Summary of Formation for Spiritual Direction C - S2 2023

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Russell Bartlett

Email: RBartlett@adelaide.tabor.edu.au

I have been involved with Tabor’s Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction since its inception in 2016, having headed up the program for a while and now fully involved as an Adjunct Lecturer.

Prior to this I was involved with the Baptist denomination for over 16 years in teaching and pastoral roles, and before that I was a local church Baptist pastor for 20 years. I have been receiving spiritual direction for over 20 years, and through all of 2003-2004 trained in Adelaide to be a spiritual director. I co-taught in an ecumenical spiritual direction course in Adelaide through 2011-2015.

I’m married to Anne, have four children and ten grand-children. We enjoy growing fruit, vegetables and flowers, for savouring and sharing. I’m very much looking forward to further exploring development as spiritual directors with you this semester, as we keep on growing in our understanding and experience of spiritual direction and in discernment of this particular charism of ministry in our lives.

Christine Gilbert

Email: CGilbert@adelaide.tabor.edu.au

I am a spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors and ministers and a Uniting Church minister. I have a passion for companioning others one-on-one and in small groups as we explore what we sense God is on about in our lives and in the world. I enjoy reading, writing, bike riding, walking, boxing (I know, surprising), singing, flute playing and cups of tea in whatever patch of sun I can find. I followed my heart from Michigan in the US to Australia in 2011 to marry Sean, also a Uniting Church minister and lecturer at the Uniting College. We have a beautiful blended family who never cease to amaze us as they grow and flourish.

Bruce Hulme

Email: BHulme@adelaide.tabor.edu.au

Zoom Room: https://tabor-edu-au.zoom.us/my/bhulme
I had over 10 years of experience in lay ministry in Lutheran congregations (Canberra and Adelaide) before studying my BTh and Grad Dip Min at Tabor. I joined the Ministry Practice Faculty in 2008, and am currently the Head of the Spiritual Direction and Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care programs. I have a keen interest in Christian spirituality, formation and Christian reflective practice. I enjoy leading spiritual retreats and practicing as a spiritual director. My personal passion for reflective practice that contemplates and cultivates holistic Christian formation was the focus of my PhD research, and I’m keen to help students do this too. My approach to learning and teaching is founded upon the potency of vulnerability in the educator-student encounter; my hope is that students engage with not only what I know, but also with who I am. I love life in the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide with Sonia and our five children, and enjoy connecting with creation through gardening, camping, and trips home to the family farm in NSW where I grew up. My faith communities include Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Para Vista, and a small but growing local house church network.

Rachael Litchfield

Email: RLitchfield@adelaide.tabor.edu.au

Dr. Rachael Litchfield is a supervisor in Tabor's Spiritual Direction Formation Program and adjunct lecturer (Faculty of Ministry Practice). Rachael has a long experience in cross-cultural mission in SE Asia and Australia and continues to serve as a mission partner with Interserve focussing on offering spiritual direction and retreats for mission workers. She is married to Scott who is a Uniting Church minister and has two adult sons and a daughter in law.

Verity Riessen

Email: VRiessen@adelaide.tabor.edu.au

I previously studied a Bachelor of Visual Arts (1999) and a Postgraduate Bachelor of Education, (2001) working as a Secondary and Primary School Art Teacher, Music Teacher and Coordinator of the Arts. My love of nurturing relationships and supporting positive wellbeing of students, staff and families led to working as a primary school chaplain. After giving many seasons to caring for three young children I responded to a calling to return to study in 2017 completing a Masters of Divinity and a Graduate Diploma of Spiritual Direction. This lead to working as the Creative Arts Minister of Aldgate Church of Christ, offering Spiritual Direction and working in Theological Reflection, Spiritual Direction and Worship courses at Tabor.

Throughout these seasons I have woven through leading and participating in music and worship teams in churches and conferences, written, recorded, and released two albums and continue to preform in a rock and jazz bands.

My passion for education and learning is to facilitate safe, trusting and encouraging spaces that help nurture courage, growth and discernment in the exploration and challenges of understanding who we are, our spirituality and our relationship with God.

Course info

TM8358Sem22023 Formation for Spiritual Direction C - S2 2023