The follow is a guide of sorts for those in non-denominational and Vineyard church contexts looking for spiritual direction.

If you’ve been part of a church with a charismatic, you’re probably used to listening prayer, ministry times, and being attentive to what God is doing. Spiritual direction fits naturally alongside all of that. It’s one-to-one time with someone trained to listen with you and help you notice God at work in your everyday life. With the assumption God is present in the time together. You will find it is different to counselling or coaching and different to discipleship. It is not a prayer ministry appointment. It’s unhurried space to attend to your relationship with God.

Here’s some thought on finding the right person.

Start with what matters to you

A little reflection before you search will help you connect with a director more easily.

• Who will you open up to? Think about whether you’d prefer a man or a woman, a lay person or a minister, someone from your own tradition or a different one.
• Do you want a particular flavour? Some directors draw on Ignatian or Benedictine practices, and others have a background in counselling, coaching, or creative arts.
• What works practically? Most people meet every four to six weeks, in person or online. Decide how far you’re willing to travel.
• What can you give? Many directors rely on this as income, and others ask for a donation to cover their own training and supervision. Some suggest a helpful guide on the fee is roughly equal to what you earn in an hour.

Look for safe practice

Spiritual direction has no official accreditation, so you may want to check that a director works to a shared standard. For example directors in the LCSD directory follow a code of practice. Some directories in the UK expect a director to have completed safeguarding training. All contexts I know of expect a spiritual director to receive regular direction themselves, have ongoing supervision and commit to engaging in their own spiritual growth.

Where to look

• Ask a friend or church leader. They may know directors who understand your context (e.g. low-church, high-church, charismatic, traditional, non-denominational, and Vineyard values etc)
• Look wide. Many excellent directors are from traditions different to your own, and they will still honour your experience of the Spirit, so ask about this in your first conversation.
• Check a directory for directors near you or available online (e.g. LCSD directory and sustainablefaith.com/directors)

Test the fit

Arrange an initial meetings, perhaps try a couple of different directors. Get a sense of their style and training, ask about their fees. Pick one and try two or three sessions to see whether the times helps you in your reflections and helps you draw closer to God in your life.

Pray

Ask God to guide your choice. There’s no perfect director, only a good fit for this season. It’s fine to move on if the relationship isn’t helping, and you can trust that God is already at work in your search.