Spiritual Direction Ministry
Spiritual Direction is one pathway to a deepening relationship with the divine. Spiritual Directors are trained and experienced to offer an open space for reflective presence, empathetic listening, and deep trust. If you have felt a desire to explore the ways God is working in your life with a steady, grounded, and trustworthy companion, spiritual direction may be a great option.
Our member Spiritual Directors align with the inclusive and open values of the Center for Living Water. To get more information and have a conversation, fill out our inquiry form. Trust that this will be a process of mutual exploration as you discern if Spiritual Direction is a good fit at this time in your life.
Member Spiritual Directors
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Donna Sperry
Donna Sperry received her BSN from Graceland University and worked most of her nursing career in Emergency Medicine. She is a life-long member of Community of Christ, serving her congregation and Mission Center as worship leader, pastor, and spiritual formation specialist. After many years in nursing, she shifted her career focus to faith-based leadership and began work with the Central Mission Center of Community of Christ as a Spiritual Formation Minister. She expanded her education through certification in Leading Congregations in Contemplative Prayer from Shalem Institute, a Master’s in Theology from Saint Paul School of Theology, and a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She has been a Spiritual Director for 20 years.
Donna and her husband, Dave, are blessed with loving children and grandchildren who bring a great deal of joy to their lives. Much of their free time is spent supporting grandchildren in sports, music, and theater activities. Donna enjoys music, theater, knitting, and travel.
As a Spiritual Director, Donna feels honored to share in conversations with those who are exploring deeper connections with the Divine. She believes God shines through all aspects of life and continually seeks to bring us into greater unity within ourselves, with God, and creation.
CONTACT DONNA
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Katie Harmon-Mclaughlin
Katie Harmon-McLaughlin (she/her) received her Doctorate of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary with a focus on discernment and spiritual leadership, and a Master of Arts in Religion from Community of Christ Seminary. She received a dual certificate in Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Leadership from Pneuma Institute and is a trained labyrinth facilitator through Veriditas. She has worked in a number of roles including pastoral ministry, spiritual formation ministries, associate faculty in spiritual formation for Community of Christ Seminary, and is currently the Director of Formation Ministries for Community of Christ.
Areas of passion and emphasis include supporting young families on the spiritual journey, discernment and formation for pastors and leaders, facilitating communal discernment, navigating faith transitions, the intersection of contemplation and action, and ecological and feminist spiritualities. For Katie, it is a deep privilege to accompany others on the journey of spiritual deepening and she has trust in the presence of the Spirit at work in all the circumstances and seasons of life. She believes that God meets us wherever we are and however we arrive. She is also the mother of two young daughters, a dog lover, avid camper, and perpetual spiritual seeker.
*Katie is not seeing new directees at this time
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Rob Carr
Rev. Rob Carr was a pastor for 38 years, associated with the Disciples of Christ, a welcoming and inclusive family of churches. A longstanding passion for contemplative spirituality has led him to connections with the centering prayer movement, the Academy for Spiritual Formation, and the Souljourners certificate program in spiritual direction. He has been a Spiritual Director for 10 years. In retirement, Rob enjoys walks with his spouse Kathy and their dog, coffee with friends, teaching and preaching on occasion, time with busy kids and grandkids, and of course his graced conversations with others in spiritual direction.
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Tyler Marz
Spiritual direction or companioning is a process done together. As John Mabry says, we are both beggars searching for bread. I am there to meet you where you are in your spiritual journey and companion wherever that takes us. For some, that even means meeting them on the margins of their faith, full of doubt, wonder, anger, frustration, joy, or sorrow.
Personally, I find spirituality and the Divine in everyday life, nature, human relationships, even cooking, and so much more. I companion people of many faith backgrounds, those in faith transition or crisis, those who attend church regularly, and those who haven’t stepped foot in a space in years. May you know you are beloved and worthy, just as you are.
Among many things, I have experience in Ecospirituality/Nature-based, Spiritual Practices, Group Spiritual Direction, LGBTQIA+, Men's Issues, Mindfulness/Meditation, ministerial leadership, and Young Adults. I have a Masters in Religion from Graceland University, training in spiritual direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and am pursuing my Doctorate in Ministry from SFTS as well.
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Channin Daugherty (in training)
Channin Daugherty received her BSN from Graceland University and her MSN from University of Alabama, Birmingham. Channin is certified as a Grief Educator. She worked 17 years in pediatrics, then the remainder of her career in Hospice and Palliative Medicine as a Nurse Practitioner. She joined Community of Christ in her twenties and has been active as contemporary worship leader, camp director, camp nursing coordinator, Sunday school teacher and Elder. Additionally, she created a community labyrinth for the San Jose Congregation in California. In retirement, Channin is changing her focus to Spiritual Direction Ministry and Grief support.
Channin is married to Michael Ray Daugherty and they now welcoming their growing extended family, savoring the blessings of grandchildren. Channin is grateful to be available to her children and grandchildren as they navigate this treasured time with newborns and toddlers. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, camping and beading.
Channin believed that God is present in and treasures all of creation. Spiritual Direction is a safe and sacred space, held with the intent of exploring experiences in life, as the veil between the individuals and The Holy is lifted as they move towards wholeness and healing while experiencing the embrace of God’s tremendous love. Channin is in a Spiritual Direction certification program through Souljourners in Atchison, KS.
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Denise Hill
Denise is a Spiritual Director, mentor, caregiver, clergy, gardener, artist, former chaplain and educator, devoted to her family and dedicated to deep listening and companioning people along life’s journey. Her creative practice combines the beauty and wisdom of the natural world with awareness of life evolution, trauma, grief, as well as the healing potential of storytelling, watercolor, soul collage, poetry and prayer.
Denise has led and taught people of all ages, valuing the uniqueness and inherent worth in each individual. Specifically, she has led camping programs, retreats, served in several faith communities, and worked in healthcare and hospice. She became a Spiritual Director in 2003, earning a Certificate of Spiritual Direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology. In 2012, after completing a chaplaincy residency and supervisor training, she became National Faculty with ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). She holds ordination with the United Church of Christ and devotes time to Green Justice issues. In 2021, she was humbled to receive the Steve Jeffers leadership award from the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council. Denise also enjoys hiking in national parks.