Our Mission
We are an ecumenical center in faculty and in spirit. We believe that all denominations and churches are a part of the universal church. We are all part of God's family chosen to bless the world with faith, hope, and love. It is our hope that as we grow in contemplative awareness God will show us how we are all connected in the Spirit though our beliefs and religious practices may differ. Therefore, we respect and honor the diversity of religious expressions that God has called into being and in the students who feel called to study with us.
Philosophy of Learning
At HeartPaths the following assumptions serve as foundations for all our programs:
1. You cannot do to others what you have not had done to you.
It is not ethical or wise to try to lead others in experiences and processes that you have not gone through yourself. That is why our training and formation programs are highly experiential. We require our students to be in spiritual direction as they learn how to guide others. We require our students to be in supervision and to be accountable via periodic reflection on their experience and learning.
2. There is no "been there, done that" in the spiritual journey.
The "been there, done that" frame of reference applies to information only. On the spiritual journey we are forever being called to practice fundamental spiritual disciplines and to approach the journey with the humility of a beginner's mind. As we grow and are transformed into more mature people and as we are transformed into the image and likeness of Christ we never outgrow our human issues and weaknesses; rather, we spiral through life with ever deepening learning and wisdom.
3. The Who that does the What is more important than the What the Who does.
The most important thing a spiritual leader and spiritual director offers is their own "self" formed by their listening to and following God. It is crucial that the leader/director have experience in prayer, reflection, finding God in everyday life, and discernment.
"You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that testify on my behalf.
Yet you refuse to come to me to have life." ~ John 5:39-40