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DALLAS (SMU) – Perkins School of Theology, ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University, will offer its Certification in Spiritual Direction Program in the North Alabama Conference UMC beginning October 2015. To complete the two-year certification program, participants attend classes Friday evenings through Sunday mornings, three times a year in March, July, and October.

Dr. Ruben L.F. Habito, director of Spiritual Formation and professor of World Religions and Spirituality at Perkins, is enthusiastic about expanding the availability of the Certification in Spiritual Direction (CSD) program. “The off-campus program that Perkins previously offered in Arkansas was well received,” Dr. Habito said. “Now this new location, sponsored jointly by the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church and Perkins School of Theology, will offer new horizons for the ministry of spiritual direction in the Southeastern region of the United States.”

Classes in Alabama will be held at the Sumatanga Camp and Conference Center. In addition to Perkins School of Theology requirements, enrollment in the program requires a letter of endorsement from North Alabama Conference Spiritual Director Coordinators Mike Densmore and Denise Mullaney.

Additional information about the Perkins School of Theology Certification in Spiritual Direction Program, including online registration: www.smu.edu/Perkins/SpiritualDirection/.

For questions concerning the application process, contact: Geneva Hoffman, coordinator of Spiritual Formation at Perkins, 214-768-3644 or genevah@smu.edu.

Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of . Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry, as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.