HMS Richards Divinity School Division of Graduate Studies of La Sierra University

Project Information

• Initiative: Individual School Grant (ISG)
• Project Title: The Center for Vocational Discernment and Formation
• Project Description: The La Sierra University HMS Richards Divinity School established the Center for Vocational Discernment and Formation to address pastoral identity crises, burnout, and the denomination's lack of a formal discernment process. The Center provides a mandatory, comprehensive spiritual formation and vocational discernment program for all current and future Divinity students through three stages: Peer Accompaniment, Spiritual Formation, and Clergy Confirmation. This pathway equips future ministers with clarity of calling and spiritual resilience. Because the futures of the church and the academy are interdependent, the Center partners with more than 720 Adventist congregations across the Pacific Union (CA, AZ, HI, NV, UT) to build a sustainable pastoral recruitment infrastructure and strengthen the Divinity School's long-term vitality.
• Project Area: Organizational partnerships and networks | Church vitality and equipping lay leaders | Congregational and denominational collaborations | Diversifying students and curricula | Engaging publics and contexts | Marketing and recruitment | Non-degree and continuing/lifelong learning | Spiritual direction and student formation | Student affordability and resourcing
• Project Start Date: 25-Oct-01
• Project End Date: 30-Dec-31
• Project Amount: $1,000,000