Holy Listening is a two year course which includes teaching, prayer exercises and group practice. Between the monthly gatherings students are encouraged to undertake further reading, exploration of different spiritual traditions, and in the second year to develop some experience of offering spiritual direction to others.

Previous students have described the course as transformative, life-giving, a gift, a unique experience, and a joy. But it requires a high level of commitment, and a willingness to be open to God, to ourselves, and to other people to an extraordinary degree.

Holy Listening is also strongly focused on training spiritual directors. It is not primarily a course on Christian spirituality, nor a means for us to grow our own spiritual lives, although both these are part of the experience. We’re looking for students who are looking seriously towards offering this ministry in the wider church and society.

We encourage potential applicants to engage in a process of discernment, asking themselves and God whether they are called to this course.

• Do you sense that God is calling you to a ministry of spiritual direction? This basic sense of calling may come through hearing God’s gentle whisper, through a ‘nudge’ of the Spirit, through conversations with others, or through a sense of being strongly drawn in a particular direction.
• Do others recognise and share that sense of calling too? Fellow Christians, friends, family members or other significant people in your life?
• Do you recognise the qualities of a spiritual director in yourself? Good spiritual directors are people who are prayerful, ready to listen, empathetic, self-aware, humble, willing to learn, and open to the wide variety of people’s lives and experience. Do others see this in you too?
• Do you have a church or Christian community who will be willing to support you prayerfully and practically through your training and encourage you as you develop your ministry as a spiritual director?

If the answer to these questions is yes, we encourage you to apply for a place on Holy Listening. We’ll work with you to continue that process of discernment – a process which continues right through the course.

Holy Listening begins with an orientation day in January which explores the nature of spiritual direction, the skills and commitments it implies, the structure of the Holy Listening course, and the process of assessment with which the course concludes; there is also an opportunity to answer student questions.

The main body of the course is taught over four semesters (two years) with four all-day sessions per semester plus one residential (48 hours) during the year. The first semester sessions are in February, March, April and May; the second semester sessions in September, October, November and December. The residential is over a weekend in May or June.

Each all-day session includes: an experience of an approach to Christian prayer, followed by journal reflection and conversation; some teaching on an aspect of Christian spiritual formation; lunch with conversation; and observed practice sessions in small groups.

The residentials provide opportunities for shared prayer and reflection, assessment and questions, and exploring aspects of spiritual direction not covered by the core syllabus.

During the third and fourth semester of the course students will be assisted in finding their first directee. The students are expected to see their directee at least three times and provide written reflections on the experience.

Towards the end of the course students are required to undergo an assessment process which will result in one of two outcomes: a certificate of completion of the course together with a recommendation that the person is suitable to enter into a ministry of spiritual direction, or a certificate only where it is mutually agreed that the person’s ministry lies elsewhere. These certificates are presented at a closing ‘graduation’ service.

The curriculum groups areas of teaching on spiritual direction around four core themes:

1. God: images of God; ways of faith; difficulties in prayer; and sacred story.
2. The Directee: stages of life; suffering, change and loss; guilt and reconciliation; and sexuality and abuse;
3. The Director: self-reflection; models of direction; safeguarding and records; and supervision.
4. Relationships: listening skills; relationship dynamics; boundaries; and creating sacred space; and

These four core themes are expressed visually in the Holy Listening logo. The green circle represents the director coming alongside two others caught up in a dynamic and eternal relationship: God and the directee. The director has the privilege of reflecting, with the directee, on the seen and unseen aspects of this relationship.

Each of the four teaching days in every semester focuses on one of these key areas.

CURRICULUM FOR 2025 — 2026

2025

• January 17: Orientation Day (first-year students only)
• February 7: Models of Direction
• March 14: Suffering and Change
• May 2: Sacred Space
• May 22-25: Residential retreat
• June 20: Ways of Faith
• September 5: Supervision
• October 3: Sexuality and Abuse
• October 31: Personal Dynamics
• November 21: Sacred Story

2026

• December 4: Difficulties
• January 16: Orientation Day (first year students only)
• February 13: Self-Reflection
• March 13: Life Stages
• April 17: Listening Skills
• May 22: Images of God
• June 12 – 14: Residential retreat
• September 4: Safeguarding
• October 2: Reconciliation
• November 6: Boundaries

The teaching team on the Holy Listening course work in partnership with one another and with the students to provide the practical skills, spiritual formation and knowledge of the Christian tradition of prayer which students need to exercise an effective and responsible ministry.

Chris Webb (Course Director)

Chris is an Anglican priest and Deputy Warden of Launde Abbey. He has ministered in a wide variety of contexts: as president of Renovaré, a spiritual formation ministry in the USA; as parish priest in Welsh farming communities and steelworking towns; and even in a church for the homeless. An experienced spiritual director, he has taught on previous Holy Listening courses; he also leads retreats and quiet days at Launde.

