2024 Spiritual Directors Fall Forum

Updated on

Saturday, October 19, 2024 with overnight option on Friday, October 18, 2024

Theme: Spiritual Direction and Religious Trauma 

In spiritual direction, we at times accompany people who are seeking to understand and heal from the effects of unhealthy or harmful religious/spiritual experiences. Our Fall Forum of Spiritual Direction seeks to create a safe space for learning about religious trauma and spiritual direction, and to better equip spiritual directors in fostering spiritual wellbeing for religious trauma survivors.

The goals of the Fall Forum are:

  • To create a safe space for learning about religious trauma and spiritual direction 
  • To understand religious trauma and its effects on psychological and spiritual wellbeing 
  • To learn about the religious beliefs and behaviors commonly used to justify coercive moralistic sanctions, physical and/or emotional abuse
  • To explore ways to listen to and be with directees affected by religious trauma
  • To hold in prayer the beauty, wonder and giftedness of the directee
  • To learn spiritual practices to foster spiritual wellbeing for religious trauma survivors

Deadline to register is Friday, October 11, 2024. Questions? Contact Lydia Mercado, Spiritual Direction Coordinator (lmercado@richmondhillva.org).

Key Times

Friday, October 18, 2024
4:00 pm – Check-in begins for overnight attendees
5:30 pm – Evening prayer
5:45 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Centering prayer

Saturday, October 19, 2024
8:30 am – Check-in begins for commuters
9:00 am – Morning session begins
12:00 pm – Noon prayer & Lunch
1:30 pm – Afternoon session begins
4:00 pm – Departure

Suggested Donations

$50 – Saturday only
$65 – Saturday and dinner on Friday (no overnight)
$100 – Individual overnight retreat option (4pm Friday – 4pm Saturday)

Registration

Speakers

Laurie Wevers, LMFT, Spiritual Director (she/her)

Laurie Wevers is a Queer Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Spiritual Director based out of the Washington DC surrounding areas. Laurie is licensed to practice therapy in Minnesota, California, Maryland, Virginia, and DC, while seeing spiritual direction clients both nationally and internationally. 

With 10+ years of therapy and spiritual direction experience, training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a personal history of deconstructing from white evangelicalism, emotionally-immature/narcissistic family members, family estrangement, and two years in Richard Rohr’s Living School, Laurie offers healing, safety, resonance, humor, spiritual wisdom, and belonging to many social/religious/familial “misfits.”  She is passionate about healing people from past traumas and from relationships/dogmas that no longer serve them; thus helping them discover the deeper parts of who they are. She is also passionate about community and group work as a means to eliminate isolation and improve overall health. Laurie loves working with people in the LGBTQ+ community and the intersection of spirituality. Laurie was honored in 2023 by Spiritual Directors International as a New Contemplative

David Hoover, LCSW, Spiritual Director

David has dedicated his life to having a positive impact on the lives of others. Through his own personal journey, he has experienced the power of human and spiritual connection and through decades of professional work he has provided opportunities for others to do the same. He brings an inclusive approach to his work; he is especially good at incorporating spiritual healing into his practice. He has been a spiritual director for over fifteen years, having been trained at the Washington National Cathedral and the two-year Ruah program at Richmond Hill Retreat Center, where each month he facilitates the First Friday silent day retreat.