The Art of Spiritual Writing – 31 Jan 2026, 10am-12noon
Writing is not something that naturally occurs within the process of Spiritual Direction these days. And yet it can be a very effective way of opening doors to shed more light on the identity and spiritual journey of the companion. This event will provide some simple effective tools to help to open those occasionally sticking doors and to promote a deeper rapport.
Hosted by Richard and Eirene Palmer who have recently published The Art of Spiritual Writing, discovering your most authentic writing … and more about yourself on the way, published by Darton, Longman and Todd. They facilitate retreats and courses on spiritual writing and the spiritual journey. Richard served nationally as Groups’ Coordinator for the Association of Christian Writers. Eirene runs a blog, backstreetpilgrim.com.
The Spiritual Director: Practising the Charism of Presence and Attention In The Spiritual Director, Julia Mourant invites practitioners into a deeper understanding of this sacred ministry, embracing its charism as a way of being rather than a set of skills. She explores the distinctive nature of spiritual direction as both vocation and spiritual gift, grounded…
Support and Resource Group Event with David Runcorn: Telling it Slant Following Jesus could leave even St Paul saying, ‘now we see dimly’. It is altogether too wonderful and beyond human understanding to be reduced to questions and answers. We find ourselves in the quirky, even contradictory world of parables, led down apparent side tracks,…
‘The Bright Field – glimpsing God in everyday moments’ You can download the handout and resources list from Alison’s morning here. Alison MacTier’s morning of reflection ‘The Bright Field – glimpsing God in everyday moments’ was part of the Spiritual Direction Forum UK’s ‘supporting and resourcing spiritual directors‘. Saturday 15 April 2023, 10.00 – 13.00. Using the well-known…
A Dynamic and Vital Connection: Theology, Spirituality and Spiritual Direction On Saturday 8 November (10am-3pm, online) we will be exploring our explicit and implicit understanding of the interaction between theology, spirituality and spiritual direction. Our hope is to encourage a renewed interest in and commitment to the dynamic between our inner experience, scripture and the Christian…
Streams in the Desert – Julie Dunstan 2 February 2023 As part of the Spiritual Direction Forum UK’s ‘encouraging the creative development of this ministry within the church and in a changing world’, we offer this evening of reflection with Julie Leger Dunstan. To reach out to both the church and the world in these changing…
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL WRITING Using writing to deepen discernment and direction – with Richard and Eirene Palmer You can watch the recording of this session here. https://youtu.be/xNERkjyr7gA
Group 3. To advocate and encourage the creative development of this ministry within the church and in a changing world by
Group Members: Julie Dunstan, Chris Chapman, Julia Mourant, Naomi Gates and Sarah Lear
Group 2. To promote and protect good practice by
Group Members: Susanne Carlsson, Nick Helm, Chris Mason, Rachel Overton, Ruth Holgate

We desire

In the same spirit in which Spiritual Direction is conducted, we will endeavour to:

Create a Core Committee
Create three working groups to represent the three faces of the forum
The committee has been operating from the beginning. Current membership is: Nick Helm & Julie Dunstan (co-chairs), Ruth Holgate, Susanne Carlsson, Catherine Williams.
It has:
Group 1. To support and resource spiritual directors by
Group Members: Catherine Williams (Chair), Ray Andrews, Mary Flitcroft, Henriette Howarth, Peter Rainford & Vron Smith