Spiritual Direction Journals and Electronic Resources

These journals and electronic references discuss topics relevant to the formation of spiritual directors and to their practice:

Human Development

Human Development magazine was published for people involved in the work of fostering the growth of others. This included persons involved in religious leadership and formation, spiritual direction, pastoral care and education, including parents, teachers, coaches, students or others interested in the development of the whole person.

The mission of the Journal of Pastoral Theology is:

• to further the understanding of pastoral theology as a theological discipline and to clarify the nature of the discipline.
• to maintain a view of pastoral theology as a constructive theology growing out of the exercise of caring relationships, with attention both to present lived experience and to knowledge derived from the past;
• to provide an intentional forum for the voices of diverse persons, women and men, of many cultural and ethnic backgrounds;
• to foster multi-cultural understandings of issues in the discipline;
• to promote and encourage multi-discipline/multi-cultural research in the field of pastoral theology; to provide resources for those who teach and those who study, through recording current research and assessing the relevant literature;
• to provide for the construction of sound theological principles for guidance and critique of pastoral practice;
• and to work creatively, synthesizing and constructing, to define the frontiers and parameters of the discipline.

Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care

The Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care is a peer-reviewed journal published twice a year by the Talbot School of Theology’s Institute for Spiritual Formation. The purpose of the journal is advancing the discussion of the theory and practice of Christian formation and soul care for the sake of the educational ministries of the church, Christian education and other para-church organizations through scholarly publications that are rooted in biblical exegesis, systematic theology, the history of Christian spirituality, philosophical analysis, psychological theory/research, spiritual theology, and Christian experience.While the journal will be rooted in biblical and theological inquiry, the existential nature of Christian spirituality demands an interdisciplinary approach in which disciplines such as history, psychology, philosophy, literature, and sociology have a valuable contribution. The major intent of the editors is to place before the Christian community writing that will foster the field of spiritual formation and soul care as that has been understood and developed within historic Christianity.

Pneuma

Now discontinued, Pneuma was, for several years, a newsletter concerned with the ministry of spiritual directors and spiritual direction in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Individual articles may still be viewed/downloaded from this archive.

Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction

Presence is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes thought-provoking articles addressing topics of interest to spiritual directors. The goal of Presence is to identify current trends in the field, to provide background and resources for spiritual directors as well as others interested in the ministry of spiritual direction, and to look ahead at what might be developing in the future.

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality publishes peer-reviewed, original articles related to the psychological aspects of religion and spirituality.The journal publishes articles employing experimental and correlational methods, qualitative analyses, and critical reviews of the literature. Papers evaluating clinically relevant issues surrounding training, professional development, and practice are also considered.Full length research reports, literature reviews, and brief reports are all published.

Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry

Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry is a journal that seeks to understand, expand, and promote theory learning and reflection in the practice of supervision and formation in various ministries from pluralistic multi-faith prospectives.

Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality

Spiritus explores the connections between spirituality and cultural analysis including literary and artistic expression, social activism, and spiritual practice. The journal promotes research in the field of Christian spirituality while fostering creative dialogue with other non-Christian traditions. Spiritus appeals not only to scholars and academics, but also to general readers.

The Australian eJournal of Theology

The Australian eJournal of Theology is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary Ejournal sponsored by the National School of Theology and the Institute of Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education at Australian Catholic University.

The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling

The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling advances theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective literature on pastoral and spiritual care, counseling, psychotherapy, education and research.

The Way