Facilitators
Betsey Beckman, MM, is nationally acclaimed as a spirited dancer, storyteller, teacher of SpiritPlay and dancing Spiritual Director. With her extensive background in performance, movement therapy, ministry and InterPlay, she is regularly featured as artist/presenter at national conventions as well as local churches. She earned her Masters in Ministry degree from Seattle University.
As dancer, choreographer, author, mother, wife, teacher and spiritual director, she is passionate about living life fully and fostering creativity in all those with whom she shares life and ministry.
Betsey’s publications include books, recordings, and videos on embodied prayer and she offers the gift of playful improvisation whenever possible!
Find out more about her work at her website: The Dancing Word.
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Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE earned her doctorate in Christian spirituality, professional status as a Registered Expressive Arts Consultant and Educator (REACE) from the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, and certificates in spiritual direction and supervision. She is an adjunct faculty at the School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University, art editor for Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, and facilitates Soul Care Supervision Groups through the expressive arts.
She is the author of Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements from Ave Maria Press and co-author of Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening and Awareness from Paulist Press.
She is also an artist and publishes reflective art journals and prayer cards with her photography, collage, and writing. Find out more about her work at her website: Abbey of the Arts.
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Together Betsey and Christine have co-authored Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Expressive Arts to Spiritual Direction for the Spiritual Directors International Imprint Series through Morehouse Publishing.
“Beautifully and evocatively explores the relationship between spiritual direction and the arts.” – Mary Rose Bumpus, RSM, PhD School of Theology and Ministry
“I put this at the top of the list for required reading for spiritual directors and spiritual formation classes.” -Cynthia Winton-Henry, cofounder of InterPlay
“With their groundbreaking book, Christine Valters Paintner and Betsey Beckman offer a profound gift to the spiritual direction community and those whom we serve. They remind us that creativity is God’s first language.” -Jan Richardson
“Christine Valters Paintner and Betsey Beckman have put their golden weight of gifts and skills together to form a masterpiece in using the arts in spiritual direction.” -Rebecca Bradburn Langer, D. Min.