Godly Play Advanced Training

August 7, 8, 9, 2025
St. James by the Sea
Cost: $100 EDSD / $355 outside of EDSD

If you have been seeking a circle of practitioners with whom you might deepen your Godly Play practice, tend to your own spiritual life, and find fresh ways to kindle Godly Play in your context, welcome! Designed for Godly Players with a minimum of one completed Core Training, and three years of Godly Play experience “under their belt,” this 3-day retreat may be just what you have been hoping for. Certified Godly Play Trainers Jana Sundin and Charlette Preslar will guide this circle and encourage discovery learning through story, preparatory reading, small group dialogue, and playful wonder. Whether you are an engaged volunteer, a guiding clergyperson, or a program leader, you will leave renewed and able to draw on your deeper understanding of Godly Play to benefit your Godly Play circle and beyond.

Prerequisites:

• 3 years of Godly Play practice with a working knowledge of the core stories and the spiral curriculum.
• Previous completion of two Godly Play Core training with a licensed trainer.
• Engage with two guiding texts (Teaching Godly Play by Jerome Berryman and Godly Play in Middle and Late Childhood by Cheryl Minor) as well as other pertinent writings.
• Complete the case study which will be emailed to you before July 10.

The training will take place over three days:
August 7 – 3:00 – 9:00 PM
August 8 – 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
August 9 – 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Advanced Training is a first-time offering for our diocese. It is designed to not simply share new information, but to help participants learn to think critically about the work they are doing so they can improve skills. Advanced Godly Play Training is something you can come back to again and again since the centerpiece of the three days is time to work with case studies, specific interactions between children, children and teachers, or teachers and others in the community, brought by each of the participants.

Prior to the training please complete the following preparatory work.

READ:
Teaching Godly Play by Jerome Berryman
Godly Play in Middle and Late Childhood by Cheryl Minor

LISTEN:
In the beginning… Jerome Berryman – The Godly Play Foundation Podcast

BEGIN:

Case Study The object of the Case Study is to have something to analyze with the group as a way to deepen your Godly Play practice. The worksheet is for your use in reflecting, not a written report to be turned in. We will cover this in the first day of the training and you may make adjustments before you review it with your group.

This training offering is open to US-based Godly Play practitioners.  If you are outside the US, please connect with your nearest Godly Play Global Association for training offerings.