Gender Equity & Spiritual Companionship: Becoming Whole Together
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
09:00 - 16:00 PDT
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Renaissance 2021 Attendees:
Gender Equity & Spiritual Companionship: Becoming Whole Together
This institute is designed for all people who offer spiritual care, especially spiritual companions.
Those from all traditions – and none – are welcome to participate.
Embark upon a new form of spiritual healing and reconciliation work that builds trust and compassionate communication through a skillful combination of interactive activities, spiritual practice, and transformative group process.
Together we can begin to re-form gender relations without blame or shame, and, move through the often unspoken, unconscious attitudes, fears and reactions around gender and sexuality, to reclaim mutual harmony and reverence that is our birthright.
- Do the people you companion long for relationships that are based not only on mutual respect, but also mutual reverence? Do you?
- Do you or those you companion ever find it difficult to navigate issues of gender and sexuality within your religious or spiritual traditions? ​
- ​Are those you companion uncertain of how to be in relationship with women and/or men since #MeToo?  Are you?
If you answer YES, to any of these questions, please join us for an inspiring workshop on Becoming Whole Together.
Spiritual companions of all ages and faiths routinely encounter gender injustice –– and in particular, significant challenges between women and men –– in their practices. The #MeToo movement has increased awareness of gender conflicts, sexual harassment and exploitation, and patriarchal oppression—but how can these knotty challenges be addressed in practical terms?Â
​This workshop introduces Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI), which has developed an innovative methodology for healing and reconciliation between women and men. GERI has been introduced in nine countries to date and was endorsed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 2013. Inspiring examples of remarkable healing and reconciliation between the sexes will be presented from GERI’s application in Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu communities. Experiential exercises are included to give participants a first-hand taste of this transformative process.
William Keepin
William Keepin, PhD, is a mathematical physicist and scholar-practitioner of interfaith spirituality. He co-founded Gender Equity and Reconciliation International, which has conducted 120 trainings in nine countries, and Satyana Institute which has organized five international conferences entitled Dawn of InterSpirituality. He leads interfaith spirituality trainings, and his research on global warming influenced environmental policy internationally. Will co-authored Divine Duality: The Power of Reconciliation between Women and Men and Women Healing Women.  His new book is Belonging to God: Spirituality, Science, and a Universal Path of Divine Love, which presents a universal, nondual path of divine love, bridging science and mysticism.Â
Cynthia Brix
Rev. Cynthia Brix, PhD (Hon), is co-director of Satyana Institute and co-founder of Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI). She is an ordained interfaith minister and was formerly a campus minister at the University of Colorado. A student of Eknath Easwaran’s Passage Meditation, she leads interfaith spirituality retreats.  Cynthia holds an M.Div. from Iliff School of Theology, an MA in wellness management and gerontology, and an honorary doctorate from the California Institute of Integral Studies in Spirituality and Social Justice. Cynthia is co-author of Women Healing Women, and contributing author of Divine Duality: The Power of Reconciliation between Women and Men. Cynthia organized an international conference in Italy that brought women spiritual leaders together and produced a video titled Cultivating Women’s Spiritual Mastery.
Myra Kinds
Minister Myra Kinds is a Lead Facilitator for GERI. She is a licensed American Baptist Minister to Youth, and a recognized leader in underserved communities, specializing in addiction and recovery, mental health, and domestic violence. Myra collaborates with The Black Ministerial Alliance and The Institute for Global Youth Programs. Myra is a Mental Health First Aid and Recovery Coach, City of Boston Trauma First Responder, and has been trained and certified by The Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, Massachusetts Department of Public Heath, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Adcare Educational Institute, International Institute for Social Change, and the Recovery Coach Academy.Â
Jorge Rico
Jorge Rico is a Bilingual-English/Spanish GERI Facilitator. He has 25+ years experience as a Human Resources and Talent Acquisition expert providing strategic and tactical consultation to business leaders in a variety of public and private companies within the US and abroad in multiple industries. Jorge has extensive experience with Leadership and employee development programs and has developed and led Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, while championing gender equity throughout his professional career. He is Center for Spiritual Living Spiritual Practitioner.