Spirituality is central to the Christian faith – but it’s also mysterious and difficult to define. Our pursuit of God must never become formulaic or regimented, but there are devotional practices that strengthen our faith and love of God, and pathways that Christians and faith communities have been walking for centuries.

Laidlaw teaches a holistic Christian faith that encompasses the mind, body, heart and soul. We believe that to truly deepen our engagement with Jesus requires more than intellectual curiosity – it also involves the growing of our spirit and the nurturing of intimacy with the mysterious triune God.

As we seek to understand what relationship with God means, we also discover what it means to be in relationship with others; spiritual formation and the care of others are intrinsically linked. Laidlaw seeks to equip people for pastoral care in a range of contexts – whether that is as person in recognized ministry roles, or as participants in faith communities. Our emphasis in pastoral care courses is hopeful and Christ-centred, but also compassionately engages with the lived experience and suffering of the world and with best practice for carers.

The study of spiritual formation and pastoral care is never merely academic – but always curious, practical and expressed in the lived wisdom of the Laidlaw faculty. With a wide range of courses designed to cultivate a deeper love of God and others, you can be assured of an education that will shape and inform your devotional and relational future.

Sample Courses:

• Formation
  
• Spirituality for Ministry
  
• Models of Spirituality
  
• Pastoral Care in Community
• Pastoral Care in Life’s Crises
• Theology of Suffering and Hope