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Formation at Lyell Seminary

The heart, soul, mind, and strength of our Seminary

At Lyell Seminary, formation is not a department.
It is not a course.
It is not a checklist.

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Formation is the Seminary.
It is the center, the engine, the framework, the purpose.

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Everything we teach grows out of what we cultivate in the inner life of the student.

The Heart of Formation

We believe real scholarship grows out of a healed heart, a steady soul, a clear mind, and a trained strength.

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We believe Torah is not only instruction for life—it is the path to wholeness.
It shapes:

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  • how we pray

  • how we speak

  • how we rest

  • how we study

  • how we love

  • how we lead

  • how we treat others

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We believe intimacy with the Father is the true measure of growth.

Formation Arc: A Year of Transformation

Every student—and every faculty member—walks through a gentle, year-long formation arc:

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1. Resistance

 

Formation begins with the places we hide, avoid, or defend. We don't shame others. We encourage honesty.
 

2. Honesty

 

Truth rises to the surface—truth about fears, desires, wounds, habits, and expectations. This step takes courage.

 

3. Surrender

 

We learn to yield, not out of pressure, but out of trust. “Father, lead me.”

 

4. Breakthrough

 

Moments of clarity, healing, identity, and new vision. These cannot be manufactured. They develop quietly.

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5. Consolidation

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We practice what we’ve learned, strengthen new rhythms, and step out of old patterns.

 

6. Integration

 

Formation sinks from the head into the heart and out into daily life. This is where transformation becomes habit. 

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This arc becomes the rhythm of the entire Seminary.

The Individual Encounter Plan (IEP)

Every student receives an IEP, crafted with a mentor. It is simple, personal, and deeply spiritual.

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Your IEP covers:

  • Heart — emotional honesty

  • Soul — intimacy with the Father

  • Mind — Scripture, Torah, study rhythms

  • Strength — habits, health, boundaries

  • Torah — one mitzvah to practice

  • Prayer — daily or weekly rhythms

  • Community — relationships that anchor you

  • AI Boundaries — integrity and authenticity

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Your IEP is not a burden. It is a guide for your year - a map for spiritual stability.

Formation in Practice

1. Monthly Mentor Meetings

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Your mentor is a faculty member who walks with you all year. These meetings shape your growth more than any course.

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2. Torah Rhythms

 

You practice:

  • Shabbat

  • compassion

  • holy speech

  • generosity

  • honoring parents

  • justice

  • simplicity

  • blessing others

 

These rhythms stabilize your heart.

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3. Scripture Rhythms

 

You dwell in a small number of passages deeply: not to finish them, but to be shaped by them.

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4. Emotional Honesty

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We help you name your fears, patterns, and resistance with kindness.

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5. AI Integrity

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You will learn: AI is a tool, not a voice for your soul. We train you to use it wisely, without losing your humanity.

What Formation is Not

  • It is not therapy.

  • It is not self-help.

  • It is not academic performance.

  • It is not a test.

  • It is not pressure.

  • It is not entertainment.

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Formation is slow, human, Torah-shaped, Spirit-led change.

What Formation Produces

Students grow in:

  • humility

  • gentleness

  • courage

  • emotional clarity

  • Torah joy

  • maturity

  • integrity

  • compassion

  • stable identity

  • strong scholarship

  • deeper love for the Father

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Faculty grow in the same.

Why Faculty Must Be Formed First

You can only lead students where you have gone.


Every faculty member undergoes their own IEP during their formation year.

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This shapes:

  • how they teach

  • how they mentor

  • how they write

  • how they carry authority

  • how they discern

  • how they love their students

  • how they represent Lyell Seminary in the world

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Faculty formation creates a Seminary where teachers are not performers—they are shepherds.

Who Is This For

This formation model attracts:

  • spiritually hungry students

  • Torah-pursuant believers

  • scholars who want depth

  • men and women who want to be healed

  • those tired of shallow religion

  • those ready for slow growth

  • those who want their scholarship to carry weight and truth

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This is not for everyone. It is for the few who want deep transformation.

An Invitation to Formation

If you desire:

  • a more honest inner life

  • a closer walk with the Father

  • Torah that shapes your daily decisions

  • mentors who care for your soul

  • high-level scholarship grounded in humility

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Lyell Seminary offers this path.

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It is slow, deep, sacred, and it changes lives.

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