About Macon

pastor / spiritual director / retreat leader

Hey, I’m Macon.

I am an ordained deacon in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. I currently serve as a worship leader and ministry administrator at a church plant in the Daytona Beach area. I have been a spiritual director since 2023. My main priority in spiritual direction is to provide a safe, sacred space where you can freely explore the inner workings of your soul.

I fully affirm and in celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. I am a safe person who practices confidentiality and sacred trust. If you need to talk about your frustrations with the Church, or the spiritual harm and trauma that has been done to you by people and institutions of faith, I am here for you. If you are questioning your beliefs around queer inclusion in the full life of the church, I am also here for you. I hold space for all who seek support earnestly with an open, loving heart and a willingness to be transformed by the grace of God.

I recognize my privilege as a white man and I am open to listening with anyone, but if you feel like you need someone from a different gender, race, or ethnicity, I completely understand and respect your decision. I would love to connect you to some amazing women who are spiritual directors and/or spiritual directors of color. I also respect and value the diversity of spiritualities around the world. Regardless of your faith tradition or even if you are unsure of your faith, I am open to journeying with you..

I have seen a spiritual director since 2018. Before receiving spiritual direction, I had no idea what it was. Having benefitted from the incredible, discerning wisdom of my spiritual director, I fully believe in this ministry to be a way for all of us to find a deeper connection to the Divine. I would be honored to journey alongside you as we discover together how the Spirit is working in your life.

Experience

  • Certified Spiritual Director since 2023

  • Leading Retreats/Workshops

    • Spiritual Retreat, Coronado Community United Methodist Church, 2021 - organizer and leader

    • Cultivate Youth Conference for Mississippi Annual Conference, 2022 - keynote speaker

    • Youth 2023 Conference for United Methodist Church - workshop leader (“Discerning Your Call”) and spiritual director

    • Annual Deacon Retreat for the Florida Conference of the UMC, 2025 - organizer and worship leader

  • Vocational Discernment

    • Residence in Ministry (RIM) Leadership Team, Florida UMC Conference - administrator

    • Huntingdon Leadership Academy Youth Theology Institute, Huntingdon College - director

    • MAC (Ministry As Calling) Track, Alabama-West Florida UMC Conference - organizer and facilitator

  • Pastoral Ministry

    • Worship Leader and Ministry Coordinator - The Gathering Place UMC (2023-present)

    • Minister of Congregational Care - Coronado Community UMC (2020-2023)

    • Pastoral Ministry Intern

      • Goldston UMC - Goldston, NC (2016-2017)

      • Dauphin Way UMC - Mobile, AL (Summer 2016)

      • Bethany UMC - Summerville, SC (Summer 2015)

    • Director of Children’s Ministry and Christian Education - First UMC Tallassee (2012-2014)

Education and Certifications:

  • Doctor of Ministry (ABD) through Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL

    • My research studies the vocational resiliency and renewal of UMC clergy who served congregations that disaffiliated from the UMC due to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons within ordination and marriage. I am exploring the role of truth-telling in leadership as it connects to community crisis and healing.

  • Certification in Spiritual Direction through Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary - 2023

  • Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC - 2017

  • Bachelors in Religion and Psychology from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL - 2014

About Spiritual Direction

holy listening / holding space / spiritual companion

Spiritual direction is the practice of being present to one another as we collectively listen to God. I refer to the act of spiritual direction as holy listening, because our time together will be spent primarily by you sharing what is stirring in your soul while I listen to you. At the same time, we are both listening for the Spirit’s voice, noticing Her presence in our midst, and discerning where She is leading us next.

We can meet in person if you are in the Daytona Beach/Orlando area in Florida. We can meet by phone or Zoom if you are outside of that radius. When we meet, we will start with some silence to become present to God and each other, and then we will have a conversation. You can share about anything and everything you want within a 50 minute period of time. I will only engage as is appropriate, following your lead, and only as inspired by the Spirit. We will close in prayer and discuss if we would like to meet again.

Spiritual direction is not therapy. I am not a licensed mental health professional or social worker. If such needs become present through our sessions, I would be happy to refer you to those resources. Spiritual direction is not coaching. I will not tell you what to do or give you answers, but I will listen and reflect back to you what I am hearing in ways that might help you make sense of your life with God. In spiritual direction, you will not walk away with a diagnosis or treatment plan. Rather, you will have a a safe space to tell your story, to ask big questions, and to find new ways to connect to the Source of us all.

If you are unsure if spiritual direction is right for you, or would like to learn more, please contact me at the information below.

I would love to set up a consultation where we can get to know each other, I can answer any of your questions about spiritual direction, and see if we are a good fit for one another.

If not, I can happily refer you to other amazing spiritual directors I know.