Supporting individuals and groups for vibrant living focused on the well-being of all.
Winter Wanderings
A 4 Week Series
About
Partners in Pilgrimage accompanies individuals and groups as they integrate their relationships with self, others, all of creation, and the Transcendent into vibrant living focused on the well-being of all.
Expertise includes support for developing and expressing vision and mission individually and within a community.
What We Offer
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Spiritual Companionship is the experience of being walked with and encouraged to notice and deepen into the activity of The Divine (for simplicity, “God”) in each area of life. In our work as spiritual companions, we seek to accompany others in exploring their deepest beliefs and experiences, as balm for difficult times and as a window into the paths to which they feel invited, and the steps they can take on their journey toward spiritual freedom, authenticity, and connection.
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Supervision is the ministry of accompanying another as they reflect on the experience of serving as a spiritual companion. I (Anne) walk with both experienced spiritual directors and with those training in the ministry as they develop and hone the sensibilities and skills of a spiritual companion, and as they reflect on the consolations, desolations, challenges and invitations that emerge in listening to others’ stories. I experience supporting other spiritual directors as a sacred gift that both increases opportunities for others to be touched by this transformational ministry, and that deepens the awareness of the sacred for the spiritual companions whom I support.
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In spiritual terms, discernment involves more than being able to distinguish between right and wrong choices. Rather, discernment seeks to develop a habit of making choices in keeping with the good of oneself and a larger community. We support individuals and groups in noticing, developing and leaning into sacred rhythms; in defining and experiencing spiritual freedom, in identifying spiritual practices that support them in making discrete choices, and in moving deeply into a lifestyle that aligns with their foundational values.
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I (Anne) lead spiritual formation groups at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS). I also teach in the Justice-Forward Spiritual Direction (JFSD) training program at EMS and in the Graduate Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction (DASD) program at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS). I regard teaching and learning, particularly sharing spiritual disciplines and the art of spiritual companionship as deeply formational, and potentially transformative work. Classes that I teach regularly include: Inner Life and Wisdom Centers; Power Dynamics and Ethics in Spiritual Direction; and the Art of Discernment. I am available to teach this and other material in additional settings.
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We meet with individuals or small groups to assist them in addressing a specific issue or area of conflict or disagreement. Only one side of the conflict needs to participate. Conflict coaching provides a proactive approach for one side of a conflict to gain insights and experience employing conflict resolution tools, thereby increasing their agency in resolving the conflict.
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We create a space for navigating the complex emotions, thoughts, and behaviors associated with loss, thereby accompanying individuals or groups on the journey toward integration of the loss. The death of a loved one, or job; a broken relationship; shattered dream; experience of abuse, oppression or trauma - these are some forms of loss. Walking with those experiencing grief, honors the reality that while loss and grief are universal, each loss merits unique attention.
In addition to accompanying individuals, we offer grief groups. Individual and group participants may choose to co-create healing rituals. Such rituals are ceremonial practices oriented to remembering and honoring what was lost, inviting memories, naming what participants want to take with them, and what they feel called to release. Music, movement, symbols, and healing techniques that carry meaning for participants may be part of these rituals. These uniquely tailored practices emerge from a communal context of facing what awaits healing and choosing how to move toward what may be transformative.
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Differences do not need to bring individuals or groups to a stalemate. As trained Mediators, we assist individuals and groups, who experience disagreements, as they negotiate their differences and move towards healing outcomes. Our goal as mutually-selected, neutral persons is to help identify and guide movement towards a shared highest hope.
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Crucial or difficult conversations are sometimes needed for individuals or groups to better understand one another’s positions and find mutually agreeable and proactive ways of moving forward together. We use a voluntary process centered around participants’ core values wherein the facilitators guide participants in identifying shared values, and their hopes for outcomes. Based on these values and hopes we seek to move participants toward mutual understanding and resolution while retaining consistency with their core values for the common good.
Who We Are
Anne Blackwood and Charlene Epp have over 60 years (combined) in vocational calls to serve people and creation. Their contexts for living their call have included family, spiritual community, neighborhoods, employment in healthcare settings, teaching, group facilitation, and organizational consulting.
Their experiences have located them on the East and West coasts, in the Midwest, in urban and rural, underserved and affluent settings. Their differences in cultural and racial backgrounds serve as a storehouse of resources to share, grounded in an ever-deepening 30+ year friendship.
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Anne is a physician, trained as a medical oncologist, who has worked in academic medicine, patient care, and cancer drug development for 30 years. Beginning in 2015, Anne pursued discernment at Mercy Center (Burlingame, CA), and then received training in the art of spiritual direction at San Francisco Theological Seminary (San Anselmo, CA). She received supervision training through Spiritual Directors International, and Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA). Anne has also served on the Steering committee of Christian Peacemaker Teams and of Health in Harmony, a trailblazing Planetary Health organization. Through her spiritual direction and supervision practices, the teaching of spiritual direction (at both of her seminaries), and her work with peacemaking and creation care organizations, Anne accompanies others in exploring their deepest beliefs and experiences, as balm for difficult times and as a window into the directions into which they feel invited, and the steps they can take on their journey toward spiritual freedom, authenticity, connection, and change-making.
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I am a Spiritual Practitioner, drawing from years of experience as a trained Spiritual Director, Interim Pastor, Board Certified Chaplain, Regional Conference Minister, District Pastor, and teacher. I serve as a Board member for AQORD (a national association empowering values-aligned health and human service organizations to lead with excellence, integrity, and purpose) and Root ‘n Renew (offering transformative, nature-based healing experiences to support emotional recovery and personal growth). As a Chaplain, my care was in acute care, Level 1 trauma centers, hospice and religious settings. Along with entire hospital coverage, I served on Palliative Care teams and provided specialized care to the in- and out-patient Behavioral Health Unit, Breast Cancer Center, Emergency Department, Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU, Pediatrics, and PICU. My chaplaincy care included staff support based on trauma-informed models, offering staff reconnection of role with soul. I received my Master of Divinity degree from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and am ordained in Mennonite Church USA. I taught elementary and preschool children from large urban to small rural migrant communities. I am a Spiritual Director, co-facilitating groups and companioning individuals in their spiritual walk.