Spiritual Direction

What is Spiritual Direction?

In the midst of “doing ministry for a living,” we can feel the need of spiritual guidance or companionship as we engage the expectations of us found in our personal and professional lives. Sometimes, specific events lead us to question beliefs that once seemed settled, causing new questions to arise. We may choose to seek counsel as we look for new growth and maturity in our spiritual practices. Also, many of us can become confused while leading ministries and begin to operate as if God’s delight in us depends upon our ministry’s success. Spiritual direction is a place separate from engaging job performance, while also not therapy. Meetings with a spiritual director can be a place of holy listening as we ask where we find the presence of God in our lives, in the every day activities of tending to our relationships with God, family, friends, job, ministry, and career.

In the Celtic world, anam cara were the Gaelic words for “soul" and “friend." To begin your search for a “soul friend” - a spiritual teacher, companion, or guide - to accompany you on your spiritual journey, you can begin with the Spiritual Directors’ International website.

Use the button to the left to explore frequently asked questions about spiritual direction.

Get connected to a Spiritual Director

Spiritual Directors from the UMCRM community

The following United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministry leaders and supporters understand the unique ministry that you serve. These Spiritual Directors are excited to get to know you and help you find your path toward a closer walk with God while leading a camp or retreat ministry:

Janice Japp - Janice.spiritualdirector@gmail.com
Janice Japp has been an ordained clergy member of The United Methodist Church for over 30 years. Janice has a Doctor of Ministry in “Spirituality and the Suffering of God” and is certified as a spiritual director. She currently serves in ministry as “Donor Support Director” of a UMC camp located in Nebraska.

Lawrence Jay - lawrence.jay@Rollingridge.org
An ordained American Baptist pastor and Executive Director of Rolling Ridge Retreat Center, Lawrence Jay is a graduate of UCLA, Golden Gate Seminary, Franciscan School of Theology, and American Baptist Seminary of the West. Eco-spirituality is his passion (and was his doctoral dissertation), encouraging everyone to live into the fullness of our connection with nature, God, and all people.

Sarah Ratz - sarah.ratz@umcrm.org
Sarah has been in the camping world since she was a teen. She is a certified spiritual director as well as the Director of Beersheba Springs Assembly in TN. Sarah is a wonderful leader and willing to help out as needed. She enjoys traveling, crafting and scrapbooking and spending time at home with her puppies.

Melinda Trotti - Melindatrotti@hotmail.com
Melinda Trotti is a seminary trained lay person who has served as Director in both settled and interim terms with camps, conference, and retreat centers. She has a passion for justice, experience with trauma-informed spiritual direction, and was educated through the Haden Institute in Jungian perspectives and processes.

Email a UMCRM Spiritual Director to inquire about their availability.

Hearts on Fire Fellowship

For spiritual direction provided specifically by United Methodists, you can peruse the Hearts on Fire Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders website.

Spiritual Directors’ International

To aid your process in finding a spiritual director or spiritual companion, Spiritual Directors International offers this resource to help you locate and reach out to one of the more than 6000 spiritual directors and companions listed in our free searchable database below.

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