Spiritual Direction is a confidential relationship where you receive help to recognize and respond to the presence of God in you, around you, and truthfully, sometimes in spite of you. While I've met many people for spiritual direction since 1996, it's most often been with church leaders like pastors, chaplains, teachers, conference ministers, professors, church executives, presidents and vice-presidents, and CEOs. Maybe that's because I worked as a church leader for 38 years. If you live in northern Indiana, we can meet in person. If you live elsewhere, we can use Zoom.
Supervision for Spiritual Directors is a confidential relationship focused on your ministry as a spiritual director. Since I was trained as a supervisor by Together in the Mystery, I focus mostly on you, the spiritual director. Our purpose is to explore the things that arise within you in your ministry, such as feelings, intuitions, images, senses, ideas, inner blocks, and inner freedom. We can also consult about practical and ethical issues you might encounter. Again, if you live near me, we can meet in person, but Zoom works well if you live elsewhere.
My Approach to Direction and Supervision
Whether we meet for direction or supervision, I pursue an approach that is contemplative, evocative, and compassionate. What do I mean by those?
A contemplative approach aims to . . .
An evocative approach . . .
A compassionate approach tries to
I strive to abide by the "Guidelines for Ethical Conduct" published by Spiritual Directors International.
Supervision for Spiritual Directors is a confidential relationship focused on your ministry as a spiritual director. Since I was trained as a supervisor by Together in the Mystery, I focus mostly on you, the spiritual director. Our purpose is to explore the things that arise within you in your ministry, such as feelings, intuitions, images, senses, ideas, inner blocks, and inner freedom. We can also consult about practical and ethical issues you might encounter. Again, if you live near me, we can meet in person, but Zoom works well if you live elsewhere.
My Approach to Direction and Supervision
Whether we meet for direction or supervision, I pursue an approach that is contemplative, evocative, and compassionate. What do I mean by those?
A contemplative approach aims to . . .
- welcome silence
- proceed at a slower pace than in normal conversation
- listen to your body, emotions, intuition, spiritual senses, and images
- become aware of realities lying under the surface
- be interculturally aware
- approach scripture for the purpose of spiritual growth rather than for the purpose of preaching, teaching, or analysis
- attend to all areas of life
An evocative approach . . .
- summons the wisdom already inside you (which is partly a gift of the Spirit)
- helps you say aloud what you may not have said before
- encourages you to use your own voice and to clarify your own identity
- favors open-ended questions over either/or or yes/no questions
- illuminates your own spirituality (see About Spiritualities)
A compassionate approach tries to
- provide space to talk about things you may not be able to talk about elsewhere
- be compassionate with yourself
- allow for emotional connection
- help you be in touch with your feelings
- access God's tenderness and grace toward you
- help you become more resilient
I strive to abide by the "Guidelines for Ethical Conduct" published by Spiritual Directors International.
