by Bill Dietrich

Among Shalem's core values is "spiritual discernment in all things," our desire to be led by God, individually and corporately, in all that we do. In a recent newsletter I described our discernment around Shalem's continuing call to offer "short" (non-extension) programs, such as spiritual formation groups, retreats, quiet days, and workshops. That process, completed last fall, has given us a clear sense of the rightness of these programs and has reenergized our vision of what is possible. As a result we now expect to begin offering an expanded selection of short programs later this year.

In this article I'd like to share two other significant discernments that we will be undertaking in the coming year. The first relates to our office facilities, while the second relates to potential collaborations with other organizations.

Impermanence - After 13 years at the Renewable Natural Resources Center (RNRC) in Bethesda, we recently learned that our office space will need to relocate sometime over the next year or two. The RNRC property is being sold, and our building is to be demolished to make way for a new private school.

We will no doubt miss the convenient and bucolic setting here. In the fall, Carole Crumley shared her experiences of birds landing on her office windowsill, inviting us to wake up and be more present to nature as a partner in our work. On the grounds we've seen Canadian geese born and fledged, deer emerge boldly from the woods at dusk, birds of every variety, tenants' dogs frolicking on the lawns after a day at work. Countless prayer walks have circumambulated our building. Our 25th anniversary celebration took place under a tent on these grounds. Our office space has seen much prayer and spiritual community formed and re-formed.

Surely there is grace in this situation, just as there has been in all of Shalem's transitions. As Patricia Gibler, Shalem's former Director of Operations, shared about a previous move, "Dealing with our space needs has been a real pilgrimage as well as a blessing?it has been stimulating to change our work environment every few years; the movement has helped clear out the cluttered spaces." Clutter can accumulate so easily unnoticed, until something jars us awake and we recognize it's time to let go and clear the decks. Then we're invited to shake off the dust, let go of old attachments, and forge ahead in trust. This present circumstance seems just such an invitation. It will be sad to leave but exciting and energizing to see where this next phase of Shalem's journey leads.

In response, we have gathered a discernment group of board and staff to pray to know God's vision for Shalem's next home and consider our next steps. There are so many practical dimensions to discern about where God is leading Shalem at this time. Should we remain in the more spacious suburbs of Washington or have a greater presence and witness in the city? Should we continue leasing office space or consider buying a facility? If we buy, how will we finance the purchase and what are the ongoing budget implications for staff and maintenance? Should we include room for staff expansion? Is it important to include space for holding short programs in our offices? Should we consider joint housing with other organizations or is it important to remain autonomous? And if we let ourselves vision "home" really big, are we being invited to consider having our own residency facility for our extension programs and other overnight events, a place of pilgrimage to which graduates and other seekers on the contemplative path might come for study, renewal, and community? This last vision is not new and has resonated increasingly in recent years with many in the Shalem community. Might its time have come?

What, in short, does "home" mean? Whatever it means, we know we want our future space to be a physical manifestation of God's vision for Shalem, to support and contribute to our mission and what we offer to the spiritual landscape.

Collaborations - It is notable that 2008 marks the 35th anniversary of those first gatherings of Tilden Edwards and friends that proved to be the foundation of Shalem. It is also 30 years since Shalem became a separate institution apart from the ecumenical center in which it was birthed. Since then Shalem has felt it important to remain independent from other organizations as a way of guarding our unique charisms, particularly our call to be an ecumenical Christian organization open to seekers from all faith traditions.

There have, however, been some fruitful collaborative relationships over the years, such as our covenant relationship in the 1980s with Washington National Cathedral and our earlier collaboration with Washington Theological Union, the Roman Catholic seminary under which our Spiritual Guidance Program was created. Both of those relationships helped support Shalem's emerging ministry. As Shalem began to mature through the 1990s, however, there was less of a call for such associations. One might see in this time the Spirit molding Shalem's identity, not unlike a young person undergoing the "first half of life," gaining confidence and authenticity.

But we wonder now if Shalem is on the verge of its second half of life, a time when, secure in who we are, we're called to venture out into the broader spiritual landscape and explore collaborations with other organizations which seek to nurture the contemplative spiritual life. Over the years, many of our program participants have also been active in such other organizations and been deeply enriched through those associations, seeing not competitiveness but the complementarity of our ministries. Might this be the Spirit at work, bringing our organizations and resources together to further what Tilden Edwards has called "contemplative evangelization?" Might this be the time to begin to support each other more actively?

An Invitation - This winter our board and senior staff will go on our annual visioning retreat to pray about and see what can be discerned around these questions of Shalem's next home and collaborations. We invite your prayers to join with ours as we seek to know God's prayer, God's dream for Shalem in the time ahead.