WHAT IS THE COST OF THE SOUL CARE INSTITUTE?

Upon acceptance, a $150 administrative fee is required to hold your spot. This fee is due once you receive your acceptance email.

The tuition for the Soul Care Institute is $7,500.  The tuition includes meals and lodging (we are almost always able to provide individual rooms so you can have the space you need), materials and speakers for each retreat. The cost of books and travel are not included and the administrative fee is separate. (Payment options available)

We do have limited funds to offer scholarships. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, you must first be accepted into the program.  Please email us at info@soulcareinstitute.com.

CAN I ATTEND ONLY A FEW RETREATS?

Attending only a few retreats is not an option. Once your place is reserved, our costs remain the same whether you are there or not, as we make lodging arrangements well in advance. Therefore, a decision to join the two-year Soul Care Institute is a commitment to attend and participate in each of the six retreats. We understand that emergencies arise and it may be unavoidable to miss a particular retreat. However, after attendance at the first retreat, the commitment to the Institute is the commitment to pay all of the total cost of $7,500 whether in lump sum, monthly or the six partial payments; whether attending or absent from a particular retreat.

CAN MY SPOUSE PARTICIPATE WITH ME?

Absolutely! We love to see spouses attend and learn together. We have heard amazing feedback from spouses who have gone through the Institute together. We will even offer a 10% discount to your spouse. 

*Only one discount may be applied towards tuition.

WHO ARE THE PRIMARY TEACHERS?

We have built our model around multiple voices and experts, trained and gifted leaders, who are authorities in their own fields of work. Noted authors, seasoned veterans and well-respected teachers will lead each seminar. Visit our faculty page to learn more about some of them.

I'VE READ A LOT OF THE INVISIBLE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE ON THE INSIDE. HOWEVER, ARE THERE ANY TANGIBLE BENEFITS?

We are glad you asked! Though the most important work that will be done will be done within you, there are also several tangible, "seen" benefits. Upon completion of the full two-year experience (attendance at all six retreats, required reading and assigned papers), you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion in Soul Care from the Soul Care Institute.

Additionally we are excited to offer the following opportunity.

Western Theological Seminary Graduate Certificate:

After completing the full two-year SCI experience (all six retreats, required reading and assigned papers), SCI students are eligible to apply for and earn a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry (GCPM) from WTS with a concentration in Soul Care. You will get a head start on earning this 24 credit hour certificate by receiving 9 credit hours for your work at SCI.

Click here to read more about this collaboration and apply.

After you complete the GCPM, if you wish to continue your studies, you may apply all 24 credit hours earned toward a Master of Arts (48 credit hrs) or Master of Divinity (96 credit hrs) with WTS.

WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES OF THE SOUL CARE INSTITUTE?

The core values of the Soul Care Institute are:

Intimacy: Our learning cohorts will be small and intimate where real learning is experienced. This is not just amassing more information. Cohorts are limited to 30 people. Participants enrolled in the Soul Care Institute will have meal times with their teachers, small groups and spiritual directors to explore the insights. Our schedule is intentional with time to reflect and explore without a sense of urgency, time limits and crowds.

Beauty: The Soul Care Institute will be offered at venues where beauty becomes a key ingredient to the experience. We believe beauty has a significant role in piercing the soul for transformation. We will explore the depths of beauty within us and around us.

Adventure: Whether it is the invitation to explore the vast domains of the soul or through an energizing hike in the Great Sanctuary of the outdoors, adventure stretches us to new perspectives and experiences which inform us and challenge us. Adventure will be integrated into the experience through ample time to get outdoors and the often overlooked and unexplored adventure of a true rest.

The Soul Care Institute is open to people in ministry and the marketplace alike. This experience is practical, engaging and applicable for everyone to take back “home” and implement the life-changing lessons and insights they receive and experience.

HOW DID THE SOUL CARE INSTITUTE BEGIN?

In 2000, Steve and Gwen Smith founded Potter's Inn with the vision to provide care for the souls of leaders in ministry and the marketplace. While pouring into those precious souls, they realized the need for a training program that would help empower these leaders to care for themselves fully before reaching the point of burnout. 

During a visit with Joe Walters, who at the time was Dean of Spiritual Formation at Colorado Christian University, Steve heard Joe’s vision for a two-year cohort experience. Joe’s experience with Ruth Haley Barton’s Transforming Community deeply impacted him and he wanted to develop a similar program. That evening while sitting by the fireplace, Steve said to Joe, “Why don’t you come and do that under the umbrella of Potter’s Inn?” A seed was planted. Several months later, Joe left his job at the university and together with his wife June, came to Potter’s Inn to develop and lead the Soul Care Institute. In October of 2015, the first cohort of sixteen students gathered for their first retreat at Potter’s Inn in Divide, CO.

After five years, seven cohorts, and retreat locations extending to North Carolina and Michigan, the board of Potter’s Inn decided it was time for the Soul Care Institute to become its own entity. On June 8, 2020, Soul Care Institute was formed as a Nonprofit Corporation in the State of Colorado. 

The vision to train and equip people in the care of the soul still extends to leaders in both ministry and the marketplace, and to anyone who longs to develop healthy, sustaining rhythms and learn the Jesus Way to live.

I'M INTERESTED! WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

Great! We look forward to hearing more from you! If you are ready to fill out our online application, click here. If you need help deciding whether the program is right for you, feel free to email us at info@soulcareinstitute.com.

Statement
of Faith

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Creator, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the only Child of God, eternally begotten of the Creator, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, One in Being with the Creator: Through the Redeemer all things were made. For us and for our salvation Jesus Christ the Redeemer came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit was born of the Virgin Mary, and became human.

For our sake Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered, died and was buried, and, on the third day, rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God.

Jesus Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and the Reign of God will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from God the Creator and Jesus Christ the Redeemer, who with the Creator and the Redeemer, is worshipped and glorified and who has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.