Defying Darkness: Love's Radical Rebellion Against Global Discord
In the midst of the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas, it’s hard to make heads or tails of religion. The situation is complex and multifaceted, with faith playing only a part. But before jumping to the conclusion that humanity would be better off without religion, we must raise a crucial question. How can the underlying source of light within all of the world’s great faith and spiritual traditions be maintained in times of such brutality and darkness?
Fetzer Names Dan Cardinali to Chair Its Board of Trustees
The Fetzer Institute Board of Trustees has elected Dan Cardinali to serve as its next chair.
Cardinali, who has served as a trustee since 2018, will serve a three-year term effective October 20, 2023. He succeeds Carolyn Thompson Brown, who has served as board chair since 2018 and remains a trustee. Fetzer trustees set broad policy relating to grantmaking, investments, governance, and professional standards. They also oversee internal and independent audits of the Institute’s finances.
New book celebrates GilChrist Retreat Center
GilChrist: A Place to Remember is a book that tells the story of GilChrist Retreat Center, the public retreat center of the Fetzer Institute. The book recounts how the place came to be, the countless people who contributed to the creation, and the stories that shaped it.
A Call to Conscience at the Parliament of the World's Religions
This summer we made a sojourn to the Parliament of the World’s Religions, both as a sponsor and to present our work. Known for being “the birthplace of the interfaith movement,” the Parliament was a perfect setting to be with others who are catalyzing a movement that brings spiritual solutions to societal issues.
Fetzer Appoints Dr. Anna Sun to Its Board of Trustees
The Fetzer Institute announces the election of Anna Sun, PhD, to its Board of Trustees, effective June 1, 2023.
Dr. Sun is an associate professor of Religious Studies and Sociology at Duke University. Her scholarly work focuses on Confucianism and contemporary Chinese religious life.
An invitation to celebrate John Howie (two ways!)
Please join us in honoring John Howie as he retires after 28 years of contemplative labor and service at GilChrist Retreat Center! John’s gentle, compassionate spirit has been a profound blessing to this land and to all who have made this place a part of their story. We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating this enormous transition with gratitude for all of the gifts John has brought into the world, and all the gifts he will continue to bring as he enters the next phase of his journey.
Updates for GilChrist COVID practices in 2023
The past few years of the pandemic have taught us so many lessons, among them how deeply interconnected we are and how we depend on cooperation with one another in a crisis. While COVID continues to present a serious health risk, particularly to medically vulnerable and unvaccinated individuals, we also have more tools available to us now to prevent widespread outbreaks, serious illness, and death, including:
GilChrist Rate Increase
As we look into the new year, we have decided to increase our rates, beginning in January. Our prices have stayed the same for a number of years, and out of an effort to remain comparable in cost to our neighboring retreat centers, we'll be adjusting the overnight rates and WindHill rental rates for 2023.
Group retreats now open for 2023
At GilChrist, we love a hearty gathering, filled with deep sharing and meaningful connections. A lot can happen when people get together for a day or a weekend or a week, and we're glad to be a part of it.
Addressing Toxic Polarization Requires Heart-level Spiritual Solutions
The results are in! Fetzer is excited to share news of 25 interventions that can help strengthen American democracy. This work, the Strengthening Democracy Challenge, took place over the past few years in a project we co-funded with our allies to support Stanford University’s Polarization and Social Change Lab. The challenge was designed to identify ways to