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Walter Hjelt Sullivan, who has served for 13 years as co-director of Quaker Center at Ben Lomond , California , will become a Pendle Hill core teacher effective September 1, 2006 . His focus will be the spiritual nurture of the resident student community.

In announcing his appointment, Pendle Hill’s dean, Niyonu Spann, referred to his many years of experience in supporting Friends and Quaker meetings. “Pendle Hill’s core teachers encourage resident students to recognize and live out their gifts for the benefit of the Quaker community and the wider world. For years Walter Sullivan has served Friends through leadership development, as an elder, and as a teacher and retreat leader. We feel blessed to welcome him to Pendle Hill.”

Walter looks forward to “the opportunity to continue to live in Quaker community and support the growth of the spirit among Friends.” Perhaps most exciting for him is “joining with the staff community at Pendle Hill to create and maintain a nurturing environment for ‘integrated spiritual, intellectual and personal learning.’”

Currently a member of Santa Cruz Quaker Meeting in California , Walter Sullivan has served as the clerk of both the Worship and Ministry Committee and the Peace and Social Order Committee and now is the Presiding Clerk. He notes that he is an “enthusiastic work camp participant” as well as a trained facilitator in the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP).

Walter will settle on the Pendle Hill campus with his family. His wife Traci recently started work as Conference Coordinator with Friends General Conference. Their daughter Rebecca, 16, will be a high school senior while Grace, 13, will be a freshman.

A graduate of Haverford College with a major in Religion, Walter Sullivan is a certified instructor of Self-Breema bodywork. His work experience includes neighborhood development, social service and youth service work.