Div Dictionary: Annand Program

Annand (n): Program offering spiritual direction, small groups, workshops, and scholarships for retreats in order to support student work/life at YDS

When you arrive at YDS, it is likely that you will come with some preconceived notions, and either healthy or unhealthy baggage. The issue is partly to recognize that these exist, partly to identify them, and partly to try and either embrace them (if they’re correct…however THAT’s defined) or move past them if they’re not. The Annand Program is sponsored by one of Yale’s partners on the Quad, the Berkeley Divinity School. The Berkeley Divinity School has a major focus on the preparation of Anglican students for church work, but simply viewing it as that is a mistake. They hold weekly services (open to all), daily worship (open to all), and a weekly dinner (again, open to all).

One of the truly ecumenical works of theirs is sponsorship of the Annand Program, named for former Dean James Annand. Students have the opportunity at YDS to take part in group and individual spiritual formation, under the direction of trained leaders. From the Berkeley Divinity School website: “The goal, as described by Professor Emeritus David Kelsey, is ‘to understand God truly,’ and it has long been the ethos of the entire Yale Divinity School to foster such a knowledge and love of God as its core institutional mission.” Annand is an attempt to support and equip students for their work at YDS, whatever that might be.

The first year, you take part in a small group program that is designed to meet once a week for a semester. People come with their ideas and goals for spiritual formation, and the group proceeds to attempt to support one another through experience and shared learning. Now I get to admit some of the baggage I brought to YDS. I had serious issues with the notion of prayer practice, and also about sharing the specifics of my view of religion. There are a lot of reasons for my qualms and feelings, but I entered my group skittish/wary-as-hell.

There were 8 in my group the first semester, from very different places, and heading very different places. I immediately learned several things. 1. we all have baggage. 2. Annand is, thankfully, not in any way shape or form group therapy or anything of that ilk. 3. understanding someone’s story, really taking the time to meet them on their ground, then engaging them, is in itself an amazing prayer practice.

While most groups end after a semester, mine was given permission to continue for the entire year, so we could explore more. All of this was free. Once a week, this place became for some a respite from the stress elsewhere, for some a place to be more open to differences, for some a place to explore commonalities, and others a time set aside for the Divine. We tried various practices: solitary walks, Enneagram, mediation, Ignatian prayer, poetry, song, etc., while also just trying to create a smaller, safer community. Whatever reasons people had for coming, it was a useful experience, and one I am quite thankful for.

Ok, off my ‘I love Annand’ soapbox. After the first year, you are given the option (again, free of charge) to meet for one-on-one spiritual direction. This is required for all Berkeley students, and encouraged for all other students. As I’ve not taken part in that (rising 2nd year and all), I can’t speak to it. But it’s there for you when if you want it, if you complete the first year of small group.

I cannot encourage you enough to consider this program. It is not for MDivs only, although I've couched my terminology a bit toward that framework. In my group, we had 5 MDivs and 3 MARs, and I think it's usually about 50/50. If you have more questions, please feel free to email Jane Stickney, the director of the Annand Program, at: annand@yale.edu