Shalem in Transition: A Time for Discernment
Beloved,
Grace and peace to you as we stand together at an important threshold in the life of our community.
In Celtic tradition, thresholds are holy places. They are neither the place we have been nor yet the place we are going. They are liminal spaces—thin places—where the Spirit often feels closer, more active, and sometimes more unsettling. We do not rush through these spaces. We listen in them. We pray in them. We trust that God is already at work there as we expectantly seek the Divine.
As we begin the discernment process of seeking a new Executive Director, it is natural to feel a mixture of hope, uncertainty, grief, and anticipation. Leadership transitions invite us to let go of what has been familiar while opening ourselves to what is still becoming. This moment is not an interruption of our mission, but part of its unfolding. Some things will be reaffirmed, and some things will change, as all things are blessed. The Holy Spirit has built and enabled a strong foundation for Shalem, and we pray and trust that the Spirit will continue to guide us in all that we do.
The Celtic tradition reminds us that God often meets us on the edge—on the shoreline between land and sea, at the doorway between past and future, in the quiet pause before the next faithful step. In this liminal season, we are invited to resist anxiety and instead cultivate attentiveness: to one another, to our shared values, and to the movement of the Spirit among us. We are in a holy time together, and we humbly stand on holy ground. Patience, kindness, and understanding are crucial in our common life together.
As President of the Board, I want to assure you that this discernment process is being approached with care, transparency, and deep respect for who we are as a Christian contemplative community. We are committed to listening widely throughout our community of participants, elders, staff, and program directors; honoring our past, and discerning leadership that will help us live more fully into our call to embody compassion, inclusion, and hope. To that end, please look for future listening sessions for different portions of the Shalem community.
We do not cross this threshold alone. We cross it together, grounded in prayer, guided by love, and trusting that the God who has brought us this far will continue to lead us forward. While we cannot promise you we will be perfect, I want to assure you that the Board and I welcome your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. We also crave your prayers. In the weeks ahead, we will share the design for our discernment process. In the meantime, if you have concerns, please email me at frjeffross@aol.com.
May this liminal time be a blessing—sustaining us, stretching us, grounding us, and opening us to new life.
With gratitude, faith, and hope,
The Rev. Jeffrey Ross
President, Board of Directors
Thank you very much Jeffrey for your thoughtful words that support us / me in our beloved Shalem community . The remembrance of being in a liminal space and inviting us to listen with love and trust in God is so helpful to me relative to Shalem and also in my new life without my mother .