Epiphany Certification Program
in Formative Spirituality
Offering the premier program in pursuit of in-depth adult faith formation, immersion in the Epiphany Certification Program (ECP) provides participants with the foundational tools for deepening their discipleship with Christ, while facilitating the opportunity for ongoing, graced transformation of the heart.
ECP certification requires the completion of the six courses listed below. Epiphany Association gratefully acknowledges its affiliate status with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the U.S. and Canada.
A New ECP In-House Begins
March 2027
This new distance learning opportunity begins in March 2027 and runs through September 2028.
All of the theoretical and practical courses will be held at the Epiphany Institute of Formative Spirituality.
Tuition is $800 for each course. This fee includes all course materials and two meals: breakfast and lunch.
Dates of this upcoming cycle:
Course 1: March 17-20, 2027
Course 2: June 16-19, 2027
Course 3: September 15-18, 2027
Course 4: March 15-18, 2028
Course 5: June 14-17, 2028
Course 6: September 13-16, 2028
Note: The ECP Distance Learning Cycle began in March 2026 and extends through July 2028. Dates for a new Distance Learning Cycle will be announced next year.
CREATED
by Susan Muto, PhD, Executive Director of Epiphany Institute for Formative Spirituality,
and Adrian van Kaam, CSSp, PhD (1920 - 2007)
TAUGHT
by experienced and fully-certified faculty with a passion for human and Christian formation
ATTENDED
by laity, clergy, and religious from a wide variety of ecumenical faith groupings
Description of ECP Courses
FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Presents the foundational constructs of formation science, anthropology, and theology and enables students to comprehend with great accuracy the principles, dispositions, dimensions,
dynamics, and expressions of distinctively human formation.
LIVING OUR FAITH AND FORMATION TRADITIONS
Ponders the connection between what we believe and how we live and probes our faith and formation traditions in the light of full field appraisal.
BASICS OF HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY
Examines the integrating structures of the human life form, the essential facets of character and conscience formation, and the dynamics of phasic formation that facilitate the emergence and
maturation of our human and Christian character.
DYNAMICS OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Unfolds the principles of transcendence therapy and details the three modes of spiritual direction under the guidance of the Holy Spirit: spiritual self-direction; one-on-one or private direction; and
direction-in-common in a group setting.
FORMATION OF THE HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN HEART
Explores the central disposition of awe and elucidates the formative role of such character dispositions as privacy and communion, gentleness and firmness. Emphasizes the practice of social presence and its dynamics of erosion, depletion, and repletion.
INTEGRATING CONTEMPLATION AND ACTION IN DAILY LIFE
Describes the research methodology inherent to formative spirituality; outlines obstacles to and conditions for the integration of contemplation-in-action in daily life; and encourages formative reading of Scripture and the writings of the spiritual masters.
Epiphany Certification Application
Steve from Texas
“….my years of doctoral work started with the ECP. What I didn’t mention, but I believe to be
true, is that for me the ECP program was a significant part of a “conversion” experience that changed my life and helped me to embrace a faith outlook that has made my own “fall season” very satisfying and even joyful…”
Keith from Pittsburgh
“The time I spent at Epiphany was the most spiritually fruitful time of my life and ministry. It
truly gave me the foundational skills I needed to help people encounter our God on a deeper level; not to mention growing so much stronger in my own faith and relationship to God!”
Rebecca from New York
“As a student of the Epiphany Certification Program, I was introduced to Christian persons from very different contexts than I had previously experienced—all of whom were committed to (and longing for) a deeper relationship with God. Witnessing their dedication and longing as we
worshipped God together, as we studied classical texts of Christian faith, and as we explored Formative Spirituality together proved to be a catalyst for growth in my own understanding of
the “largeness” of God’s church in the world…”