Spiritual Writing for
University Faculty

I spent several years on the faculty development committee at my university, including three semesters as chair. I know how challenging it can be to find meaningful and engaging faculty development activities that benefit everyone, regardless of years of service to the university, field of study, and teaching styles.

Faculty development activities must be:

  • engaging and interesting

  • beneficial to all faculty, regardless of their discipline

  • applicable to our lives as teachers

  • practical

  • affordable

My Spiritual Writing workshop program is designed for the hardworking, dedicated faculty at faith-based universities. I offer 60-minute, 90-minute, half-day, and full-day workshops that are built on my years of teaching spiritual writing at the undergraduate level, to adults online, in chapel services, at conferences, and in faculty development sessions.

If you are interested in contracting with me to lead a workshop for your faculty, please reach out today. I am happy to adapt my plans to meet the unique needs of your faculty.

60- or 90-Minute Workshop

60- or 90-Minute Workshop
This workshop is perfect for the full faculty or a breakout session. The workshop includes:

  • a highly engaging presentation about the history and applications of spiritual writing

  • a series of short, guided writing exercises to help faculty experience the creative and spiritual benefits of this kind of writing

  • a period of small group discussion time

    50% of the workshop is dedicated to information about spiritual writing. 25% is dedicated to guided writing activities that are guaranteed to get people from across all disciplines to express themselves through writing. A final 25% of the workshop is set aside for sharing in small groups.

    Participants leave with a list of spiritual writing resources if they want to continue exploring this kind of writing, as well as a few guided writing activities to do on their own.

    This workshop costs $400.

Half-Day Workshop

Half-Day Workshop
2.5-4 hrs (with 1 or 2 short breaks)

This workshop is designed for the entire faculty, although it can be adapted for groups of any size.

This workshop expands on the 60 and 90-minute option by providing even more examples of spiritual writing from several centuries of tradition, as well as more time to write and engage with peers. In addition to several short writing activities, this workshop includes a longer, more sustained period of writing time. This allows faculty members to have more time to center themselves and engage with their spiritual writing process.

50% of the workshop is dedicated to information about spiritual writing. 25% is dedicated to guided writing activities that are guaranteed to get people from across all disciplines to express themselves through writing. A final 25% of the workshop is set aside for sharing in small groups.

Participants leave with a list of spiritual writing resources if they want to continue exploring this kind of writing, as well as a few guided writing activities to do on their own.

This workshop costs $600.

Full Day Workshop

Full-Day Workshop
3-4 hr morning session (with 1 or 2 short breaks); lunch break; 3-4 hr afternoon session (with 1 or 2 short breaks)

This session is also designed for the entire faculty, although it can be adapted for smaller groups.

This session offers a deep dive into developing a spiritual writing practice. The morning session looks a lot like the half-day workshop, in which participants learn about spiritual writing and how it has been used for generations, across countless traditions and engage in some spiritual writing exercises.

The afternoon coaches participants on how to develop their own spiritual writing practice. How do you find books that challenge your spiritual development beyond devotionals and Bible study guides? How can you form a spiritual writing community? What is the secret to developing a sustained practice of spiritual writing that promotes spiritual growth and exploration?


An additional conversation explores strategies for engaging spiritual writing on campus; how can students benefit from mindfulness activities like spiritual writing?
How does this practice affect us as teachers?

The remaining writing activities are designed to help participants explore the questions of their lives and the mysteries of transcendence.

50% of the workshop is dedicated to information about spiritual writing. 25% is dedicated to guided writing activities that are guaranteed to get people from across all disciplines to express themselves through writing. A final 25% of the workshop is set aside for sharing in small groups.

Participants leave with a list of spiritual writing resources if they want to continue exploring this kind of writing, as well as a few guided writing activities to do on their own.

This workshop costs $800.

Liz Boltz Ranfeld's Credentials

I have been teaching writing as a spiritual practice for years.

I spent 11 years as an English professor before becoming an independent educator and speaker. Some of my credentials include:

  • I taught the Spiritual Practice of Writing course to undergraduates at Anderson University for 5 years.

  • I offer online courses in Spiritual Writing through her independent educator platform.

  • I led the spiritual writing component of the Indiana Faith & Writing Conference for 3 years as director and presenter.

  • I have offered spiritual writing as a faculty development workshop at universities, and I have facilitated spiritual writing chapel services.

  • I studied spiritual memoir as part of my MFA program at the University of New Hampshire.

  • I earned my BA in Writing from Taylor University and my MFA in Nonfiction from UNH. I was a tenured Associate Professor of English at Anderson University until becoming an independent educator in 2022.


Cost

For large groups like faculty sessions, these are the prices for 2022:

A 60 or 90-minute workshop costs $400.

A half-day workshop costs $600.

A full-day workshop costs $800.

I am located in Muncie, Indiana, but I am happy to travel just about anywhere. Reach out to me to discuss lodging and transportation costs.

Smaller groups may benefit from shorter, virtual events. If you have 15 or fewer participants, please take a look at
my one-time, remote workshops.


Endless Adaptations Are Available!

These workshops are not just available for university faculty development sessions.

I am available to facilitate workshops for faculty retreats, student retreats, executive and presidential cabinet retreats, and even Board of Directors meetings. If you are responsible for the enrichment of a group of people at a university, these workshops provide a meaningful experience for participants without any concern about prep work or expensive supplies. Please contact me to discuss pricing for special events with smaller numbers of participants.

Multi-day facilitation is available upon request.

Churches, Bible studies, and other social and religious groups can also benefit from these workshops, but often have smaller groups. If you have a smaller group (fewer than 15 participants), you may want to check out my virtual workshop options, which are priced to keep the cost-per-participant as low as possible.

Are you at a secular university? Not a problem! Spiritual writing can be presented in a completely secular manner. These workshops are easily adaptable to a non-religious audience by a subtle shift in focus to engaging with one's inner world.


Promotional Materials

Would you like to share some promotional materials with your planning committee or colleagues?

Feel free to download and share this PDF.