Faith is a person’s way of seeing him-or herself in relation to others against a background of shared meaning and purpose. ~Fowler, 1981
In spiritual direction, we meet our directees on their own landscape. We ask them, “What does that landscape look like? Where does God fit in? Where do you fit in? What in your life experience has brought you to know God?”
In this interactive virtual workshop for Spiritual Directors, we will look at James W. Fowler’s Stages of Faith Development. These stages are:
- Pre-stage: Undifferentiated Faith (generally from birth to 2 years)
- Stage 1: Intuitive-Projective Faith (2-5 years)
- Stage 2: Mythic-Literal (6-12 years, though many people never move from this stage)
- Stage 3: Synthetic-Conventional Faith (13-18 years)
- Stage 4: Individuative-Reflective (18-22 years, beginning to question assumptions around faith traditions)
- Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith (early 30s)
- Stage 6: Universalizing Faith (rarely people reach this stage)
Knowledge of these stages will better prepare you to more clearly understand a directee’s relationship with God and the unique landscape of their spiritual reality. In preparation for this workshop, you are encouraged to spend some time becoming aware of how you see yourself and God in relationship. You will share these experiences only if you wish.
This Zoom presentation will include an opportunity for questions and discussion. You will receive resources to guide you in your use of the material presented. Guided by Donna Bilek.
This is a virtual program, open to all spiritual directors. A Zoom Meeting link will be emailed to registered participants by Friday, May 16, 2025. When registering, please be sure to include the correct email address to which the Zoom link should be sent.
Donna Bilek, a 2018 graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, is a spiritual director and companion with over fifteen years’ experience. As an Associate with the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), she serves on the Ongoing Personal Development in Community Committee for the SSNDs, presenting reflections and prayer on various topics, including grief and loss. Donna teaches and guides prayer at “earthwalk Center for Wholeness,” which she founded in 2005. Donna taught Spirituality, Biblical Studies, and Death and Dying at Notre Dame of Maryland University for thirteen years. She has a master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University.