Eric Massanari, MDiv
DMin Spiritual Formation Mentor
About Eric
Eric Massanari serves as the executive conference minister for the of Mennonite Church USA. He is also a trained spiritual director and for the last seven years has served on the Board of Directors for Spiritual Directors International (SDI). Eric lives in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife, Yolanda Kauffman, and he actively participates in the and Bellingham, Washington, congregations.
Why I am at AMBS
I value the learning and formation that happens in the context of seminary and theological studies. Though our formation as ministry leaders happens in myriad contexts and constellations of relationships, a quality seminary education is invaluable, particularly when the learning happens in a manner that is integrative, collaborative and contextual. I celebrate the ways in which this finds expression at AMBS, and I am grateful to be a small part of it.
Publications
- “You Are So Alive!,” Anabaptist World, Volume 3:8, 2022.
- “Presence That is Never Lost or Forgotten,” Connections, an online publication of Spiritual Directors International, Volume 27:4, 2018.
- “UԱ,” Bearings Journal, a publication of the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Autumn 2016.
- “Practicing Presence: Recognizing God’s Spirit Within and Among Us,” Leader Magazine of Mennonite Church USA, Fall 2016.
- “Birthnight: A Song of Nicodemus” (poem), Desert Call: Contemplative Christianity and Vital Culture, Spiritual Life Institute, Inc., Spring 2016.
- “In Ordinary Time with Extraordinary Love,” Bearings Online, Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, October 8, 2015.
- “This Holy Mess: Attending to the Spirit in Our Common Life,” Leader Magazine of Mennonite Church USA, Fall 2014.
- Contributing author in An Open Place: The Ministry of Group Spiritual Direction, Marlene Kropf & Daniel Schrock, editors. New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2012.
- Contributing author in Called Together to be Peacemakers: Report on the International Dialog between the Catholic Church and Mennonite World Conference 1998-2003, Willard Roth and Gerald W. Schlabach, editors. Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, 2005.
Memberships and associations
- Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network (MSDN) –member and former steering committee member
- Spiritual Directors International (SDI) – member, former chairperson and outgoing member of the SDI Board of Directors, and member of the SDI Wisdom Council.
- Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) of Mennonite Church USA (2023–present)