Dates

September 3, 2026 - 
June 17, 2027

Day & Time

Thursdays
2-3:30pm PT / 4-5:30pm CT

Format

10-Month
Fully Virtual Program

Application Fee: $25

Want to Learn More?
Info Sessions Available

  • Tuesday, March 17 at 2:30-3:30pm PT / 4:30-5:30pm CT
  • Thursday, May 28 at 2-3pm PT / 4-5pm CT

Or email Kathi at kathi@companioningcenter.org

Do you long for community—real community—where you can speak honestly about your spiritual life in a safe, compassionate space?

 
Do you desire a deeper experience of God, not just knowledge about God?

 
Do you sense there may be more to your relationship with God than what you’ve known so far?

The Boldly Loved Spiritual Formation Community is a 10-month, small-group journey designed for those who are curious, questioning, and longing for deeper connection—with God, themselves, and others. Grounded in contemplative practice, Scripture, and sacred listening, this cohort invites you to explore a God of love who is present and at work in your life.

Together, we will slow down, listen deeply, and create space for transformation within the safety of a spiritually formed community. This is not a program focused on quick answers, but a shared journey of wonder, healing, and growing awareness of God’s loving presence.

What This Journey Offers

Many people find that a primarily knowledge-based faith no longer sustains them. Questions remain unanswered. Experiences of God feel distant or disconnected from what they were taught. This journey creates space to bring those questions into the light—without judgment, pressure, or the need to “fix” anything.

Through contemplative prayer, Scripture, and sacred community, you will be invited to:
  • Experience God more intimately
  • Explore healing and transformation within
  • Notice how love naturally flows outward into relationships and the world
  • Grow in self-understanding and compassion for others
  • Rest in a community that honors curiosity, honesty, and grace

Cohort Structure & Community

  • 10-month cohort experience
  • Small group of 6–8 participants to foster trust, safety, and depth
  • Weekly 90-minute virtual gatherings
  • 8 monthly Spiritual Direction sessions with an approved or recommended spiritual director ($720 value)
  • All required reading materials included (optional resources not included)
  • This intentionally small structure allows space for deep listening, shared reflection, and meaningful connection.

Curriculum Overview: Being Boldly Loved and Loving Boldly

Section One: Experiencing God: Creating Space Through Contemplative Prayer

12 weeks | September 3 – November 19, 2026
An invitation to explore who God is and who you are in relationship with God through contemplative prayer and Scripture.
Themes include:
  • Who is God?
  • The Trinity
  • How love shapes our view of sin, shame, sacrifice, and the cross
  • Abiding in love and following love

Section Two: Resting in God: Healing the Violence Within

12 weeks | January 7 – March 25, 2027
A deepening inner journey focused on healing, transformation, and reconciliation.
Themes include:
  • Transformation and invitation
  • Inner and outer barriers to healing
  • Letting go, reconciliation, and walking with others

Section Three: Dancing With God: Creating Space for Others

12 weeks | April 1 – June 17, 2027
An outward-facing journey that explores how inner transformation shapes the way we relate to others, creation, and the world.
Themes include:
  • Our lens of the world
  • Compassion, inclusion, and healthy community
  • Living as an invitation

Prayer Practices Included

Learning and practicing contemplative prayer forms such as Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, Examen, Breath Prayer
Paradox Prayer, Relinquishment Prayer, Intercessory Prayer, Visio Divina, and Embodied Prayer

Expectations for Participants

To support the depth and safety of the cohort, participants are asked to:
  • Commit to attending most weekly sessions
  • Meet monthly with a spiritual director throughout the cohort
  • Complete weekly readings and come prepared for sessions
  • Join sessions from a private, quiet space that allows for presence and confidentiality

Investment

Total Cost: $2,300
Includes all cohort sessions, curriculum materials, and 8 spiritual direction sessions ($720 value).

Payment Options:
  • Pay in full by August 15, 2026
  • Two payments of $1,150 due August 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027
  • $400 deposit by August 15, 2026, followed by 8 monthly payments of $240 beginning September 15, 2026

Is This Journey for You?

If you find yourself wondering whether there is more to your spiritual life…
If your understanding of God no longer matches your lived experience…
If you long to explore faith in a way that honors both your questions and your desire for closeness…

This cohort is a gentle, grounded place to begin. We would love to have you.

You are warmly invited to join a community where you can be boldly loved—and learn to live that love in the world.

