“Sacred Stories; Sacred Lives”
Retreat Leader – Beth Dunwoody
Beth Dunwody is a seasoned Spiritual Director, Daring Way™ Trained Facilitator,
and soulful storyteller with over four decades of leadership in a variety of settings. With a rich
background spanning corporate, non-profit, and faith communities, she brings a rare blend of
wisdom, compassion, and clarity to her work.
A gifted storyteller and lifelong story-catcher, Beth helps others recognize the threshold
moments in their lives and find the courage to step through them. She is known for creating
brave, sacred spaces where authenticity can flourish and transformation begins.
Beth’s professional journey—as a corporate executive, consultant, and producer—has earned
multiple national awards for creative excellence and a deep commitment to diversity and
inclusion. With a mystic’s heart, she has spent more than thirty-five years sharing her voice and
vision with both suburban congregations and inner-city communities. Her work is marked by a
commitment to welcome and honor those often overlooked or unseen.
“Our stories are deeply sacred and not only reveal our deepest longings
and fears but also have the power to connect and heal us. I look forward to
hearing your story at the upcoming retreat.” Beth Dunwody
Retreat Pastor – Rev. Dr. Phyllis Blair Milton, Bishop of the Virginia Synod
The Reverend Dr. Phyllis Blair Milton has served as the Bishop of the Virginia Synod since September 1, 2023.
In the ELCA Conference of Bishops, Bishop Milton serves as a member of the Bishop Formation
Committee, assisting newly elected bishops in their first year of transition in their new call as synod
bishops. She also represented the ELCA at the Lutheran World Federation Retreat of Newly Elected
Leaders (RoNEL) in 2024.
Prior to her election, Bishop Milton previously provided five years of leadership in the Office of the
Bishop in the area of faith formation with the ministries of ACTS and Roots and Wings of the Virginia
Synod. She also served with the Christian Education Network of the ELCA as Region 9 Advocate. She has
served as a Virginia Synod’s Candidacy Committee member and as an ELCA Coach with the Virginia
Synod’s Renew 145 Church Vitality Initiative and Council Launch 2021.
Retreat Chaplain – Lynn Webb
Seasons of our lives are important to Lynn and she changes her focus at different times (seasons) of her life. Ebru painting was a part of her life and she learned that method of painting from a young woman who learned English from Lynn. Many of Lynn’s paintings have traveled the world, inspiring others. Currently, she focuses on quilting. She gives away all of her quilts she makes. She has sewn many quilts for the organization Quilts of Valor for military people she knows. Lynn feels as if God is there to help her pick out fabric and also she contemplates whether the person will like the quilt patterns and fabrics with each quilt she creates.
She has interfaced with the Muslim community in New Jersey. They invited her to go to Turkey and they gave her the title of “Reverend”. This trip was enjoyable for Lynn and this is when she learned Ebru painting. With all of her activities she has the most rewards in being with people, mainly women, to encourage them to take steps to be leaders.
Lynn’s decision to study theology was always driven by what God has instructed her to do. She felt compelled to go to seminary with a sense of urgency. “You are going now”, God had gently told her and she followed that push. She knew it was her calling.
She went through Clinical Pastoral Care (CPC) training at the Morristown Medical Center. Her focus was to talk with patients who have struggled with ending their lives in the locked down unit at the hospital. She ended her group sessions by saying “Peace be with you” and she envisioned God touching each person in the group whether they believed in God or not.
Attending the Moravian Seminary was a healing time for Lynn. She learned about and immensely admires St. John of the Cross. He inspires comfort and the attitude to help others.
Once a month she took Confirmation youth to a local soup kitchen and they helped serve. The youth were from affluent families so experiencing a soup kitchen was enlightening for them.
Lynn fell in the workplace and had a brain injury which God led her back to the Lutheran seminary at Philadelphia to complete her Masters of Divinity. This led Lynn to chaplaincy. The money from her accident went to a scholarship program in her name at the Moravian Seminary for students studying for their Master of Divinity so they can take spiritually classes and may become Spiritual Directors.
Every block that was put in her way, God removed those blocks. She is a faithful woman who puts much hope into her relationship with God and with others.
