Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats: Staff
To learn more about this program, click here or on the left hand side bar for information on Timeline & Components, Fees, Staff, Testimonials and Application Form.
The following are the current staff for Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats: Transforming Community.
Ann Dean, is Director of Shalem's Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program and Director of the Personal Spiritual Deepening Program Leadership Initiative. Ann is a spiritual director and nationally-known leader of retreats and conferences for deepening the life of prayer and developing new structures committed to contemplative prayer, Earth care and social justice. She has been a minister in the ecumenical community of the Church of the Saviour since 1994 and is a member of the Dayspring Retreat Mission Group.
Marshall Craver is Associate Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mobile, AL, ministering primarily in the areas of adult spiritual formation, meditation and contemplative prayer groups and retreats, and one-on-one spiritual direction. He is a graduate of Shalem's Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program and has recently received his certificate in spiritual direction from the Jesuits of Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL.
Carole Crumley, is an Episcopal priest and an experienced pilgrimage guide to sacred and secular sites throughout Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. She also directs Shalem’s Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership: Going Deeper Program, an ecumenical program to nurture the spiritual heart and leadership of congregational clergy, and is Senior Guardian for the Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership.
Tilden H. Edwards, Jr. iShalem’s Founder and Senior Fellow, served as Shalem’s Executive Director for over 27 years. An Episcopal priest with parish experience, he is a nationally respected author, speaker, and retreat leader. He has designed and led contemplative extension programs since 1979 and has worked with the spiritual life of clergy and lay people from many faith traditions throughout his ministry.
Jim Hall has practiced medicine at an inner city health clinic associated with the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, for many years. These days he spends most of his time at Dayspring, the church's retreat farm, studying natural history and ecology and building a new Earth Ministry Center. He and his wife lead classes, retreats, outings and liturgies on the land that link faith and ecology.
Christine Jeffrey, (Chris), is the Registrar for Shalem. Chris has worked in a variety of parish settings and received her degree in Theology from Trinity University in Washington D.C.
Rich Plant is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and serves on the staff of the Eastern Ohio Association. His work is mainly focused in search and call and formation for ministry. He has served local churches in Ohio, New Jersey and Maryland and is a graduate of Shalem's Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program.
Patience Robbins is currently the director of the Deepening Contemplative Leadership Program and also serves on the staff of Shalem's Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program and the Personal Spiritual Deepening Program Leadership Conference. She has been involved with Shalem for over 10 years, a spiritual director for over 20 years and has participated in and led workshops on group spiritual direction for many years.
Trish Stefanik is a contemplative artist, retreat leader, and resident of Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community. She is a Roman Catholic laywoman who draws from the wells of many faith traditions on her journey to know and love God in the fullness and wholeness of Creation. She is a graduate of Shalem's Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program and prior to Rolling Ridge was a program director for the Servant Leadership School in Washington, DC.
Elizabeth Ward, (Liz), Director of the Spiritual Guidance Program Class, is an Episcopal layperson and a graduate of Shalem’s Spiritual Guidance Program. She has served as a spiritual guide for Virginia Theological Seminary for many years and is an experienced retreat leader. She serves on the staff of Shalem’s Clergy Spiritual Program and leads discernment groups for the Diocese of Virginia.
For more details about the program including at-home work, residency topics, peer groups and other program components, you can download a detailed program brochure (PDF) here.
If you would like to apply for this program, contact Christine Jeffrey This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it the Program Registrar at 301-897-7334 or download the application form (PDF) now.