The path for individuals.
The Goldenwood Institute envisions a world where work is not just a means of earning a living but a creative expression of a flourishing humanity—a place where ongoing formation is experiential, integrative, and life-long. Guided by a robust theology of creation, work, and renewal, we believe that spiritual formation, imagination, nature, and justice are critical and often missing elements that expand our vision of what is possible in our world.
Structured virtual and in-person classes.
Immersive experiences to advance learning.
Contemplative spaces to process and reflect.
Spiritual formation, nature, imagination, and beauty and justice. Each stream has its own dean and its own film.
Over the coming months, we will add more offerings to the Institute in each of the four areas listed above. The following legacy programs will continue to be made available through the Institute:
The most intensive individual formation program. A structured arc, September through April, forming people in their relationship with time, God, self, others, and work. Weekly on Zoom plus three in-person retreats. Communal, not a do-it-yourself workbook.
A lighter formation rhythm that tracks alongside Nautilus. Six times a year, two weeks per theme; a short daily guided listening session at midday with a two-week Listening Book. Best after Nautilus, reconnecting with community in a listening mode.
The multi-day in-person formation experience. Being over doing; perception, prayer, shared story.
Takes an emerging dream and slows people down to understand what is really surfacing. Formerly the Dream Forum, born when people's dreams were being dashed and we wanted to revive the sense that we could still dream.
Takes cultivated ideas and does the careful work of bringing something into the world, communally: bringing people in to test and prototype ideas into existence, deliberately unlike venture-capital speed and profit logic. Runs a few times a year.
“Goldenwood has challenged me to expand my view of God to be bigger than it previously was and it helped solidify that importance of community and doing life/work with others, when responding to God’s calling.”Crystal C, Entrepreneur
“My experience in Sandra’s Discovering Your Creative Process course profoundly impacted my creative journey. It was transformative and came at a crucial time, coinciding with a very difficult personal season. It was a vessel of hope and facilitated healing from impostor syndrome, and a sense of grounding in my identity as a creative…”Lauren A, a recent college graduate
“Through contemplative community that repeatedly and steadily centers its gaze on me and my journey, Goldenwood has profoundly helped me to discern and steward my deepest and truest self, fostered the courage I’ve needed to bring forth that self and integrate it into my hopes and ambitions, and provided guidance and connections to birth some of my best and most loving work into the world.”Jamison G, Pastor
“For me personally, this experience was a great time of reflection and gaining new awarenesses and insights. When I’m with a group of people like this, and certainly with Goldenwood and David, Amilee and the others, just hearing their thoughts then cause me to reflect. And what I feel like is that this is not an end today. It’s the beginning of additional reflection on what God has placed on my heart. And this will probably go on months into the future…”Beverly W, CEO
The path stays the same. We grow slowly by going deeper and by making room for more.