Your Guide

Kathi Gatlin

Kathi Gatlin founded Boldly Loved and co-founded the Companioning Center to bring together her two greatest passions: spiritual formation and teaching. In this, she utilizes her DMin. in Leadership and Spiritual Formation from Portland Seminary and her M.Ed. earned through George Fox University.

Her greatest joy is walking alongside others, individually and in groups, in their own spiritual journey, sharing ways of understanding God anew through contemplative prayer and teaching, and to see them grow in the depth of their own understanding of who God is and who they are in relationship with God.

Kathi is a spiritual director, supervisor, writer, spiritual formation group facilitator, retreat speaker, and educator. For more information about Kathi, check out boldlyloved.org.

Frequently asked questions

Who is this cohort for?

This cohort is for those who sense a longing for deeper connection with God and desire a spacious, compassionate place to explore their spiritual life. It may be especially meaningful if your faith feels more intellectual than experiential, if you are holding questions or doubts, or if you are seeking a more contemplative way of engaging God and community.

Do I need prior experience with contemplative prayer or spiritual direction?

No prior experience is required. The practices are introduced gently and held with care. Curiosity, openness, and a willingness to engage the process are more important than familiarity or expertise.

Is this program tied to a particular theological perspective?

The cohort is rooted in Christian contemplative tradition and Scripture, with an emphasis on God’s love, presence, and compassion. The space is intentionally hospitable to a range of experiences, questions, and understandings. Participants are invited to explore rather than conform.

What does a typical weekly session look like?

Each 90-minute session includes guided contemplative prayer, reflection on the curriculum, time for shared listening, and spacious conversation. The focus is not on discussion or debate, but on deep listening—to God, to ourselves, and to one another.

Why are cohorts limited to 6–8 participants?

Small groups allow for trust, safety, and depth. This size makes it possible for each person to be seen, heard, and accompanied with care while cultivating a strong sense of community.

What is spiritual direction, and why is it included?

Spiritual direction is a one-on-one, confidential practice of attentive listening with a trained spiritual director who supports your awareness of God’s presence in your life. Including spiritual direction ensures each participant has personal accompaniment alongside the group experience, deepening integration and discernment throughout the journey.

How much time should I expect to commit each week?

In addition to the weekly 90-minute group session, participants should plan time for reading, prayer practice, and reflection. You will also meet monthly with a spiritual director. This rhythm is designed to be spacious yet meaningful, inviting steady engagement rather than intensity.

What happens if I miss a session?

While consistent attendance is important for building trust and community, we understand that occasional conflicts arise. Participants are encouraged to attend most sessions and to communicate with facilitators as needed. All sessions will be recorded for those who miss.

Is this program appropriate if I’m feeling uncertain about my faith?

Yes. Many participants come with questions, doubts, or a sense that what they once believed no longer fits. This cohort offers a place to bring those uncertainties into gentle conversation without pressure to resolve them quickly.

What is the cost, and what does it include?

The total cost is $2,300 and includes all cohort sessions, curriculum materials, and eight individual spiritual direction sessions ($720 value). Payment plans are available to support accessibility.

Are scholarships or financial assistance available?

Yes. In the spirit of generosity and mutual care, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for those who feel called to the journey but for whom the full cost would be a hardship. We invite you to reach out for a confidential conversation.

How do I know if this cohort is right for me?

If you feel a quiet invitation rather than a sense of urgency—if something in you longs to slow down, listen, and explore God’s presence in community—this may be a sign this journey is for you. You are also welcome to reach out with questions as part of your discernment.

Can I apply this program to any others?

Such a good question. Yes, this program could be an initial step in discernment toward possibly becoming a spiritual director. Yet, that is not the outcome we are starting with. However, in engaging in this intentional spiritual formation focus this year, you may discover a desire to continue learning how to listen deeply with others. If so, participants in this program may waive the application fee for our Spiritual Direction Formation and Training Program. 

Still Wondering?

If you feel curiosity, hesitation, or a quiet stirring in your heart, you are not alone. Discernment often begins as a gentle noticing rather than a clear answer. You do not need certainty to begin this journey—you only need a willingness to listen and a sense that something in you is being softly invited.

Questions, doubts, and tender places are welcome here. If you sense this cohort may be a place for you, we warmly invite you to reach out or apply to begin a confidential conversation with us about your participation.

Whether or not you join this cohort, may you continue to notice the invitations toward deeper presence, compassion, and love in your life.

Who do I contact for more information?

Email Kathi Gatlin at kathi@companioningcenter.org for more information.description

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