Chuck DeGroat
Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality
A program connecting the soul and mind
Discover what your soul has been longing for.
A unique collaboration between the seminary and Potter’s Inn Soul Care Institute
Western Theological Seminary offers its students the opportunity to engage in true retreat that is designed to re-fill their souls. Through our partnership with The Soul Care Institute (SCI), students can embark on a two year journey of a group of peers meeting once every four months (six times over two years). Each retreat is filled with wisdom from experienced teachers, time to recover stillness, and encouragement from spiritual directors and peers.
“The Soul Care Institute has allowed me the place and space to slow down, reflect and learn with others. By taking a step away from our hectic world to care for myself, I am more prepared to encourage and develop those I have the privilege to lead.”
— Katy Kloosterman, Exec. VP, GVD Industries, LLC
After completing the full two-year SCI experience (all six retreats, required reading and assigned papers), WTS students can receive 9 credit hours for their work at SCI to apply toward the 24 credit hours needed for a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Soul Care.
The Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry – Soul Care will provide:
- Strengthened skills for pastoral ministry with an emphasis on counsel and care
- Classes taught by both WTS faculty and experienced faculty from the Soul Care Institute
- Deeper biblical and theological knowledge
- Increased ability to minister to others without burnout
- A community of peers to challenge and support you
- Momentum toward a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts degree
“I had the privilege of leading a retreat for alumni of the Soul Care Institute a couple of years ago, and I was stunned by their depth of maturity and wisdom. Immediately, I began brainstorming with the leadership about a possible partnership with Western. The teachings and retreats they offer are transformational, and I’m delighted we at Western can partner with them.”
— Dr. Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality, WTS
Quotes from SCI students and faculty
Living in a frenzied, chaotic world, our souls are under constant siege. Worse still, most people don’t know what their soul is or how to keep it healthy. The Potter’s Inn Soul Care Institute addresses this reality head-on by equipping individuals to understand the delicate nature of the human soul and how to nurture and sustain it.
— Fil Anderson, Executive Director: Journey Resources, author, speaker, spiritual director
I walk on a treadmill every morning for the care of my body. The care of my soul demands even more attention. Soul Care Institute restores and re-creates health so I move from just living to being alive.
— Bill Slater, Senior Pastor, NC
The Soul Care Institute has not only awakened me to the desperate need of my own soul to find rest in rhythm in the way of Jesus, but also to transformational power this reality can have in each domain of my life.
— Rachel Reed, FORGE Director of Equipping, CO
The Soul Care Institute at Potter’s Inn provides physical space, relational space and time-space for me to pay attention to God. Like the old hymn says, Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side. I can’t recommend this sacred space highly enough.
— Joe Chambers, Senior Pastor, CO
Certificate Requirements
Coursework originating from Soul Care Institute:
Required Retreats:
- Architecture of the Soul
- Soul Care as a Catalyst for Transformation
- Exploring Soul Identity through the Enneagram
- Becoming Who You Are
- Critical Issues in Offering Care of the Soul
- Integrating the Care of Your Soul with the World
6 retreats transcribe to 9 credits at WTS:
- MN661-SC Architecture of the Soul (1.5 cr)
- MN662-SC Soul Care as Transformation Catalyst (1.5 cr)
- MN663-SC Enneagram Transformation Journey (1.5 cr)
- MN664-SC Becoming Who You Are (1.5 cr)
- MN665-SC Issues in Offering Soul Care (1.5 cr)
- MN666-SC Integrating Soul and World Care (1.5 cr)
Coursework originating from Western Theological Seminary:
Courses:
- BL102 New Testament Foundations
- BL103 Old Testament Foundations
- TH101 Church History II
- TH110 Theology for Ministry
- MN115 Practice of Counsel and Care*
* This class requires a one-week on-campus intensive in Holland, Michigan
5 courses- 15 credits total
GCPM – Soul Care curriculum: 24 credits
Essential Details to Complete the GCPM - Soul Care
- Apply to Potter’s Inn Soul Care Institute
- Cohort 7 to be held at Geneva Camp & Retreat Center in Holland, MI starts Sept 2019
- Other cohorts around the country are available
- Complete the full two-year SCI experience (all six retreats, required reading and assigned papers)
- Apply to enter the GCPM – Soul Care program
- Request your transcript from the Soul Care Institute and have them send it to the WTS Admissions office
- When accepted, you will earn 9 credits for your SCI courses. However, SCI courses are not formally accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), so you will be charged a fee to transcribe those courses into WTS accredited courses.
