The people featured on this page are volunteers appointed by members of the Association every two years. They represent the members by being drawn from various denominations, ages, locations and gender. They retire by rotation every two years. Please view the ACSD constitution for more information about executive appointments.
Lew Marsh, Fielding
Having been born in Auckland, I have now spent the rest of my life living in Feilding apart from three years in the mid to late eighties when I completed a couple of diplomas’ in Ministry at BCNZ (Laidlaw). After leaving school I embarked on a career with the Ministry of Works as a surveyor and an Engineer. I married Bev and now have three adult married children and six grandchildren. I enjoy the outdoors, camping and sport including running several marathons and riding unicycles.
Over the years I’ve enjoyed working on committees, having been on two school boards for several years, chaired the Te Aroha Noa Community Services Trust for several years, along with being a Community Worker and Industrial Chaplain for 9 years. I’ve been an Elder in our church for 30 years having been Chair and Secretary for many years as part of the churches Leadership Team. As a Civil Engineer with several organisations I’ve had numerous management and leadership roles.
Then in 2009-10 I undertook the SGM training programme for Spiritual Direction and became an associate member of ACSD before gaining full membership 3 years ago. Just recently I completed my supervision training for spiritual directors. For 3 years now I have been involved with co-facilitating a Seven Day Silent Retreat at Featherston. In 2013 Bev and I set up our own people helping ministry called “Room With A View Ministries” which offers Counselling, Supervision, Spiritual Direction, Personal Debriefing and Retreats.
During my short time of being involved as a Spiritual Director I have come to appreciate the critical place and role that ACSD in NZ is to its members and consequently I would value having the opportunity to represent its members to ensure that the core values, culture, ethics, constitution, training, personal development, etc are upheld so that Christian Spiritual Directors have an association that ensures that this ministry can continue to support and enable SD’s to effectively offer soul care while building God’s Kingdom.
Email Lew lewis.marsh48@gmail.com
View Lew’s online profile
Anne Chrisp, Palmerston North
Anne remembers, as a 5 or 6 year old, lying on the grass gazing at clouds. A contemplative approach is part of who she is, and so it was a natural step, as the mother of 3 school aged daughters, and unable to easily progress a law career, in 2001 to enrol in the Spiritual Directors Training Programme. The course equipped her firstly for work as a chaplain at Ucol [the local polytech] and later as a ministry enabler with rural Rangitikei parishes.
This led in turn to further study [EFM and an LTh with honours], ordination in the Anglican Church and 11 years as Vicar at St Peter’s in Palmerston North. In this role, Anne continued to be fed by the contemplative tradition. For others as well as herself, she led quiet days and retreats.
Offering spiritual direction remained part of her life too, and she became a
member of SDI [Spiritual Directors International], attending their 2009 conference in Dublin and pilgrimage to Iona.
Along the way, Anne has been trained in the Enneagram in the Narrative tradition, and leads workshops on this. She also leads days teaching and exploring dreams, a more recent interest.
Anne lives in Palmerston North with her husband, John. Now retired from parish ministry, she enjoys time for creative pursuits like pottering in the garden and sewing as well as trips to Wellington to visit her first grandchild.
Email Anne anne_chrisp@me.com
View Anne’s online Profile
Steve Tollestrup, West Auckland
As a follower of Jesus, I have a clear commitment to the advancement of contemplative spirituality here in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the important role that a competent, innovative and member focused ACSD can engage to that end.
Steve has worked as executive director of TEAR Fund and ITIM and more recently sat on a local board in the Auckland Council. He runs a consulting business Ploughshare Consulting and brings the following skills to the table:
- Respectful and informed ecumenical and inter-faith perspective
- Current with issues and developments in contemporary spirituality and theology.
- Active personal spiritual and contemplative practice
- Confident skills in governance, strategic planning, organisational development and building sustainable funding bases.
- Competent diplomacy and collaborative skills.
Email Steve info@ploughshare.co.nz
View Steve’s online profile
Jenny Dawson, Wellington
I have been offering spiritual direction as my work (under the name Eccles Unlimited Consultancy) since 2015, but I began my formation as a director in Christchurch in 2000-1 in the SEED programme with Pamela Warnes. In 2010 I made the Thirty Day Spiritual Exercises at Manresa in Dublin, which allowed me to experience deeply the Ignatian approach that I had discovered with SEED. I took that to another level with the Te Wairua Mahi course in 2021-2. I love the work of direction and in every session I learn something new about how God works in human hearts.
I first joined the Association about 2007, offering occasional direction and wanting the benefits of attending the Training Event, but stopped my membership for three years when I moved to a role where I considered it would not be appropriate to offer direction. I rejoined in 2015 and have enjoyed the friendships and support, especially in 2020-2 as part of the Wellington organising group for the “Grounded” TE.
There’s more about me on the ASCD website (including a photo taken at the Southern Star Abbey Kopua where I am an Associate).
email Jenny jenniferdawson@xtra.co.nz
New Jenny’s online profile
Watiri Maina – Nelson
I have been journeying with seekers of God for many years. Nine years ago I completed my Spiritual Direction training with SGM. Spiritual conversations with directees are always sacred moments. Ignatian spirituality shapes and informs my spiritual companionship and retreat giving. For a couple of years I taught Spiritual formation and Christian spirituality at Bishopdale Theological College in Nelson.
I am involved in regional spiritual directors meetings in Nelson and was also involved in the Christchurch regional meetings when I lived there.
I serve as a Vicar of Victory Church in Nelson Anglican Diocese and have a small private practice offering Spiritual direction, professional supervision and counselling. I am married to Bishop Steve and we have two adult daughters. We moved from Kenya to New Zealand 14 years ago.
Email Watiri watiri.maina@gmail.com
View Watiri’s online listing
Colin Renouf, Christchurch
Colin has a post graduate diploma in Spiritual Direction from the Melbourne Collage of Divinity. He completed SGM training 30 years ago, and during the last 10 years has undertaken formation in Ignation Spirituality. He is also a supervisor of Spiritual Directors and is happy to give something back to ACSD and invest some time in this ministry.
Email Colin cgreno21@outlook.co.nz
Colin’s online Profile
Rosemary Neave, Secretary and Treasurer
Rosemary has a background working in the Anglican Church, at the Women’s Resource Centre in Auckland, and retains an interest in post denominational Christianity.
She designs websites, does social media coaching, and volunteers with Green Party.
After living in Auckland and Northland for most of her life, Rosemary now lives with her partner Cynthia in Redcliffs Christchurch.
