Nita Penfold received her Doctorate in Ministry in 2002 from the University of Creation Spirituality
(now Wisdom University) after studying with Matthew Fox. Currently, she teaches as adjunct faculty at
Andover Newton Theological School in the Worship and Theology Arts Department. She has enjoyed
leading over 75 Spirit Play trainings across the continent since 2002 and, as Director of Spirit Play, gave the
keynote address at the 2009 Spirit Play Conference in Montreal.
Nita is one of the three original co-developers of Spirit Play, a certified Godly Play teacher, and a certified
Montessori teacher. She served as a Unitarian Universalist Director of Religious Education for 16 years: 14
years at the First Parish in Milton, Massachusetts and 2 years as an interim at First Parish in Lexington,
Massachusetts.
Nita has her Master of Arts degree in Writing from Lesley University and her Bachelor of Arts in
Communication and the Arts from Empire State College in Buffalo, New York. She is also a well-published
poet and editor of Hunger Enough: Living Spiritually in a Consumer Society, and an exhibiting mixed media
artist. (www.nitapenfold.com)
Anonymous Quotes from Training Evaluations
“Nita’s way of teaching this material is very refreshing and down to earth. I had many concerns that this was
not my style and would not fit into our way of raising our children. I now feel I will be better able to be a
doorkeeper and even be a better parent. I feel that I will be able to communicate better to all children.
Thank you.”
“Training was excellent. Good combination of different approaches. It was really amazing to see how other
people presented the same story. Going through that process enhanced my presentation style.”
“The way that Spirit Play gives form and structure to previously scattered UU RE modules and makes it
possible for UU children and adults to articulate our beliefs is wonderful. The training met my needs on a
number of levels: as a minister, in RE programming, as a grandparent and in telling stories.”
“Great tool and language to address hard ideas/abstract sense of meaning of the Principles.”
“I loved the demonstrations of the lessons and feel that they gave me enough background that I could teach
others in this curriculum. Also, the model classroom helped to put me in the kid’s shoes.”
“It confirmed my thinking that we need to provide and encourage spiritual growth in our children.”
Travel expenses: round-trip airfare to and from Boston MA or other location depending upon travel
schedule, fly in Friday as early as possible to set up classroom and materials at church, fly out Sunday after
church service, coach fare fine, as few stops as possible, taxi to and from airport in Boston as necessary, to
church and back to hotel unless other transportation provided. If within driving distance, cost of tolls, $.55 a
mile car costs. In some cases, instead of airfare, the cost of a rental car will be included in transportation
costs. If necessary, sometimes flights will be combined to next training. Must be reserved under Bonita
Penfold.
Allergies: Please be aware that Nita has allergies to pets and molds for homestays and to a number of
foods. Please contact her for current list.
Phone: 781-620-1138 or 781-775-6294 (cell). nitapenfold@aol.com
