Leadership

Khris Ford

NCISDF

Co-Director

Khris Ford is a spiritual director, licensed professional counselor, and retreat leader.  Khris has 30+ years as a licensed therapist focusing on grief and trauma and is passionate about the transformative potential of the process of grief. Khris has led grief retreats for bereaved parents, for the death of a loved one, and for persons grieving the loss of innocence.  Additionally, Khris has served as a spiritual director for 30 years, often working with those who are experiencing a crisis of faith resulting from a traumatic loss.   Khris’s passion for this work is fueled by her own loss history, the loss of her teenaged son and her spouse of 47 years. She is the founder of the “Austin Center for Grief and Loss” and has trained 100’s of social workers, therapists, and faith community leaders.  Khris holds master’s degrees in education (Oklahoma State Univ) and Counseling (Houston Baptist Univ). She completed 3-year Spiritual Direction training at the Cenacle Retreat House. She serves as a retreat director and offers direction for those participating in the 19th annotation of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Khris is an active member of Saint Francis UMC in Cary, NC. She has two adult children and finds joy as a grandmother to four grandchildren. Contact Khris at director@ncspiritualdirection.org

Sarah Capel

NCISDF

Co-Director

Sarah Capel is a spiritual director. Her call to ministry is primarily one of relationship, particularly with those who have experienced “othering” through racial and gender orientation discrimination. She will soon complete training through the NC School of Spiritual Direction and engage in spiritual direction ministry at Edenton Street UMC, where she also serves as Adult Sunday School teacher and Vice Chair of the Church Council. She is active in the North Carolina Conference of the UMC serving on several boards and committees. Sarah has a passion for education and has served since 2015 on the NCSU College of Education’s Advisory Board. Sarah holds a Master of Arts in Christian Practice degree from Duke Divinity School (2019), a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia (1986) and a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Middlebury College (1983). Sarah and her husband, Chris have three children and a daughter-in-law. Her hobbies include boating and kayaking, cooking, reading, bridge, golf, cycling, daily exercise and all dog-related activities. Contact Sarah at info@ncspiritualdirection.org

Bryana Clover

Spiritual Formation
Leadership Team

Bryana Clover is an educator, activist, truth-teller, and owner of 1619 Consulting LLC. She is a Michigan-native, currently residing near Raleigh, North Carolina with her supportive husband, Troy; their inquisitive 2-year old son, Emmett; and their rambunctious Golden Retriever, Zoey. She has worked in various strategic marketing roles within Agribusiness for over a decade, and recently left her full-time position at an animal health and nutrition company, to pursue the important work of educating and advocating for racial equity in the workplace. As a Black woman, her lived experience working, workshipping, and living in spaces that are not racially diverse has cultivated within her an intense passion for creating brave spaces to have tough conversations about race that leads to action. She believes in the importance of both the individual journey and the collective journey required to make that happen, and is dedicated to this lifetime work for herself and others.  Learn more: 1619consulting.com

Ivy Parker

Spiritual Formation
Leadership Team

John Parker

Spiritual Formation
Leadership Team

John Parker works to support and cultivate resilient and creative community leaders, change-makers, activists, and entrepreneurs. For almost 25 years, John has nurtured collaborative, culturally appropriate, and responsible leadership around community organizing and civic engagement, community-based economic development, restorative justice and cultural healing, as well as cultural heritage preservation and sustainable community tourism. John also supports others in their vocational development, helping them discern how to share their time, talents, gifts, relationships, and resources with others. John is from Moore County, NC, and received a BA in Anthropology, International relations, and Politics (WFU); a MA in Applied Anthropology (University of Memphis); a certificate in Nonprofit Management (Duke); and a MDiv (Duke Divinity School). See more: johndempseyparker.org