For many Christians, masculine language and imagery for God have been the primary lens through which they have learned to pray, imagine, and relate to the Divine. Yet for some directees, these images can become limiting, difficult, or even deeply painful. As spiritual directors, we may also find ourselves accompanying people into territory that stretches our own theological imagination and invites us to reflect on the images of God we have inherited.
This seminar explores the biblical and theological foundations for embracing a richer and more expansive understanding of the Divine—one that makes room for feminine as well as masculine imagery for God. Together, we will consider how this broader vision can deepen our own formation and enhance our capacity to accompany others with wisdom, sensitivity, and compassion.
Together we will explore:
The theological and biblical foundations for welcoming feminine imagery for God alongside masculine imagery.
How a broader understanding of the Divine can be healing and life-giving for directees.
The ways an exclusively masculine image of God may have shaped—or wounded—a person's experience of themselves as created in the image of God.
Practices and pathways for encountering God through feminine as well as masculine imagery.
How we might accompany directees who are exploring new ways of imagining and relating to God.
Recognising and gently working with our own questions, assumptions, or resistance as we engage this material.
How this conversation may sit within wider experiences of faith re-imagination, reconstruction, or deconstruction, both for ourselves and for those we accompany.
Whether this is familiar territory or a new area of exploration, you are warmly invited to bring your curiosity, your questions, and your own experience.
The seminar will offer thoughtful teaching, reflective engagement, and space for conversation as together we seek to hold more fully the breadth and beauty of the image of God.
Date: Friday 22 January 2027
When: 10:00 - 14:00 GMT
Where: Online
Cost: £50 for non-members, £40 for members
Catherine Cowell
Catherine is a spiritual director, coach, retreat leader and facilitator of gatherings of many kinds. She has been on a journey to discovering the feminine side of God for the last decade - hence the book. She is the adoptive parent of two sons who are now taller than her, for whom life has been a bit of a challenge. She mentors and runs courses for parents of children with additional needs and is currently researching a PhD into special needs parenting and spirituality. She was a Speech and Language Therapist for twenty years, specialising in neuropsychiatry and working with adults with brain injury and dementia, before managing an adult Speech and Language Therapy department for a few years. But that’s quite a long time ago now. She has also led a Fresh Expression of church, set up a ministry to clubbers called Nightchurch, in Stoke on Trent and taken a prayer tent to Gay Pride. She is the host of the Loved Called Gifted podcast. www.lovedcalledgifted.com andbreathe.org.uk
FAQ
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After booking your event you’ll receive an automatic confirmation email that contains your unique Zoom link. Please check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case) for this email.
You will also receive a reminder email 48 hours before the event and one hour before.
You do not need a Zoom account to join. On the day of the event, simply click the Zoom link in your confirmation email. This will open the Zoom app or website, where you’ll be able to join the event. Be sure to log in a few minutes early to make sure everything is set up!
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Handouts, if provided, will be shared with you via a link in both your confirmation and reminder emails. The link will direct you to a folder in Google Drive where you can download the materials. To download the handouts:
Click the link in your email to access the folder.
Once in the folder, find the documents listed.
Click on the document you want to download and look for the "Download" option (usually in the top-right corner of the screen).
Select Download, and the file will be saved to your device.
Any handouts made available after the event will be added to this folder.
We strive to provide handouts for each event that it is appropriate for, but please note that some speakers may not provide them. If handouts are available, they will be uploaded to the folder at least 48 hours before the event. Be sure to check the folder ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need!
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Yes, you can reschedule your booking through the confirmation email. Just click the "Reschedule" link and choose a new time. Please note that rescheduling is subject to availability.
To cancel your booking, simply follow the link in your confirmation email and you’ll find an option to cancel your appointment. Cancellations and refunds are only available before the event starts.
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If you’re having trouble joining the event, first try checking your internet connection or restarting your Zoom app. If issues persist, please contact us immediately via email at info@lcsd.org.uk, and we’ll try to help troubleshoot or provide an alternative solution.
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Enter your personal information (name, email, etc.) and click “Continue to Payment” button.
On the payment page, fill in your payment details.
Under “Order Summary” you’ll see a field labelled “Package, gift, or coupon code”
Enter your code and click Apply.
Once applied, you should see your 20% member discount reflected in the total amount.
Follow the prompts to finalise your payment and booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details of your event.