Course Syllabus
Master of Theological Studies Modular Program
Fall 2014—Fall 2015
Spiritual Formation
SPIR M501 (Cohort M31)
Mondays, 6:00—10:00 pm
(Sept. 8, 15, 2014; April 13; Aug 24; Dec. 14 tbc)
Instructor: Dr. Arnold Neufeldt-Fast
Telephone: 416-226-6620 ext. 2655
Email: [email protected]
Office: Room 2033
Office Hours: Mondays 4—6 pm (or by appointment)
Cohort Webpage: www.tyndale.ca/seminary/mtsmodular/cohort/31/
To access your course materials, please go to www.mytyndale.ca. Note that all official Tyndale
correspondence will be sent to your @MyTyndale.ca e-mail account. For information how to access and
forward Tyndale emails to your personal account, see www.tyndale.ca/it/live-at-edu.
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course seeks to foster the student’s holistic spiritual growth, to deepen the student’s understanding
of his or her own spiritual path, gifts and ministries and to provide a framework for ongoing reflection
on the student’s own form of ministry and leadership. This course involves classroom interaction,
journal keeping and involvement in mentoring relationships, reading assignments and written
reflections in the areas of spirituality and ministry.
II.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, students will:
 have a basic familiarity with the history of Christian spirituality, its major movements and
traditions and the individuals who have contributed to the shape and form of those traditions
(historical, theological knowledge)
 understand and appreciate a range of spiritual disciplines and begin to practice them
(theological, historical and experiential knowledge)
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be able to reflect theologically on the Christian life (cognitive, written and oral skills)
be able to identify, articulate and reflect critically upon their own participation in their own
tradition in light of the course material (practical self-knowledge)
be familiar with a range of Christian practices designed to broaden and deepen their own
experience of God; to enhance personal transformation; to grow in love for the neighbour
(experiential and formational knowledge)
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. REQUIRED TEXTS
Foster, Richard J. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home. San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins, 1992. Pp. 275.
ISBN: 0060628464
Holt, Bradley P. Thirsty For God. A Brief History of Christian Spirituality. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN:
Augsburg Fortress Press, 20052. Pp. 226. ISBN 0806626402
Mulholland, M. Robert, Jr. Shaped by the Word. The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation. Nashville,
TN: Upper Room Books, 2001. Pp. 176. ISBN 0835809366
Nouwen, Henri J. M. The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. Toronto, ON: Image
Doubleday, 1992. Pp. 112. ISBN 0-385-47307-9.
Smith, James B., and Lynda Graybeal. A Spiritual Formation Workbook. Small Group Resources for
Nurturing Christian Growth. Rev’d ed. SanFrancisco, CA: Harper San Francisco, 1999. ISBN 0-06066965-9.
See also Tyndale’s Spiritual Formation Reading Room for other resources.
B. ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
Attendance, Readings, Assignments, Participation
This course is offered for Credit/No Credit. Assignments will be graded as “Pass” or “Fail”. All
assignments must receive a “pass” designation before a student is deemed to have passed the course.
Students must commit to attendance at all classes, reading all required texts, submitting all
assignments, meeting regularly with a “spiritual friend,” as well as regular and active participation in
class discussions
Assignment: Spiritual Autobiography
Due: Sept. 15, 2014 (Class B)
Write a 5 page spiritual autobiography (your story).
This assignment asks you to identify the most important factors in shaping your spiritual pilgrimage.
Consider your readings this week. Topics that might be discussed are:
 Give a brief sketch of God’s history with you as you understand it
 How did you make a decision to follow Christ in life?
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What are some ups and downs of your spiritual life since you came to faith?
How would you describe your walk with Christ this past year?
Where do you feel you would most like to grow as a Christian?
What is one joy and one struggle you are experiencing in your life at present?
Be inspired by your reading of Nouwen > use scripture /scriptural figures to interpret your story
Assignment: Chapter Reflection
Due: April 13, 2015 (Class C)
Write a 5 page personal reflection responding to one chapter in Part I of Foster’s Prayer. Having read
the book, select the chapter addressing a particular type of prayer that you consider most interesting or
challenging. Note that this is not a chapter summary – the focus is on interacting personally with the
chapter. Your response should address some of the following questions:
 Why did this type of prayer interest you in a unique way?
 What issues (theological, spiritual and practical) did it raise?
 In what ways did the chapter challenge your current understanding of prayer?
 How might this understanding enrich or transform your personal prayer practice?
Write a prayer that reflects the type of prayer chosen (no length restriction). This must be included for
the assignment to be complete. Be prepared to share both the personal reflection and the prayer in
class.
(NB: Spiritual Friend Report Form #1 due as well; see below)
Assignment: Reflection Paper
Due: August 24, 2014 (Class D)
1.Reflect upon your own spiritual journey to date using Holt’s book as the framework for your reflection.
Write a 5 page paper describing your understandings (past, present, changes) and practices of Christian
spirituality. Integrate your experience with the concepts and categories explained in Holt’s Thirsty for
God. Your essay should focus on addressing the questions below that are of greatest interest to you
(address no fewer than three of the questions).
 Which specific traditions or faith communities (e.g., Lutheran, Calvinist, Pentecostal, Roman
Catholic) have implicitly or explicitly shaped your spirituality? In what ways have these
influenced you? What do you see as the greatest strengths and weaknesses of your tradition?
 What key theological beliefs have shaped your spirituality? How?
 What personal or corporate practices of Christian faith are most important to you?
 Which “root metaphors” of the Christian life are most appealing to you? Why?
Please note that it is important to include Holt in your paper – you are reflecting on your life with the
background knowledge and questions supplied by Holt. All thoughts or quotes from Holt must be
referenced.
