Spiritual directors—a support team for everyone in the UNY Conference

September 30, 2019 / By Rev. Nancy Dibelius, Associate Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life in the UNY Conference / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / 1 Comment

The Upper New York Conference has a team of spiritual directors. Spiritual directors are trained to be the non-anxious presence that can hold a safe, sacred space for others.  We believed that these were gifts and skills that could support, nurture, guide the unfolding of God’s deep desire for us as a people and as a Conference.

Individuals trained in spiritual direction bring gifts and skills in listening deeply for God and the movement of God in themselves and others, in contemplative practices; prayer, reflection, deepening self-awareness, spiritual disciplines, in developing healthy interpersonal relationships and boundaries, in discernment, both personal and corporate. 

Starting in July of 2018, UNY Conference spiritual directors began meeting quarterly to brainstorm ways that we can be a resource to the Conference. One example of a way this team served the Conference was by setting up and providing support for a prayer room (a sacred space where individuals could come and be supported in prayer or simply sit in the prayerful silence) at the 2019 UNY Annual Conference.

We are currently aiming to raise awareness within the Conference of spiritual direction as a Christian practice and to raise awareness of our presence and willingness to be available whether that be through offering a retreat, leading a workshop, or being a prayerful presence in difficult circumstances. With that in mind, we are planning to introduce members of this group over the next several months through a blog series; we also hope to provide more information about the types of retreats and workshops that could be offered---announcements will be sent through the UNY Conference whenever these workshops and retreats are planned

If you would like more information, please contact me at nancy.dibelius@gmail.com.