Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church Staff Profile

Joan Currey - Director of Companions on the Inner Way Retreat

My position here at here at Seventh Avenue is as Director of the Companions on the Inner Way Retreats, which as of March, 2004, has become one of the ministries in the family of ministries of this Church. This is a position I held at SFTS for the past nine years. In addition, I work with the Diploma Program in the Art of Spiritual Direction, serving as a small group leader during the January intensive. Related to that, I also offered spiritual direction and supervision for spiritual directors both at SFTS and at my home in San Francisco. I would be available here at Seventh Avenue to do the same.

My educational background includes a BA in Psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles, a Masters in Christian Education from Bethel Seminary, a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology from the University for Humanistic Studies, Certification as a Christian Educator with the PC(USA), and a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from SFTS. Prior to moving to SF 9 years ago, I worked in a Presbyterian Church near San Diego for 14 years as the Director of Christian Education for Adults.

I am an avid reader and my interest in things mystical and esoteric has led me to the Middle Ages which in turn has resulted in my developing and then leading a 15 day pilgrimage to France once or twice a year to visit certain Gothic Cathedrals and Abbeys to learn about their architecture, symbolism, sacred geometry, etc. These trips have also included investigating as well as walking labyrinths in both Amiens and Chartres. Travel for me is a wonderful way to disturb the habits and patterns that order my life but which will deaden it if allowed to take over. Music and nature are other sources of inspiration and renewal for me. I share an old Victorian flat with one of my daughters and 2 cats. I also have one other daughter, two sons and two granddaughters.