Long Term Ministry Formation / Leadership Programs (Extension Programs)
At the heart of Shalem's programmatic life are the Spiritual Guidance Program, the Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program, the Clergy Spiritual Life & Leadership Program and Personal Spiritual Deepening Program. These four programs are Shalem's Long Term Extension Programs - programs that are designed for people who desire in-depth support for their lives and ministries. To learn more about any of these programs, click on the name of the program below or on the left hand side bar.
- Spiritual Guidance: Nurturing the Call—for those in the ministry of one-to-one spiritual direction;
- Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats: Transforming Community—for those leading prayer groups and retreats in churches or other settings;
- Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership: Going Deeper—for clergy in congregational settings seeking to nurture their spiritual heart and leadership; and
- Personal Spiritual Deepening: Living in God—for anyone seeking support for living each day prayerfully and authentically.
As with all Shalem offerings, our extension programs share a common central grounding in the Christian contemplative tradition that encourages an awareness of God's immediate presence, humility in understanding God's ways, and a radical trust in God at work in our own lives and the lives of others. For more in-depth discussion, read What Does Contemplative Mean? and Contemplative Spirituality.
In these extension programs, participants do much of the program work and activities in their own communities, coming to the Baltimore/Washington area for residencies twice during each program. Thus these programs are available for people across the nation and throughout the world. Participants come from many denominations, faith traditions and walks of life, bringing their own wisdom and experience into the community formed by each class.