Deborah Arca Mooney is Program Manager for the PCS.

In 2007, the Rev. Jackie Leonard, a Trustee of SFTS, made a first gift to seminary toward the establishment of the Rice Family Chair in Christian Spirituality. In making this gift, Rev. Leonard sought to honor Howard and Nancy Rice, the late Rev. Wendy Rice Dreitcer and her husband, Dr. Andrew Dreitcer, and their longstanding contributions to the spiritual nurture of students, church leaders, and congregations.

The PCS is poised to continue its growth as it enters its third decade. In addition to strengthening its existing programs, the PCS seeks to be open to new avenues for service to SFTS and beyond. Plans are now coming together for the PCS to sponsor a training program for supervisors of spiritual directors [www.togetherinthemystery.org], and will offer in July 2008 a lectionary planning workshop-retreat for preachers co-led by Dr. Hamilton-Poore and Dr. Hermann Waetjen, Emeritus Professor of New Testament.

The mission statement of the PCS reads: “The Program in Christian Spirituality invites, equips, and encourages women and men to pay attention and respond to the presence of God in their own and others’ lives, the life of the church, the systems and structures of human society, and God’s unfolding creation.” We invite you to help us fulfill this mission through your participation in any of our programs, your financial support [link to Make a Gift page], or by supporting us with your prayers.