A Brief History
The Shalem Center was founded in 1988 in Columbus, Ohio. Following an inspiration, Shalem's founder, the Reverend Dr. Elizabeth A. Reed, convened a small group of wholistically minded professionals in the healing arts and in spiritually oriented vocations. The vision was to create a network or space where creative and visionary persons could collaborate on interprofessional projects. The ultimate goal of such works would be to contribute to a more peaceful planet.
The vision was for a creative container for such collaborations, a container that could respect diversity while acknowledging and experiencing Unity within and amongst all. While it was assumed that spirituality was a core value, an interfaith or interspiritual perspective was further affirmed where all faiths or paths would be honored. Respect of differences and commitment for peace and harmony were primary.
Almost twenty years and many practitioners, programs and projects later, Shalem Center continues its mission.
Its work over the past years has included:
- Psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families
- Consultation and training with mental health professionals
- Consultation and training with clergy of many denominations
- Field training work with two seminaries
- Workshops and retreats on varied topics related to spirituality
- Spiritual mentoring/companioning services to individuals and groups
- Ritual services for individuals (weddings, commitment ceremonies, baptisms, funerals, house blessings, life transition rituals)
- Travel seminars to spiritual sites in Latin America
- Support of local Dances of Universal Peace group and other peacemaking organizations
- Involvement with various interfaith organizations, locally and nationally
About our Director
Elizabeth A. Reed, Ph.D. is an ordained United Methodist minister as well as ordained cheraga within the Sufi Ruhaniat International. Originally from West Point, Georgia, she relocated to Ohio in 1977 after completing Master of Divinity seminary studies at Emory University. For ten years, she served local congregations and a program position for the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. During this time she published articles related to youth ministry, educational concerns, and issues of women in ministry. She served on many judicatory boards, and credits her eight years with the denomination's national Commission on the Status and Role of Women for deepening her perspectives on issues of justice as well as shaping her commitment to inclusivity.
After completing her Ph.D. in 1991, she has worked as a psychotherapist and spiritual director. For twenty years her ministry has been centered through Shalem Center which she founded and directs. About fifteen years ago, this work expanded to include both interfaith and peacemaking concerns, a shift in focus that began when Shalem Center linked with Abwoon Study Circle. Today Elizabeth's work involves (in addition to Director/administrative work, psychotherapy and spiritual mentoring) supporting programs related to the Native Middle Eastern translation and spiritual practice work of Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz.
Elizabeth also volunteers locally leading Dances of Universal Peace, is a part of the national interspiritual group the Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah. Her most recent projects have included writing A Healing Journey with the Aramaic Lord's Prayer and Breathing with the Divine Breath: Deep Inner Healing in the Beatitude Way (on-line meditation courses) and the publication of Abwoon Circles: Starting a Local Group (a "how-to" guide to organize and teach or facilitate small local groups based on the resources of Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz).
