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Guided Spiritual Formation

Overview
Guided Spiritual Formation (GSF) is a sequence of four subjects ordinarily completed over four consecutive semesters. Because these subjects establish foundational practices of integrating theological study with personal spiritual life, they are best undertaken in the early stages of your course. Each subject is 3 credit points, amounting to 12 credit points in total. You should expect to spend around three hours per week for each subject. GSF is a Ridley requirement for any student who is doing a two-year or longer award.

GSF is designed to give you space to help you reflect on your own spiritual development and identity and to grow in your ministry and relationship with God; it will help you develop habits of spiritual practice and theological reflection that will enable you to pursue ongoing spiritual formation throughout your life. You will be introduced to the action-reflection model of learning and will be expected to keep a journal recording your experiences and reflections. In each subject you will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of spiritual practices and reflect on these individually (in your journal and with a reflection partner) and with fellow students and faculty tutors in online discussion forums or on-campus small groups.

GSF recognises your local worshipping community as a significant context for your personal formation. Engaging with a reflection partner and gaining feedback on your formation from other members of your church expresses the partnership that exists between the college and your local worshipping community in your formation for ministry.

Please visit the timetable by clicking here for current information on subject availability.

Subject Details 

Mode Online  On-campus
Workload  Four semesters, 3 credit points per semester Four semesters, 3 credit points per semester
Status  Core (Ridley requirement) PC155 and PC156 are strongly recommended for on-campus  students and a Ridley requirement for those doing a two-year or longer degree.
Subject Code
PC155, PC156, PC157, PC158 PC155, PC156, PC157, PC158
Teacher  Graham Stanton Scott Harrower, Andrew Judd, Felicity Clift

Content
Each subject in GSF reflects on a particular theme of Christian identity and should be taken in the following order:

  • PC156 GSF – Relating to Self
  • PC155 GSF – Knowing God
  • PC157 GSF – Relating to Others
  • PC158 GSF -Relating in Ministry

Study Expectations
For  PC156 and PC155 you will be expected to have a reflection partner with whom you will meet roughly once a month during the respective semesters. For PC158 you will be expected to invite a small group of people from your church (one of whom is a member of the church leadership team) to provide you with feedback about the way you serve others. You will also be expected to keep a reflective journal. Learning materials and readings are provided online to guide you through the syllabus.

  • Online students are expected to engage in online discussions with their peers and the subject coordinator throughout each semester.
  • On-campus students meet in a small group each teaching week with two tutors.

Because of the requirement for mentoring and reflective journaling, GSF should not be undertaken concurrently with any of the Field Education subjects.

If you have questions about GSF please contact the Coordinator, Graham Stanton

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Ridley College is an affiliated college with the Australian College of Theology, CRICOS Provider Code 02650E.
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