Spiritual Guidance Program: Staff
To learn more about this program, click here or on the left hand side bar for information on Timeline & Components, Fees & Academic Credit, Staff, Testimonials and Application Form.
The following are the current staff for Shalem's Spiritual Guidance: Nurturing the Call.
Liz Ward, Director of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program, is a graduate of the Shalem Spiritual Guidance Program and has served as a spiritual director for Virginia Seminary for 15 years. She is an experienced retreat leader and serves as a discernment facilitator for the Diocese of Virginia. She serves as a staff person for the Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats Program and the Clergy Spiritual Life & Leadership: Going Deeper Program.
Douglas Battenberg, Episcopal layperson, is a spiritual director, economist, group and retreat leader, and graduate of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program.
Amy Cole is a Presbyterian laywoman active in the postmodern evangelical church, a writer, teacher, spiritual director, wife, lover of the outdoors (especially raptors!) and a graduate of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program.
Phil Cover, a Catholic priest and graduate of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program, is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and pilgrim guide to the Sinai and New Mexico deserts, with spiritual roots in the contemplative Christian tradition, from which he tends to the transformative work of the heart. He is co-author of Journey with Purpose and The Inner Work of Lent.
Ann Dean, Director of the Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program, is a minister of the Church of the Saviour, in Washington, DC, and a member of the Dayspring Retreat Mission Group. She is a spiritual director and leader of retreats/conferences for deepening prayer and discernment of vision and call. She has a strong interest in creation spirituality and multi-faith groups and retreats
Bill Dietrich, a Quaker, is a graduate of Shalem's Leading
Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats and Spiritual Guidance
Programs. He is a longtime spiritual director and retreat leader and
teaches in several of Shalem's short and extension programs.
Rose Mary Dougherty, a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, is Shalem's Senior Fellow for Spiritual Guidance and served as Director of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program for many years.
Tilden H. Edwards, Jr, Shalem’s Founder and Senior Fellow, is author and editor of six books related to the spiritual life. He is an Episcopal priest.
Nancy Eggert is a Lutheran pastor and a graduate of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program. She offers spiritual direction, leads retreats and is the author of Contemplative Leadership for Entrepreneurial Organizations.
Katy Gaughan serves as Shalem’s Webmaster and Communications Associate and is an associate with the Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program. She is a drummer and drum circle facilitator who loves leading groups in prayerful musical experiences.
Christine Jeffrey (Chris) is Shalem's Registrar. Chris has worked in a parishes in the DC area as a Pastoral Associate, Office Manager and as a Director of Religious Education. Chris received her degree in theology from Trinity University in Washington D.C.
Donald Krickbaum, Episcopal priest, is retired Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Miami, FL, a spiritual director/formation teacher, and graduate of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance 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.
Phillip Stephens is a voice specialist and parish administrator. In addition to being an an associate of the Order of the Holy Cross, he is a graduate of Shalem’s Spiritual Guidance Program and serves as a spiritual guide and retreat facilitator. He is interested interested in cross-cultural studies and inter-religious dialogue.
Jean Sweeney retired after 25 years on Roman Catholic parish staffs as pastoral counselor/mentor of ministries/spiritual director. Free time now is with prisoners, people serving the poor through the Ignatian Volunteer Corp, a weekly ecumenical accountability group, and grown daughter fun. Art and silence feed her prayer heart.
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.