About Me
Spiritual Formation. My early roots were with The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In 2001, I was confirmed into The Episcopal Church, where I have been active in local ministries and governance (Education for Mission--EFM, Stephen Ministry, Vestry) and other organizations (the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition, Episcopal non-residential monastic life). I am a member of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), Indianapolis: https://www.cccindy.org/ I serve as a lay eucharistic visitor at Christ Church, taking communion to shut-ins.
I am keenly interested in spiritual practices and perspectives from other faiths and contemplative traditions. I am a member of The Parliament of the World's Religions: https://parliamentofreligions.org/ and attended its 9th Convening in Chicago in August 2023.
Spiritual Practices. I consider spiritual direction a spiritual practice and am both a client and a spiritual director. My practices focus on the triad of contemplative prayer, Biblical and theological reflection, and social justice advocacy and witness. I engage in InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM). I have completed training as an InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM) Mentor: https://.spiritualpaths.net/
Spirituality is the cultivation of the inner life that expresses itself in the outer, everyday life. I am a member of Amnesty International, the Gay Men's Health Crisis, the Ukraine Society of Indiana, Stop Ecocide (based in Sweden) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w764J3DabAU, and several other organizations. I take library books to shut-ins through the Library Express program of the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library.
Education. I hold theological degrees from several seminaries, including The Union Theological Seminary of New York City (STM), Iliff School of Theology (MDiv), and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis (MAR and DMin). My training in spiritual direction is from the Benedict Inn, Beech Grove, IN. Training in the supervision of spiritual directors was at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, in 2018, under Lucy Abbott Tucker.
Professional Life. I served in the Peace Corps as a community organizer in Northeastern Brazil from 1966-1968. From 1970 until 2001, I was involved in global ministries in Brazil, France, and several African countries. From 2001 until 2009, I was in sales and supervisory positions at the downtown Indianapolis Borders Bookstore.
Since 2009, I have devoted myself to the practice of spiritual direction. In 2011, I became a member of Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/ I work with individuals across the spectrum of Christian faith in addition to spiritually independent or fluid persons and members of other religions and contemplative traditions.
Areas of Strength. Following are some areas of spiritual direction in which I have experience and skill:
Interests. I am interested in reading new books, travel, photography, hiking/camping, family history/genealogy, art history, and cycling.
Family and Friends. My partner of more than two decades is Frank Hurdis. We claim three adult children, their spouses, and four grandchildren. A network of many friends nurtures us.
I am keenly interested in spiritual practices and perspectives from other faiths and contemplative traditions. I am a member of The Parliament of the World's Religions: https://parliamentofreligions.org/ and attended its 9th Convening in Chicago in August 2023.
Spiritual Practices. I consider spiritual direction a spiritual practice and am both a client and a spiritual director. My practices focus on the triad of contemplative prayer, Biblical and theological reflection, and social justice advocacy and witness. I engage in InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM). I have completed training as an InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM) Mentor: https://.spiritualpaths.net/
Spirituality is the cultivation of the inner life that expresses itself in the outer, everyday life. I am a member of Amnesty International, the Gay Men's Health Crisis, the Ukraine Society of Indiana, Stop Ecocide (based in Sweden) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w764J3DabAU, and several other organizations. I take library books to shut-ins through the Library Express program of the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library.
Education. I hold theological degrees from several seminaries, including The Union Theological Seminary of New York City (STM), Iliff School of Theology (MDiv), and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis (MAR and DMin). My training in spiritual direction is from the Benedict Inn, Beech Grove, IN. Training in the supervision of spiritual directors was at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, in 2018, under Lucy Abbott Tucker.
Professional Life. I served in the Peace Corps as a community organizer in Northeastern Brazil from 1966-1968. From 1970 until 2001, I was involved in global ministries in Brazil, France, and several African countries. From 2001 until 2009, I was in sales and supervisory positions at the downtown Indianapolis Borders Bookstore.
Since 2009, I have devoted myself to the practice of spiritual direction. In 2011, I became a member of Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/ I work with individuals across the spectrum of Christian faith in addition to spiritually independent or fluid persons and members of other religions and contemplative traditions.
Areas of Strength. Following are some areas of spiritual direction in which I have experience and skill:
- Clergy support
- Support for gender and sexual minorities
- Religious trauma and deconstruction from high-control religious groups
- Growing old in Christ
- Discernment during moments of personal and professional transition
- Braiding spiritual traditions from great faiths and contemplative traditions
Interests. I am interested in reading new books, travel, photography, hiking/camping, family history/genealogy, art history, and cycling.
Family and Friends. My partner of more than two decades is Frank Hurdis. We claim three adult children, their spouses, and four grandchildren. A network of many friends nurtures us.
"We're all just walking each other home."--Ram Dass