On May 21, 2026, around 60 dear souls gathered to celebrate God’s work in Baltimore and the launch of the first official “Coracle Chapter.” It was beautiful and fitting that they gathered in the very spot where the first Coracle offering occurred in Baltimore ten years ago.
Since 2016, Coracle has had a vibrant ministry presence in Baltimore with many offerings and an engaged community. To enable even more ministry and give greater flexibility to discern and respond to God’s invitations there, “Coracle Baltimore” launched as the very first “Coracle Chapter” in 2026. While still closely connected, Coracle Baltimore will forward the mission, vision, and values of Coracle distinctly in that city for the sake of many more people.
Scott Buresh, Baltimore Community Minister, shared during his remarks at the May 21 celebration:
We are here because we have tasted of the richness of His kingdom and tender intimacy of God’s love and are drawn by the hope of experiencing more of God’s loving presence and goodness in the land of the living on this side of the veil.
It was this hunger that drew me to Bill Haley for spiritual direction in 2008 and then for communal companionship on the contemplative journey with Coracle, a journey of ever deeper awareness of my beloved and of my belovedness. To be transformed in loving union into the likeness of Jesus Himself, the embodiment of truth, beauty, and goodness.
And that journey led to a handful of us inviting Bill Haley to come to Baltimore 10 years ago to this very place… We’ve come to celebrate 10 years of God’s faithfulness in allowing us to create … for God’s people in Baltimore and to mark the birth of a new season of greater service to God and His kingdom here in this region: to truly love our neighbors in the love we live and move and have our beings in…
From their first retreat offering, to the next step of convening a Fellows cohort in Baltimore, to cultivating a community with a teaching team and a leadership team, we have been excited to see Coracle Baltimore emerge and now become a Coracle Chapter.
A Coracle Chapter is a unique expression in a local community. As Bill Haley, Coracle Executive Director, explains when asked what excites him about the possibility of Coracle Chapters:
A Coracle Chapter enables deeper spiritual formation and broader Kingdom action.
At its heart, it is about More—More Jesus, More Kingdom, More Freedom, More Witness.
What we hope for is that the fire in us is making other peoples’ hearts burn.
Look at what God has done! He has brought together a real community up here [in Baltimore]… but not just any community…a Beloved Community…
In his remarks at the launch of Coracle Baltimore, Rev. Haley drew on the contrasting images of the Colosseum—the symbol of Empire—and the Catacombs—the symbol of the Way of Jesus (he has since expanded these remarks into a 6-part series you can read here).
Baltimore Leadership Team
May 21 Celebration
Join Coracle Baltimore this fall!
Coming this Fall, Coracle Baltimore will offer their 5th Fellowship cohort, Kathy’s Kitchen Table Conversations, Ignatian Exercise groups, along with topical retreats related to grief, Advent, Lent, Teresa of Avila, Theo of Golden, Ignatian Discernment…and continue their ministries of individual spiritual direction, and kingdom initiatives for healing and justice with partners like BUILD.
Forming a Coracle Chapter?
We remain curious to see if there are other places that would benefit from being a Coracle Chapter—a local, unique expression of this ministry. If this is something you are interested in exploring in your location, reach out for a conversation with our Executive Director, Bill Haley.