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2. Write a prayer that reflects a type of prayer from Foster, Part II.
Also be prepared to share both in class.
Assignment: Translation Paper
Due: Dec 14, 2015 (Class E)
Write a 5 page paper “translating” three key ideas from Mulholland into ordinary, everyday language.
Imagine your reader as a newcomer to your church with virtually no Christian background. Mulholland’s
terminology would be confusing to say the least. Your task is to turn this technical language into terms
that the reader could easily understand. Take one page for each of the following three ideas: the self as
a “word” from God; “kairotic” existence; and the “iconographic” nature of Scripture. Prior to
submission, show this paper to a friend and ask them to explain the concept/term back to you. Briefly
reflect upon this experience – did your friend capture the essence of what you thought you had
communicated? This must be included in order for the assignment to be complete.
Write a prayer that reflects a type of prayer from Foster, Part III.
Also be prepared to share both in class.
Spiritual Friendship Meetings
October 2014 to November 2015
This sheet provides further explanation and details about the spiritual friendship meetings required.
1. Basic requirement: You are expected to meet with a spiritual friend once per month from October
2014 – November 2015 (or at least 8 times) for focused conversation, the practice of spiritual
exercises from a variety of Christian traditions, mutual encouragement and accountability. You are
strongly encouraged to use Smith and Graybeal’s Spiritual Formation Workbook (rev.’d edition) as a
framework and guide for at least 6 sessions. (You may wish to buy a copy for your spiritual friend;
other resources can be found in the MTS online Spiritual Formation Reading Room).
2. Friends, but not relatives: Your spiritual friend may be someone from the modular program or
someone from your church or work, but not your spouse nor any relative. Choosing a spiritual
friend of the same gender is strongly encouraged. There would be great advantage in linking up
with another person in the modular program if possible.
3. Qualities to look for in a spiritual friend: Choose a Christian person whom you respect and trust,
and with whom you would be comfortable discussing your spiritual life. This person will probably be
a peer.
4. Purpose of regular meetings: To provide you with opportunities
a. to focus on what God has done, is doing, and will do in your life as you begin to practice the
spiritual disciplines;
b. to share with a "kindred spirit" your discoveries, joys, struggles and ideas, and to pray
about these matters;
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c. to explore what impact your studies are having on your own spiritual development, your
work or ministry, and family life. Your friend should be asking you:
 What are you learning about God, about the Christian life?
 What differences are your studies making to your daily life?
 How can you bring your theological ideas down to earth?
In this way, your friend can hold you accountable for the personal goals you have in pursuing
the MTS program and encourage the integration of faith with studies.
5. Evaluation: You are required to report two times on your learnings from these meetings with a
standardized response form (Class C; Class E).
C. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN WORK
Assignments must be completed and submitted at the beginning of the designated class session. Please
send papers and forms by email directly to the instructor: [email protected].
Papers should be typed (font size 12, double spaced, single-sided) and conform to the assigned page
limits. For proper citation style, consult the Chicago-Style Quick Guide or the full edition of the Chicago
Manual of Style Online, especially ch. 14. For citing scripture texts, refer to sections 10.46 to 10.51 and
14.253 to 14.254.
IV. COURSE SCHEDULE
Readings and Assignments (Readings are to be completed before class)
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Class A – Sept. 8, 2014
 (introductions and orientation)
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Class B – Sept. 15, 2014
 Reading: Nouwen; Holt, Ch. 1
 Spiritual autobiography, 5 pages (details above)
 (Oct. 6 Spiritual Friend Covenant Form due)
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Class C - April 13, 2015
 Reading: Foster, Part I; Holt, Ch. 2-4
 Assignment: Chapter Reflection, 5 pages (details above)
 Spiritual Friend Report Form #1 due (see below)
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Class D – August 25, 2015
 Reading: Foster, Part II; Holt, Ch. 5-8
 Assignment: Reflection Paper, 5 pages (details above); prayer
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Class E – Dec. 15, 2015 (tbc)
 Reading: Mulholland, Foster, Part III
 Assignment 5, Concept Translation Paper, 5 pages (details above)
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Spiritual Friend Report Form #2 due (see below)
V. Bibliography
See Tyndale’s Spiritual Formation Reading Room for other resources.
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VI. Appendix:
SPIRITUAL FRIEND CONTACT INFORMATION
Due: Oct. 6, 2014
Student name: _______________________________
Friend's name: _______________________________________________
Friend's address:
Friend's e-mail address (if available): ____________________
Is the student related by blood or marriage to the friend?
YES / NO
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SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIP REPORT FORM #1
Due: Class C
Student name: __________________________________
Friend’s name: ___________________________________
1. I met with my spiritual friend on the following dates:
2. We have worked through the following sessions from the Spiritual Formation Workbook.
3. Some of the main themes for discussion have been:
4. In what ways has your spiritual friend contributed to your spiritual growth?
5. In what ways do you believe you may have contributed to your spiritual friend's growth?
6. What do you believe you are learning--about God, yourself, the Christian life--from the experience of
meeting with a spiritual friend?
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SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIP REPORT FORM #2
Due: Class E
Student name: __________________________________
Friend's name: ___________________________________
1. I met with my spiritual friend on the following dates:
2. We have worked through the following sessions from the Spiritual Formation Workbook.
3. Some of the main themes for discussion have been:
4. In what ways has your spiritual friend contributed to your spiritual growth?
5. In what ways do you believe you may have contributed to your spiritual friend's growth?
6. What do you believe you are learning--about God, yourself, the Christian life--from the experience of
meeting with a spiritual friend?
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