Emmaus Certificate in Formational Leadership
Equipping Spiritual Leaders to serve from the depths of a listening heart...
The Emmaus Certificate in Formational Leadership is a two-year program for leaders who desire ever-deepening attentiveness to the presence of God, and to God’s promptings within and around them. This formative training is for those who appreciate they need to be more attuned to God, to their own souls, and to the people they seek to serve.
Given responsibility to lead a nation, Solomon was invited by God in a dream to ask for one thing. He asked, literally, for a hearing or listening heart, translated as an “understanding” heart. 1 Kings 3:9 (NASB). Being in possession of a listening heart is a singular gift for those who serve in the Kingdom of God.
Our Emmaus program is designed with an emphasis on equipping spiritual leaders to listen, and consequently, to be agents of increasing transformation in their own leadership contexts.
Each retreat provides a spiritually enriching environment for ongoing encouragement and growth in the spiritual life, in discernment and renewal. It is our hope that by engaging with one another in unhurried, reflective and contemplative ways, we will develop a lifestyle of spiritual formation that will impact both our personal walk of intimacy with Christ and inform our influence as leaders in our ministry contexts.
The Certificate program includes:
- Six thematic retreats over a two-year period
- Spiritually formative leadership curricula
- Community-based learning and interaction
- One-on-one mentoring and spiritual companioning
- Reading and reflection assignments
See the full Certificate in Formational Leadership requirements here.

And We Will Foster a Lifestyle of Formation, Discernment and Renewal
- A listening community of sacred companions
- State of soul sharing that serves as our re-introduction to one another each retreat
- Scripture, prayer and reflective disciplines
- Developing a personal Rule of Life as a foundation for discipleship that is empowered by the Holy Spirit
- Worship times as a community
- Spacious times of silence and solitude for prayer, Scripture reading, personal reflection, a walk in the woods or perhaps a nap
- Spiritual direction opportunities
- Teaching on spiritual formation and leadership topics relevant to the retreat theme
- Contemplative practices to deepen and enrich your soul
- Community listening to enhance listening skills and an awareness of your true self in Christ
- Collegial learning that will impact your leadership perspectives
- Confidence as a spiritual leader, following the example of Jesus
- Courage to lead as a change agent, practicing ways to humbly and graciously serve others in transformations of their own
- Conviction to lead as a discernment-based decision-maker
- Hospitality and facilitation for six retreats over a two-year period
- Training, teaching, worship times, practical resources, and a contemplative community in which you will be equipped to grow in formational leadership
- Mentoring and spiritual companionship between each retreat as you explore ways to apply what you’re learning in your ministry setting
Emmaus offers a robust non-degree continuing education opportunity for pastors, chaplains, ministry leaders and all those in vocational ministry settings. Participants will receive encouragement in their personal and spiritual growth, leadership development, instruction in spiritual formation and soul care, as well as experiential training in skills related to listening and discernment, decision making and companioning others. Each participant will be required to create a Ministry Application Plan (MAP) which involves exploring tangible ways of bringing the benefits of the Emmaus program into their own ministry settings.
“Take care how you listen.”
Words of Jesus to his disciples from Luke 8
Application Process & Tuition
Fill out and submit the online application along with a $50 application fee.
Tuition: $4,900 for the RETREAT BASED two-year certification program, and $2,700 for the ONLINE two-year certification program. $250 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance to either program. A monthly payment plan is available as well as limited scholarship aid. Contact Jeremy Stefano at Jeremy@ltinc.org.
Cost includes materials and instruction, plus personal mentoring, as well as overnight lodging and meals if in the retreat setting. Each participant is responsible to acquire approximately six books per year.
Retreat Locations & Dates
2021-2023 Cohort
- Retreat 1: Spiritual Formation
Sep 30-Oct 1, 2021 - Retreat 2: Spiritual Practices
Dec 16-17, 2021 - Retreat 3: Spiritual Rest
May 5-6, 2022 - Retreat 4: Spiritual Leadership
Sep 15-16, 2022 - Retreat 5: Spiritual Discernment
Dec 8-9, 2022 - Retreat 6: Spiritual Community
Apr 20-21, 2023
2020-2022 Cohort
- Retreat 1: Spiritual Formation
Sep 17-18, 2020 - Retreat 2: Spiritual Practices
Dec 10-11, 2020 - Retreat 3: Spiritual Rest
Apr 15-16, 2021 - Retreat 4: Spiritual Leadership
Sep 16-17, 2021 - Retreat 5: Spiritual Discernment
Dec 9-10, 2021 - Retreat 6: Spiritual Community
Apr 21-22, 2022
Due to COVID-19 we are not planning to offer a retreat based Emmaus in Massachusetts this fall. Please check back for details about an in-person, retreat based Emmaus for the fall of 2022.
Emmaus Cohorts
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