Available Spiritual Directors

Cathleen Burnett received a certificate of completion in 2014 from Souljourners, a three-year program of formation for spiritual directors offered by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas.

Cathleen is a full-connection Deacon, appointed part-time to the Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center on Lake Pomme de Terre, where she serves as Associate Director. Her secondary appointment is to the Pomme de Terre UMC in Hermitage. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International and Hearts on Fire, the Fellowship of UM Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders.

Cathleen's home is in Kansas City where she retired as Professor Emerita from teaching Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri for 34 years.

Do you desire to take a long, loving look at the real? It can be helpful to have a spiritual friend, a “holy listener,” accompany you as you ponder the questions “Who am I?” and “Who is God?” 

It would be a joy and a privilege for me to walk alongside you as you pay attention to your life with God. The spaciousness of our time together can be enhanced by times of silence as well as words as we observe the nudges of the Holy Spirit in your life.

I was trained in the contemplative Christian tradition of the Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program. I live in the St. Louis area, and I look forward to meeting you in-person, on Zoom or by phone.

In her practice of spiritual dDirection, Karen has come to love the idea of spiritual direction as being a process — a journey with a companion in God’s presence. Her approach is one of deep listening and non-judgement. Karen is available for individual accompaniment and group direction, as well as a retreat leader. While Karen offers spiritual companionship across all generations, she has spent a lot of time with seminarians and new clergy.

Karen has served as an elder in the United Methodist pastor for over 25 years — solo pastor, associate pastor, college-age minister and a Conference director. She currently serves as a lead pastor in Springfield, Missouri, with an office at Tristoried: Spiritual Direction and Retreats. Her education includes Millsaps College (BA) and Duke Divinity School (MDiv). She continued training in spiritual direction at the Franciscan Spirituality Center (La Crosse, Wisconsin).

Karen is married to Dave Hayden. They have four children by birth and foster adoption. Karen loves to connect with family and friends — especially on a trail, at a labyrinth, watching college basketball or on a croquet green.

Karen is available to meet in person, online or by phone. #iamhere2listen 

Rev. Tadd Kruithoff is a trained and experienced spiritual director and retreat guide. He is a graduate of the Renovare Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation and Knox Theological Seminary. His formation is in the Desert Fathers and Ignatian Spirituality. His approach to pastoring as a spiritual guide for congregations will be highlighted in an upcoming book by author Rebekah Simon-Peter.  Tadd is available as a spiritual director and a retreat guide for everyone including pastors, youth and even children. He is also available as a guide for those who would like to experience the spiritual exercises of Ignatius.

“Each day I arise to the newness of day that God has given to seek the gift of sacred time and sacred space with a sacred process of coming to self, others and God.”

Born in Sylacauga, Alabama, Cathy received her BS in Social Work from Jacksonville State University and later her MA in Counseling from University of Alabama in Birmingham. She worked in the mental health field for 21 years before receiving her call into full-time ministry. She received her MDiv from Memphis Theology School and later her DMin from St. Paul School of Theology. Before her ordination she served churches in the North Alabama Conference, and in 2009, she transferred to the Missouri Conference.

While working on her doctorate degree in spiritual formation she completed the Two-Year Academy of Spiritual Formation. The focus of these learning opportunities has been centering prayer, deep listening, discernment, self-reflection, and the teaching and practice of spiritual disciplines. She has been influenced by the work of Thomas Merton, Evelyn Underhill, Ruth Haley Barton, M. Robert Mulholland, Henri J.M. Nouwen and Marjorie J. Thompson.

Her deep joys are the liturgies of the church, the wider world in the garden, the ocean and the mountains, and watching her grandchildren grow and offering prayer to how she might offer them the love of Christ so that spiritual growth might be planted deep within their daily lives.

Cathy has been married to Chuck for 30 years. They love to go camping and enjoying the quietness of time, just time with each other and God. They have two grown children and four grandchildren. She currently serves as senior pastor at Richmond United Methodist Church. 

Every person is a unique reflection of the image of God. Our faith journey is lived in community. Daily we seek to pay attention to the Holy One and offer ourselves (who we are and what we have, for better or worse) to Jesus Christ, who blesses our holy mess and invites us to go and love our neighbors. Each of us is gifted to serve the missional purposes of God in Jesus Christ. The Spirit abides within and among us all. For me, spiritual direction is an intentional relationship and practice of discernment. It is soul care. We all need someone to companion us along the Way; someone whose purpose is soul care.

Jim received his DMin in Christian formation and spiritual direction from Saint Paul School of Theology. He has been practicing spiritual direction over 40 years. Jim is committed to a Wesleyan spirituality of holiness of heart and life. He considers the spiritual life to be kaleidoscopic, in that growth/conversion is lifelong and transformation occurs through any dimension of faith and life. It is his deepest honor to listen and share another’s journey in the name and presence of One who said: “I have opened a door before you that no one can close.” – Revelation 3:8a 

Karen has a passion for walking alongside others as they develop sacred rhythms to sustain them in life and ministry. She holds a special place for pastors, who often find themselves exhausted from the demands of ministry.

Karen is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years. During this time, she worked with new pastors through Local Pastor Licensing School as well as the Board of Ordained Ministry and District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Karen received a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. She holds a certificate from The Transforming Community in spiritual formation including practice in group spiritual direction.

She is married to Jim and has one son, Jonathan. They currently reside in Jefferson City, Missouri. 

Spiritual direction is a gift to those who seek it. A gift of experiencing the Holy in fresh ways. A gift in awakening to the Sacred that has been within us. A gift of nourishment, refreshment and healing for the soul.

Among those who need this most are those who lead in faith-based environments: pastors, teachers, guides, lay leaders – people who give so fully of themselves in developing the faith of others that they often neglect their own journey. As a United Methodist clergy member, as part of a clergy couple and as one who has served on many a church staff, Molly finds her calling to work with those in leadership positions who need to tend to their own souls. She lives into this call by offering spiritual direction and Enneagram discovery through her practice, Rooted Living – meeting in-person locally (Marshall/Columbia) or via Zoom.

Molly received her certification in spiritual direction from Mount Saint Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, and her Enneagram certification from Enneagram Spectrum in 2016.