About Us
Sacred Ground
Since 2009, we've been blending Buddhism, Christianity, and Mother Earth Spirituality in Columbus, Ohio.
In the fall of 2009, Michael and Ali Malley co-founded the Buddhist Christian Mother-Earth Church (the BCMC), which is now renamed Sacred Ground. From 2009 through 2016 it met in their home in the OSU University District in Columbus, Ohio. The inspiration for the church came from the mindfulness retreats led by Thich Nhat Hanh that the Malley family had attended since the 1990’s.
Watering Beneficial Seeds
Thich Nhat Hanh speaks of watering beneficial seeds. We all contain seeds inside us. Seeds of love, compassion, strength, anger, fear, and anxiety. Sacred Ground aspires to water the beneficial seeds in each of us. We do this through mindfulness practices, learning from worthy teachings, gathering in community, and connecting to the sacred in everything, everyone, and at every moment.
A Definition of Christian
In her book "Folkhouse" in 1931, Ruth Sawyer wrote this definition of Christian, which deeply resonates with us today.
“And by “Christian” is understood no stated form of church attendance or worship, and no iron-bound grip on God; but a spirit of reverence, a feeling of helpfulness towards neighbors, and human kindness towards all living creatures.”