Selah: Certificate in Spiritual Direction
Become a spiritual director
The Selah Certificate in Spiritual Direction is a two-year training program for those seeking to become a spiritual director. It is a program, a ministry, and a way of being that invites us, in community with one another, to pause and attend to the presence and communion of God.
Our curriculum is designed to nurture each participant in two main areas: a foundational understanding of the theology of spiritual formation (through faculty teaching during retreat residencies, and reading and reflection assignments in between residencies), and the central practice of spiritual direction (through small group experiences in retreat residencies, and individual experiences of offering spiritual direction and reflecting on it with a Selah faculty supervisor in between residencies).
Greetings, friend in Christ!
Welcome to Selah ~ a program, a ministry, and a way of being with God that we offer in spiritual direction. Spiritual direction is a gift that’s nurtured more than a skill that’s taught. Thus Selah (the program) and selah (the Hebrew word occurring in the psalms) craft a space for nurturing the holy mystery of what happens when we pause reflectively, in listening attentiveness to God. While everyone can grow in this awareness, we believe that God calls some among us to a deeper ministry of spiritual attentiveness and companionship, and we’d like to nurture that gift within you!
If, after reading through the details below (see also the links to “Details” on the right-hand side of the page below), you have further questions, please email admin@leadershiptransformations.org.
In Christ’s Grace,
Susan Currie
Director of Selah
Selah Spiritual Direction Introduction
In this threefold context, Selah trains and equips you to become a spiritual director. We grow from the wisdom and experience of the Church, through readings in the classics of spiritual formation, and through the learned practice of spiritual direction together. Selah is:
TRINITARIAN IN THEOLOGY
paying attention to how God the Father is actively shaping a person's life through the Holy Spirit in ways that form them ever more deeply into the image of Christ.
CONTEMPLATIVE IN NATURE
characterized by an attentive resting in Christ's presence in the direction time, noticing the movement and activity of the Holy Spirit.
BIBLICAL IN GROUNDING
drawing our understanding of God and his ways from the Scriptures.
What is Spiritual Direction?
For more information about spiritual direction, listen to Steve Macchia and Susan Currie, Director of Selah – LTI’s Certificate in Spiritual Direction training program, discuss spiritual direction in Episode 5 – “Spiritual Direction” of Season 13: Discerning God in Friendship and Direction of The Discerning Leader Podcast:
SELAH DETAILS
Please check out the Selah Details below, which will give you a fuller idea of who we are and what it’s like to be part of our Selah community.
Selah Application Process & Tuition
For information about the application process, please click on the Selah cohort you are interested in applying for below.
Selah-East, Selah-West, and Selah-Anglican currently are interviewing applicants from a nearly full applicant pool; any new applications that arrive will be placed in a “Deferred Application” folder, and we will contact you if, after interviewing those who’ve already applied, we find that we have room to interview additional applicants.
Selah-Europe is still receiving applications, and we welcome your interest there. Note that first consideration will be given to those who live and serve outside of North America, or who have international ministry and missions experience; other applicants from within North America will be considered if there’s room in the cohort. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews offered to qualified applicants by the end of the calendar year.
Tuition & Fees:
- $50 application fee (due with online application)
- $690 deposit, due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
- $7,740 tuition* (covers all program costs, Residency retreat center room & board, 2-year Supervision oversight; does not cover travel or books)
* Tuition cost does not include deposit.
Tuition Payment Options
- Pay $7,740 tuition in full
- Optional Payment Plan: $7,740 tuition is payable in 20 monthly installments of $391.50 each month or 5 installments of $1,552.50 each, automatically charged to a major credit card
All payment dates will be communicated upon acceptance. Students are responsible for their own book purchases and travel arrangements.
Selah-East is no longer receiving new applications, and we will be starting a Waiting List even from some of those who’ve already applied. Any new Selah-East applications that come in will be held in a “Deferred Application” file, and we will let you know if places open up for consideration this year; otherwise we’ll get back in touch with you at the start of next year’s application season and ask you to reapply then. We will credit any application fees from applications not considered this year to next year’s process.
If you would like to check in about this year’s Waiting List or Deferred Application process, please contact James Hauptman at: admin@leadershiptransformations.org.
Note that the curriculum is identical between cohorts, with a faculty team that plans together across cohort communities; the primary differences between Selah communities is the dates of the Residencies, followed by the landscape of the retreat centers (all are beautiful!)!
The 2025-2027 cohort details are available on the “Selah-East & Selah-West — Details” link to the right, along with the 2025-2027 Application Form.
Tuition & Fees:
- $50 application fee (due with online application)
- $690 deposit, due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
- $7,740 tuition* (covers all program costs, Residency retreat center room & board, 2-year Supervision oversight; does not cover travel or books)
Tuition Payment Options
- Pay $7,740 tuition in full
- Optional Payment Plan: $7,740 tuition is payable in 20 monthly installments of $391.50 each month or 5 installments of $1,552.50 each, automatically charged to a major credit card
All payment dates will be communicated upon acceptance. Students are responsible for their own book purchases and travel arrangements.
Tuition & Fees:
- $50 application fee (due with online application)
- $690 deposit, due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
- $6,190 tuition* (covers all program costs, Residency retreat center room & board, 2-year Supervision oversight; does not cover travel or books)
* Tuition cost does not include deposit.
