Spiritual Direction for Groups/Individuals

What is Spiritual Direction?

“Spiritual direction is a journey towards more freely and deeply choosing to surrender to God.” –Dr. Gerald May, “Care of Mind, Care of Spirit”

The ultimate goal of spiritual direction is to deepen your connection with God. This is attained primarily through the act of Christian listening. Listening occurs through prayer, times of silence, spiritual disciplines, and through sharing with your spiritual director about your relationship with God.

What is a spiritual director?

A director will have certification in spiritual direction which includes: deep knowledge of Christian faith and tradition, scripture, and theology, human and spiritual development, adhere to the Professional Ethics and Guidelines prescribed by Spiritual Directors International and participate in a Peer Supervision Group for Spiritual Directors

Recognizing that the Holy Spirit is the true director in this relationship, a spiritual director will pray, support, and encourage you as you listen and respond to God. Spiritual direction is not therapy. There may be therapeutic elements in direction sessions, but the purpose is to work together in discerning God’s presence and leading in your life.

Who participates in spiritual direction?

Individuals
There is much diversity in an individual who is looking and listening to God – if there is a search for meaning, a desire for deeper life, a movement toward reflection, a willingness to live with profound questions, a longing to know and love God (again) then spiritual direction may be for you.
Groups or teams

Clare and Scott teach spiritual practices, followed by classic exercises and guided active listening. Individuals listen to the movement of the Holy Spirit for themselves and with each other. All are experienced in God’s presence through silence, reflection, and shared responses,

Spiritual direction can help you-

  • pay attention to how God is moving in your life right now
  • lead from a healthy soul
  • discover God-given essence and false self-patterns
  • observe attachments that keep you from being free to experience and express God in your life
  • move you toward faith hope and love
  • move you toward interior freedom
  • discern the will of God
Some topics for a first time in Spiritual Direction
  • Understanding of spiritual direction
  • Purpose of the directee/director relationship
  • Prayer for participant/s between meetings
  • Spiritual direction as a spiritual exercise, not an intellectual exercise
Before coming to direction, think over the past few weeks and where God has been in your life. If you journal, it may be helpful to look at the entries and see if you notice patterns or themes. This is a time for you. It is you and the Holy Spirit who set the agenda for the meeting time.Your spiritual director should know if you are under treatment by a therapist, or receiving medication.
“Your whole life is your spiritual life, God is in every part of it… God is, in fact, continually creating you through all your experience, and you are the indispensable co-creator.”-Thomas Hart
Individual Sessions
  • 50 mins in length
Group Direction/Teaching/Guiding and retreats

Clare and Scotts’ teaching of spiritual disciplines followed by practice are designed for a group’s unique stage of faith. While spiritual practices are classic, creating the time for your group will be customized.

A note from Clare and Scott

“Spiritual Direction has been practiced in the church for centuries, especially by those who served in ministry. Those who long to engage with God more intimately and want someone to listen to God’s leading with them will engage in spiritual Direction as a regular discipline. We feel specifically called to offer spiritual Direction to Christian leaders. The danger for Christian leaders is losing their close connection to God in the call to serve others. Spiritual Direction is a necessary rhythm that can help you pay attention to your soul and your soul’s desire for an authentic relationship with God.”

Clare and Scott are Christ-followers, spiritual directors, contemplative activists, and authors on the spiritual life who are convinced that all sustainable action in the world must emerge from a Holy Spirit-centered life. Gratefully married since 1981 and co-lead pastors since 1991, they are deeply blessed with four children and seven grandchildren. As a ministry team and individually, they desire to help individuals and communities navigate the journey home. You can email Clare here and Scott here.