John Rackley (Tutor)

John is a Baptist minister who has been a tutor on the Ministry of Spiritual Direction course and is currently its consultant. He acts as Supervisor for Spiritual Directors in our local dioceses. He currently leads retreats for Launde and writes bible notes for the Bible Reading Fellowship. He is a minister that works with Christchurch LEP in Leicester.

Catherine Wright (Tutor)

Catherine is a Chaplain at Launde Abbey, and brings to this role her experience as Director of Ministerial Formation at Ridley Hall teaching Christian History and Spirituality in the Cambridge Federation. Before going to Ridley Hall in 2014, Catherine completed twelve years in the Diocese of Bath and Wells as a Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Dean of Women Clergy.

Rhona Knight (Tutor)

Rhona is a theological educator, pastoral supervisor and spiritual director. She is a regular retreat leader at Launde Abbey and is a member of the College of Chaplains. She is the author of many books on discipleship and spirituality.

Janet Brown (Administrator)

Janet is the administrator for the Holy Listening Course. Janet used to be a nurse and first aid trainer and is now enjoying an active retirement. She is a spiritual director and received her training on a previous course at Launde Abbey. Janet enjoys reading, running, knitting and catching up with friends as well as spending time with her family.

The fees for the Holy Listening course running 2025-2026 will be £1740 per year. Fees may be paid as follows:

• £435 deposit (non-refundable): on accepting a place on the course and either
• £145 per month by standing order or Direct Debit from January 2025 to September 2026 (the deposit is used to cover the final three months of the course) or
• £870 at the beginning of the first three semesters (January 1st 2025, September 1st 2025, and January 1st 2026) and £435 at the beginning of the fourth semester (September 2026; the deposit is used to cover the final three months of the course

The fees are used to (i) cover the cost of meeting space, food and accommodation at the day gatherings and residentials, (ii) pay the teaching team, (iii) purchase materials for the teaching sessions, (iv) ensure the smooth administration of the course, and (v) provide for the continued development of the course. The diagram below shows a breakdown of these costs:

Students commit to meeting in full any outstanding expenses if they withdraw from the course on reasonable grounds, but will not be liable for the cost of the remainder of the course.

HELP WITH FUNDING

Launde Abbey is unable to provide bursaries or reductions in the fees for this course. However, funding and bursaries are available from a few different sources.

National and regional church bodies. You may be able to apply for assistance from your denomination, diocese, region, circuit or other church body. Your local minister should be able to put you in contact with the relevant person in your church structure.

Sponsoring churches and communities. Your sponsoring community is not required to provide you with any financial support, but they may be willing to do so. This conversation should begin with your minister or equivalent, or with the person providing your reference on behalf of the sponsoring community. They may also have information about local charitable trusts who might offer support.

Charitable bodies. There may be charitable trusts available in your local area, or through your denomination, which would provide assistance with fees; you should talk with your local church minister or a denominational representative about these possibilities.

Every student on the Holy Listening course is required to have a sponsoring church or community. This sponsor may be:

• your local church
• a denominational body
• a training institute at which you are studying
• a Christian organisation for which you work
• a monastic or religious community
• or any other suitable organisation able to fulfil the sponsorship requirements

We ask sponsoring communities to do five things in support of your application, training, and future ministry (helping you to PRESS forward!):

• Pray for you during your discernment about the course, your time of training, and as you enter into your new ministry
• Recommend you formally for training and future ministry (this would usually involve a minuted agreement at a formal meeting – a church council, chapter meeting or meeting of trustees , for example)
• Ensure you are able to meet all the safeguarding requirements for this ministry (this includes running a DBS check on your behalf and providing access to relevant safeguarding training)
• Sustain you during your period of training (this includes pastoral and spiritual care, and helping you find your first directee for the second year of the course; they may also choose to offer financial aid, although this is not required to be a sponsor)
• Support your transition into ministry after the course (which may include ensuring you are able to connect with peer networks and find a supervisor)

If you’re considering applying for a place on Holy Listening you’ll want to begin conversations with your potential sponsoring community as soon as possible so they have time for any formal processes to take place.

Applications for Holy Listening are currently closed. Please check back regularly and keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages and monthly emails for updates.

We encourage potential applicants to engage in a process of discernment, asking themselves and God whether they are called to this course. This may include conversations with your spiritual director, friends and family members, and ministers in your church or Christian community. It should also include prayerful reflection on your sense of calling and the gifts and experience you might bring to the ministry of spiritual direction.

If you have any questions about the application process, please email hl@launde.org.uk.