Tuition Payment Options
- Pay $6,190 tuition in full
- Optional Payment Plan: $6,190 tuition is payable in 20 monthly installments of $314 each month or 5 installments of $1,242.50 each, automatically charged to a major credit card
All payment dates will be communicated upon acceptance. Students are responsible for their own book purchases and travel arrangements.
The application season for all 2025-2027 cohorts (Selah-West, Selah-East, Selah-Anglican, and Selah-Europe) will open on September 3, 2024. At that time we will post tuition package details, and links to the 2025-2027 Application Form.
We will accept applications through October, and offer interviews to qualified applicants in November and December.
In the meantime, you’ll find general details from last year’s process (as to program intent, curriculum, Residency model, and desired applicant qualifications) by reading the links to the right of this page (see “Selah-East & Selah-West Details,” “Selah-Anglican Details,” “Selah-Europe Details”).
The Orientation Residencies for Selah-West, Selah-Anglican, and Selah-East are scheduled for spring 2025, and for Selah-Europe in September 2025. See below for the full 2-year sets of Residency dates for each cohort.
If you wish to be notified directly when our application seasons open, please click here.
If you have further questions about any of our cohorts or if after reading the “Details” links, you have any early stage questions, please email us at admin@leadershiptransformations.org
Selah Residency Model: Locations & Dates
2025-2027 Cohort
All residencies are held at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, AZ- April 7-10, 2025 (Mon-Thurs)
- Oct 7-10, 2025 (Tues-Fri)
- March 18-21, 2026 (Wed-Sat)
- Oct 6-9, 2026 (Tues-Fri)
- March 9-12, 2027 (Tues-Fri)
2024-2026 Cohort
All residencies are held at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, AZ
- Apr 22-25, 2024 (Mon-Thurs)
- Sept 30-Oct 3, 2024 (Mon-Thurs)
- April 3-6, 2025 (Thurs-Sun)
- Oct 7-10, 2025 (Tues-Fri)
- March 18-21, 2026 (Wed-Sat)
2023-2025 Cohort
All residencies are held at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, AZ
- Apr 23-26, 2023 (Sun-Wed)
- Oct 6-9, 2023 (Fri-Mon)
- Apr 18-21, 2024 (Thurs-Sun)
- Sept 30-Oct 3, 2024 (Mon-Thurs)
- April 3-6, 2025 (Thurs-Sun)
2025-2027 Cohort
All residencies are held at St. Francis Springs, NC
- May 1-4, 2025 (Thurs-Sun)
- Oct 21-24, 2025 (Tues-Fri)
- May 12-15, 2026 (Tues-Fri)
- Nov 17-20, 2026 (Tues-Fri)
- May 20-23, 2027 (Thurs-Sun)
2024-2026 Cohort
All residencies are held at St. Francis Springs, NC
- May 21-24, 2024 (Tues-Fri)
- Nov 6-9, 2024 (Wed-Sat)
- Apr 27-Apr 30, 2025 (Sun-Wed)
- Oct 21-24, 2025 (Tues-Fri)
- May 12-15, 2026 (Tues-Fri)
2023-2025 Cohort
All residencies are held at St. Francis Springs, NC
- June 22-25, 2023 (Thurs-Sun)
- Oct 23-26, 2023 (Mon-Thurs)
- May 17-20,2024 (Fri-Mon)
- Nov 6-9, 2024 (Wed-Sat)
- Apr 27-30, 2025 (Sun-Wed)
2025-2027 Cohort
All residencies are held at St. Francis Springs, NC- March 13-16, 2025 (Thurs-Sun)
- Oct 14-17, 2025 (Tues-Fri)
- April 13-16, 2026 (Mon-Thurs)
- Oct 19-22, 2026 (Mon-Thurs)
- April 8-11, 2027 (Thurs-Sun)
2024-2026 Cohort
All residencies are held at St. Francis Springs, NC
- April 8-11, 2024 (Mon-Thurs)
- Oct 21-24, 2024 (Mon-Thurs)
- March 9-12, 2025 (Sun-Wed)
- Oct 14-17, 2025 (Tues-Fri)
- April 13-16, 2026 (Mon-Thurs)
2023-2025 Cohort
All residencies are held at St. Francis Springs, NC
- March 12-15, 2023 (Sun-Wed)
- Oct 19-22, 2023 (Thurs-Sun)
- April 4-7, 2024 (Thurs-Sun)
- October 21-24, 2024 (Mon-Thurs)
- Mar 9-12, 2025 (Sun-Wed)
2025-2027 Cohort
All in-person residencies are held at St. Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland.
- Sept 15-19, 2025 (Mon-Fri)
- Winter residency online days: tbd
- Sept 8-12, 2026 (Tues-Sat)
- Winter residency online days: tbd
- Sept 13-17, 2027 (Mon-Fri)
2023-2025 Cohort
All in-person residencies are held at St. Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland.
- Sept. 13-17, 2023 (Wed-Sun)
- Winter residency online days: tbd
- Sept. 9-13, 2024 (Mon-Fri)
- Winter residency online days: tbd
- Sept. 9-13, 2025 (Tues-Sat)