- Complete the five required classes for the certificate
- Graduate!
Cost
Potter’s Inn Soul Care Institute:
- application fee: $150 (non-refundable)
- tuition: originally $7,200 – 10% discount for WTS students = $6,480
- Option 1. Full payment before first retreat.
- Option 2. Monthly payments (24 payments of $270).
- Option 3. Pay as you go for each retreat ($1,080 due before each retreat begins; 6 payments total).
Transcribing SCI coursework to 9 WTS credits:
- $675 total
Western Theological Seminary (2019-20 rate, subject to change):
- application fee: $50
- $472 per credit hour (2019-20 rate, subject to change). 25% discount for SCI students = $354 credit hour (you need to fill out a financial aid form to receive the discount)
- Each 3-credit hour class is $1,062
- graduation fee: $60
Distance Learning
Western Theological Seminary’s highly effective and relationship-rich distance learning environment makes coursework available wherever you are and whenever you want. Four required courses for the GCPM – Soul Care are delivered completely online. One required course blends online learning with 5 days per semester of face-to-face instruction on the WTS campus. There is no residency requirement.
Two distance learning semesters and two short online terms annually:
Fall Semester: 14 weeks, early September-December. Hybrid courses that blend online and classroom learning include a required 5-day on-campus intensive in Holland, MI in mid-October.
January Term: 3 weeks, fully-online elective courses.
Spring Semester: 14 weeks, January-May. Hybrid courses that blend online and classroom learning include a required 5-day on-campus intensive in Holland, MI in mid-May.
Summer Term: 6 weeks, late May-late June, fully online courses
Are you a distance learner?
How do you learn best? What environment do you prefer? Before signing up for any online course or stepping into a classroom, it is important to discern your own learning style.
In-Residence Learner
- Prefers the physical environment of the classroom
- Enjoys regular face-to-face interaction with professors and peers
- Needs a consistent class schedule and structured learning formats
Distance Learning Learner
- Self-motivated, independent learner
- Wants flexibility of organizing his or her own learning schedule
- Disciplined, can set aside 15-20 hours per week to study and participate in an online setting
- Prefers to continue in current ministry or home situation
More on Soul Care
Interested in becoming a student?
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should consider the GCPM- Soul Care program?
Anyone involved in leadership (whether marketplace or ministry) will gain tools and strength in the art and practice of soul care and ministry.
Do I have to hold a Bachelor’s degree to enter?
Normally, WTS requires a Bachelor’s degree to enroll in courses. In some cases, students who have not yet completed a Bachelor’s degree are permitted to enroll as GCPM students. Interested persons should contact Jill English or Rev. Joseph Ocasio to discuss their particular situations.
Can I take courses at night? On weekends?
WTS Classes are taken online or a combination of online and in-person, so it is a matter of fitting the coursework into your own schedule.
What are the professors like? Are they actively involved in ministry?
The professors for the GCPM program minister primarily as seminary professors, although several have served as pastors and many contribute to adult education in local churches.
Will I have access to professors, the library and other services?
Seminary offices are often during business hours, and the library has extended hours (although access is available online 24/7) Students have access to the services they need to succeed in their studies.
What if my own theology is different than that which WTS embraces?
WTS is an institution which values its identity as ecumenical and evangelical, welcoming students from a number of Christian theological traditions. While WTS is Reformed in its theological identity, many current students in the GCPM and other study programs hold membership in non-Reformed denominations.
Is financial aid available?
Financial aid is available to students accepted into the GCPM program who demonstrate financial need through application. Students interested in financial aid should request a financial aid application.
Are classes in the GCPM program graduate level courses?
Yes, each course in the GCPM program at WTS is taught at the graduate level and earns students three Master’s level credits.
Are the credits transferable into a Master’s program?
Each successfully-completed course earns the GCPM student three credits, which may be transferable into Master of Divinity programs at accredited seminaries. Students who complete the entire GCPM will earn 24 Master’s credits, which can then apply to the credit requirements for the Master of Divinity (96 cr) or Master of Arts (48 cr) programs at WTS.
Program Leaders
Joseph Ocasio
Director of the Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry and Hispanic Ministry Program
