Jerry T Webber
Jerry Webber has explored contemplative life and prayer for over 25 years. He is a retreat leader, contemplative teacher, soul-guide, and writer/poet who spends his days exploring the soul and walking with others as a spiritual companion.
In 2000, Jerry founded and served as lead pastor of The Center for Christian Spirituality at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. In leading this intentional ministry of contemplative life, he regularly taught contemplative practices, offered spiritual direction (1-on-1 and small group), led weekly contemplative worship, facilitated contemplative retreats, and supervised leaders who facilitated small spiritual direction groups.
In 2018, Jerry transitioned to the hills of Northwest Arkansas, from where he speaks into the spiritual yearnings of the wider world. He continues to lead retreats, offer spiritual direction, and speak at conferences – including both 5-day and 2-year Academy for Spiritual Formation gatherings – in order to encourage persons toward a deepening spiritual life. He currently serves as assistant professor of Christian Spirituality and the director of the Spiritual Direction specialization in the Doctor of Ministry program at Houston Graduate School of Theology.
He has been shaped by significant teachers, soul-guides, and mentors throughout his pilgrimage, some recognizable and others who more quietly loved him into being . . . including Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila, Richard Rohr and Thomas Keating, Mary Oliver and Rainer Maria Rilke, Sr. Adeline O’Donoghue and Paul Ilecki.
Jerry is a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend. He continues to live as an explorer and loves to explore landscapes that stretch him . . . the wildness of the Arkansas Ozarks, the natural beauty of British Columbia, the vast vistas of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the coastline of Nova Scotia, the mountains and river valleys of New Mexico. The terrain of the spiritual landscape stretches him as well, and he has given his life to exploring the soul. To that end, he reads poetry, tends a garden, writes, teaches, and companions persons on the spiritual journey.
Jerry frequently leads contemplative retreats, workshops, and studies that offer space for soul-work. These offerings often involve themes from the contemplative Christian tradition, scripture, and poetry.