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Locating a sensitive, talented spiritual director is, indeed, sometimes a difficult task, especially if you live in a smaller town or rural area. In terms of a spiritual director's educational background, I suspect this is not nearly as important as his or her own spiritual development. I am aware that the United Methodist Church has a certification track in Spiritual Formation. If you go to the UMC national website and search around a bit, you can find it. Or Google UMC and Spiritual Formation. I don't know whether or not they have a listing of those who are certified in spiritual formation, but I think you could probably surface one through the Methodist Church with a little diligence. I am in no way endorsing the Methodist Church with this. Only want to share that this denomination does, in fact, train folks as such. Good luck with your search.
I'd like to offer some links to places that one might find a spiritual director. I happend to find one through the Henri Nouwen Society last summer. I found one that lives near me, but they can connect you with one who will correspond with you over the Internet if you like. The Spirituality Network in Columbus, Ohio also maintains a referral listing. I don't know if they are all local or not. They also offer a certification program in spiritual formation and spiritual direction called Wellstreams. I have applied to enter the program starting in August this year, so I have no first-hand experience with it yet. Finally, Ashland Theological Seminary (in Ashland, Ohio) offers a degree program in spiritual formation. (I am working on this degree.) Perhaps other seminaries do too. They may be able to refer you to someone who does spiritual direction.
I hope this is helpful.
I have followed two men in the last 10 years. Both entered my life and took me further down the road toward Christ. Both men came after prayer. I knew neither of them before I started praying. Before I prayed for God to send someone to help me over 10 years ago, no one ever discipled me. I never asked. Both men surfaced suddenly, unexpectedly, and months after I began to pray. Each has left or faded away. The second man leaves in March. I have begun to pray again for someone else to follow. I also follow a third man; I can approach him whenever I need; he will never leave; he is always available. His name is St. Augustine. From over 1500 years away, his writings have taught me more than anyone living. He continues to pastor me; I have joined his flock; I obey him as I would my own father. Rather than pursuing someone, pursue the Lord and allow Him to bring His choice servant to you.
In my case, I was very fortunate that my mentor found me. My wife and I had been attending a small group meeting in the home of one of our church's elders (who was also the president of a missions board). We began to develop a relationship and started meeting on a regular basis. Every week he would contact me either by phone, email or person to ask me specifically, "How have you seen God this week?"
When I moved out of state two years ago, the mentoring has stopped although we still keep in contact. Since here, I have been in an accountability group (of 4 and no more) for the explicit purpose of holding one another up in prayer, holding one another spiritually accountable and the meeting of physical needs where necessary.
I have been reading Bill Hull's book "The Complete Book of Discipleship" and it is excellent. But Bill makes a distinction between a spiritual director and a mentor. The mentor relationship being "more popular among protestants", and meaning "helping people become disciples who serve others through their relationship to society, to the Word of God and to worship". (page 224) But Spiritual Direction "born of the monastic movement of the 4th century. Spiritual directors serve as guides. helping people in their walks with God." (page 224) From what I gather from Bill Hull, the difference seems to be that a Spiritual Director is more focused on assisting a person in practically developing their individual inward and upward relationship with God, while a mentor is more focused on pragmatic issues.
Therefore, again, the question for me as an evangelical is how do I find a Spritual Director that will help me in this classical and Catholic process, while maintaining our concern for the exclusive claims of Christ. Most of the Spiritual Direction training and Directors I have found in my search have been very "liberal" in their understanding of Christianity. They freely cross the line into "hindu" practices and validate other religions as equals of Christianity. Jesus did not allow this in His Word. He is very clear about His exclusive claims and we should have proper (though not obsessive) concern about deception.
So again, how do I find a spiritual director in the evangelical tradition that holds such core values?