"In the tumultuous ocean of time and toil there are islands of stillness, where upon entering their harbor you reclaim your dignity."
Abraham Heschel
Terry Chapman, Director of CPL Communities
he/him
Innovation
Visioning
Listening
Spiritual Direction
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In the thirty years Terry served as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) he discovered what truly makes his heart sing: creating and nurturing opportunities for people to discover and express their stories in safe, loving and generative conversations or what he called "holding spaces". He had the privilege and joy of witnessing the transformation that happens when people discover that they are loved and that the Divine, or whatever word they use to point to Ultimate Reality, is an active presence in their lives.
He believes that all lasting change is linguistic, embedded in story and all transformation is relational. He is passionate about engaging in conversations that explore life below the surface where people can remember the natural insight, warmth and courage that dwells in each human. He sees this as “essential blessing,” an identity that lies, often buried, under accumulated layers, ranging from numbing distraction to shame.
His training and experience as a pastor, spiritual director, teacher and convener has provided a lens through which he views all of life. His passion is to help people explore questions like: Who am I? Who are my people? And what is my purpose? Terry believes these are questions that are at the "heart of the matter" regardless of the context: a board room, a hospital visit, in church, classroom, leading a retreat, walking with a family through grief, or welcoming a child into the world.
His work has extended beyond the congregation with retreat and conference leadership nationally and internationally. He has convened conversations in Scotland and Uganda as well as a week long conference for young emerging leaders in Burundi. He leads regular pilgrimages to Uganda where he works with the Amahoro Children's Initiative. He serves as an adjunct instructor at New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a focus on Spiritual Formation. He loves his work with men leading men's retreats and men's wilderness journeys.
Terry is a poet and author. His book "Sabbath Pause" is a collection of meditations and poetry intended to help nurture a more contemplative and creative, less stressful life. He believes his purpose is to help create and nurture opportunities for people to exercise the capacity to be less reactive in a world that is increasingly disruptive.
In addition to being an ordained minister and Certified Spiritual Director Terry is also a Certified Convening Leader. Terry earned his doctorate in Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Direction at San Fransisco Theological Seminary. A member of Spiritual Directors International, Terry offers individual and group spiritual direction.
He is a father of two young adults near the beginning of their own journeys and married to Jan who is a practicing psychotherapist specializing in trauma. He loves long contemplative walks in the woods with his yellow lab, Chai. -
SAN FRANCISCO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
San Anselmo, CA — D. Min., 2005
Dissertation: A Hermeneutic of Sabbath Practice for a Postmodern World
SAN FRANCISCO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
San Anselmo, CA — Certificate in Spiritual Direction, 2000
FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Pasadena, CA — M. Div., 1990
NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
Minneapolis, MN — BA, Religion, 1981
PUBLICATIONS
Sabbath Pause, Seven Weeks of Daily Practice
Wood Lake Publishing Inc.
September, 2012
ISBN-10: 1770644458
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VISION: A just, inclusive and interconnected world - a world that works for all.
I am a part of the leadership team with primary focus on program development and delivery
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