Overview
The purpose of the Spiritual Formation Program
The Spiritual Formation Program at CFOT seeks to fulfill several of the aims of training as laid out in The International Orders and Regulations for the Training of Salvation Army Officers:
• To provide a disciplined Christian environment designed to foster personal growth and maturity, self-discipline, and acceptance of authority.
• To provide a programme intended to promote the spiritual development of cadets.
What is spiritual formation?
“Spiritual formation is the process whereby we grow in our ability to pay attention, the way we help form what God is doing. It involved all the ways we are being formed in the image of Christ in our inner life and outer ministry.” (Jon Ackerman, Listening to God: Spiritual Formation in Congregations. The Alban Institute, 2001.)
The Spiritual Formation Program consists of the following elements:
• A 3 credit hour course spread over the 2 years of training
• Chapel services three times a week at CFOT (required for cadets and staff; we invite DHQ staff to join us when they can; we have some joint chapels with Booth College
• Spiritual mentoring: Cadets are assigned a spiritual mentor that they meet with monthly to intentionally look at what God is doing in their lives and how they are growing spiritually
• In-Sundays (twice a year with the TC and TPWM; twice a year with the CS and TSWM; Welcome Sunday, Commissioning Family Service; 2-3 a year with CFOT staff)
• Special Occasions:
o In order to build up an ecumenical awareness cadets attend one of the services for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as well as the World Day of Prayer Service.
o In our chapel services we keep in mind the church year, observing Advent which culminates in our Candlelight Family service. We intentionally experience Lent in our chapel services from Ash Wednesday through to Holy Week with daily chapels. We would likely have either a Seder experience or Tennebrae Service on Thursday of Holy Week.
o The week prior to Covenant Day we have daily “Covenant Chapels” where staff lead cadets through reflection on the Doctrines and the Undertakings for Salvation Army Officers. This culminates in Covenant Day.
• Personal Devotions: Cadets are given tools in the Spiritual Formation course to enrich their personal devotional life. This includes various examples of devotional material. Their own devotional life would be one area of conversation for spiritual mentoring.
Spiritual Formation Course
Overall Course View
Year 1 – Fall
Introduction to the Traditional Spiritual Disciplines
Importance of Personal Devotions/ Rule of Life
Year 1 – Winter
Deepening the Disciplines (especially Scripture and Journalling)
Prayer – various types of prayer
Year 2 – Fall
Salvationist Spirituality
Called to Be God’s People
Biography of a Salvationist and their Spirituality
Year 2 – Winter
Congregational Spiritual Formation
How do I, as an officer, nurture the spiritual life of others?
Texts Used 2007-2008
Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth.
HarperSanFrancisco, 1988.
Gowans, John. Words of Life – September to December 2007.
Gowans, John. Words of Life. International Headquarters. January – April 2008.
Graybeal, Lynda L and Julia I. Roller. Prayer and Worship: A Spiritual Formation
Guide. HarperOne, 2007.
Klug, Ronald. How To Keep a Spiritual Journal. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1993.
Nouwen, Henri. Creative Ministry. Doubleday: Image Books, 2003 (revised)
Peace, Richard. Meditative Prayer: Entering God’s Presence. Colorado Springs:
NavPres, 1998.
Stanger, Frank Bateman. Spiritual Formation in the Local Congregation. Grand
Rapids: Francis Asbury Press, 1989.
Street, Robert. Called to be God’s People. London, England: International
Headquarters, 1999.
Mentoring
• What does a relationship with a spiritual mentor look like?
“It is assumed that the relationship will be spiritual. This is not meant to compartmentalize the person; nor does it mean that the entire life of the whole person is not of concern in the relationship. It simply means that the person’s relationship with life as it related to God will be the focus…” (italics have been added)
A spiritual mentor is someone with whom “we can test where we are in the spiritual journey – to get a kind of navigational fix- someone with whom we can find solace in times of great stress, check out pastoral decisions, tap for new ideas or directions…”
• The Benefits of a Spiritual Mentor
Generally, spiritual growth is more difficult if we attempt it on our own. We need support from other Christians in order to continue our spiritual growth.
The focus of this spiritual mentoring relationship includes:
1. accountability for spiritual disciplines
2. a compassionate ear to help us clarify how God is acting in our life and how we might respond
3. recommended resources that might be helpful if this seem suitable
4. prayer with us and for us.
• Possible questions to evoke conversation in meetings with a spiritual mentor:
What is God doing/saying through this event?
What is God asking of me/us in this relationship?
Is my life, as I live, a validation of my prayer as I pray it?
Is my prayer, as I pray it, an authentic challenge to my life as I live it?
• What are some dimensions of a spiritual mentor meeting?
1. Listening
2. Clarifying a person’s image of God
3. Helping people clarify their experience
4. Affirmation
5. Challenge
6. Discernment
7. Integration
8. Accountability
9. Help through the desert and darkness
10. Prayer
11. Confidentiality
In-Sundays
The term “In-Sunday” includes days which were previously designated as “Spiritual Days.”
Presently, In-Sundays consist of the following:
• twice a year with the TC and TPWM
• twice a year with the CS and TSWM
• Welcome Sunday Family Service
• Commissioning Family Service
• 2-3 Sundays a year with CFOT staff
For the year 2007 – 2008, due to a small staff with multiple responsibilities, we experimented with cadet groups working with a CFOT officer to plan the morning and evening worship experiences on In-Sundays. They worked with the theme provided by the guest. We experienced some wonderfully creative and rich times of worship.
Chapels
Chapels are held three days a week. Although there are occasional variations in scheduling due to special guests and observances, there has generally been a themed approach to the various weekly chapels:
Monday: EXPERIENCE
This is my Story
Field Practicum Sharing
Guests
Sessional/Staff Chapels
Wednesday: SCRIPTURE
These chapels will be based on assigned texts from the lectionary, Words of Life, etc.
They will also reflect the Church Year.
The assigned Leader will preach from the text as well as design a related service of worship. Creativity is encouraged. Leaders will need to work with the assigned musical support unless other arrangements are made.
Friday: TRADITION
Intercessory Chapels
Salvation Army Guests
Reflection on SA Resources like Salvation Army Songs
