Linda Flynn

Leader, Spiritual Direction Team

Linda Flynn is Executive Director of the Charlotte Spirituality Center, a spiritual and educational institute that offers training of spiritual directors, companionship in spiritual formation and spiritual direction in the Southeast. A spiritual director and retreat leader for sixteen years, she specializes in Ignatian Spirituality, discernment, twelve step, and the Enneagram. With a degree in Hospitality Management, Linda received her ministry training through the Jesuits, the Enneagram Institute, her certification from the Charlotte Spirituality Center and supervisory certificate from “Together in the Mystery Supervision Program” associated with San Francisco Theological Seminary. A member of Spiritual Directors International, Linda describes herself as a progressive, ecumenical Catholic who values community, non-violence, and equality. Linda is also the co-founder of the annual event “Blanket Banquet” for the homeless and author of the retreat workbook “Praying Twelve Steps With Jesus: A Journey Back to Wholeness.” Her hero is Dorothy Day.

J. Marshall Jenkins

J. Marshall Jenkins, Ph.D., is a writer, counseling psychologist, and spiritual director. Through his writing and listening ministries, Marshall strives to validate the faith and empower the discipleship of people facing emotional pain. The Beatitudes point to rich insights for that mission, and he shares them in his Beatitudes Blog at www.jmarshalljenkins.com and in his recently published book, Blessed at the Broken Places: Reclaiming Faith & Purpose with the Beatitudes (Skylight Paths, 2016). He received certificates in spiritual formation at Columbia Theological Seminary and in spiritual guidance at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Since 1987, he has served as Director of Counseling at Berry College and conducted an evening private practice in psychotherapy and spiritual direction. He lives in Rome, Georgia with his lovely wife, Wanda Cantrell.

www.jmarshalljenkins.com

Anne Findlay-Chamberlain

Rev. Anne Findlay-Chamberlain was ordained as preacher and teacher in the United Church of Christ in 2004. She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University (1975), Shippensburg University (1985) and North Park Theological Seminary (2004). Anne served three different United Church of Christ congregations in Hawaii before returning to the East Coast in 2016. In her work as a pastor, spiritual director, and retreat leader, Anne loves accompanying individuals, small groups and congregations in discovering God’s presence in their lives.

Mims Driscoll

Mims Driscoll is a faculty member and spiritual director with the Charlotte Spirituality Center. Mims is also a certified trauma informed yoga specialist. Her passion for people led her to start Living Mangaliso, (Mangaliso is Zulu for You are an Amazement), an in person and online community that focuses on restoring people to their bodies, breath, souls and spirit. Mims’ training includes Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Children with ADD, ADHD, and those on the Autism spectrum, as well as Yoga for Veterans and those suffering with PTSD. Mims is of the contemplative Christian faith, with a passion for interfaith and ecumenical work.

Randy Bell

Randy Bell is the Director of Spring Creek Spirituality, a non-denominational spiritual setting independent of a specific religious dogma, welcoming all faiths and backgrounds as we explore each person’s individual spirituality using our everyday language. His spiritual path has taken him to many diverse sources, though he is principally a follower of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, Buddha, Lao-Tsu, and has been a Zen practitioner for 40 years. He has written extensively on various spiritual topics; offers a spiritual sanctuary for individual retreatants in the mountains of western NC; provides instruction in various meditation practices; serves as a guest speaker/session leader; and leads spiritual and personal growth workshops and retreat sessions. He is a member of Spiritual Directors International and the North Carolina Writer’s Network.

Sarah DeShields

Sarah DeShields is an artist and musician from Scotland, currently finishing her certification this year as a Spiritual Director at Charlotte Spirituality Center. Claiming a Celtic Spiritual heritage and a newness to the contemplative life, Sarah can be found creating spaces for the contemplative arts in communities, forming creative liturgies and sacred spaces where the invitation for all is deeply felt. As a spiritual director she has experienced the beautiful ministry of companioning others in their unique experiences, and is delighted to be returning for a second year at the Goose to offer her time as a director.

Lucinda Clark

Lucinda Clark resides in Charlotte, NC where she recently completed a three-year spiritual direction program and started a private practice. She received her training at Charlotte Spirituality Center. Lucinda is grateful to journey and witness the unfolding of the Divine in those that she companions, as they seek a deeper awareness. Lucinda is a contemplative interfaith spiritual director, respectful of all faith traditions and inclusive of all people. She’s also passionate about volunteering her time in the community offering spiritual direction and she’s looking forward to being of service at Wild Goose.

Jocelyn Lyons

Jocelyn Lyons (Joy) has been a spiritual director for 18 years. She completed her formation for spiritual direction and directed retreats at Creighton Univ. Jocelyn has led retreat, workshops across the country and locally. Jocelyn also holds a MA in Education (University of Connecticut) and MTS (Spring Hill College). She is an experienced administrator having served as a school principal and in other administrative positions.

Vanessa Hawkins 

My journey into spirituality was sparked during my seminary studies and during my service as a mission partner at a small South African Anglican seminary where I was encouraged to engage in spiritual practices. The seminary’s approach to spiritual formation arrayed before me a rich tapestry of spiritual practices that moved me to pay closer attention to God’s presence in my life.

In a spiritual direction session, I seek to engage a person’s heart and mind through the art of contemplative listening which helps us to tap into an inner knowing—a deeper intuitive knowledge that enables one to follow the blowing of the Spirit. I have practiced spiritual direction since earning a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2014.

Karen Keen 

Karen Keen is founder and primary provider at The Redwood Center for Spiritual Care in Durham, North Carolina. More than anything, she loves seeing people come alive as they experience meaningful connection with God and others. Karen first honed her listening and helping skills while earning degrees in psychology and counseling (B.S., Corban University; M.S., Western Oregon University).

Working as a mental health therapist she became convinced that spiritual wellness forms the foundation for all other well-being. Karen earned her certificate in spiritual direction from the Training Program for the Ministry of Spiritual Direction under the auspices of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, a congregation of Catholic Sisters in the Ignatian tradition. She has also enjoyed pondering questions of faith through advanced biblical and theological studies (M.A., Western Seminary; Th.M., Duke Divinity School). Karen loves listening to people from all walks of life.

Will Humes

Will has been a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 30+ years, and is someone who tries, though often fails, to follow Jesus. He works for the full inclusion of all people in Christ’s church, and strives to help people discern the presence of God in their lives. He received his training in spiritual direction at Sustainable Faith in Cincinnati (sustainablefaith.com). One of his favorite quotes is by Frederick Buechner: ““My story is important not because it is mine, God knows, but because . . . it is precisely through [our] stories in all their particularity, as I have long believed and often said, that God makes himself known to each of us more powerfully and personally. If this is true, it means that to lose track of our stories is to be profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually.”