Dr. Shelton is an honorably retired PC-USA minister. He earned a B.A. degree from Duke University in 1963, as well as a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in 1966. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in 1985. He has worked in an administrative capacity in the inner city of Charlotte. He has served three churches.

Dr. Shelton also has a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina School of Social Work (1975), with a concentration in Organizational Development and Training. He has worked in a county department of social services, area mental health center, and as state coordinator of child protective services. In 2003, he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. He chose to retire at that time. Dr. Shelton has spent over 20 years reading about The Contemplative Life. He has read from the writings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers and contemporary writers in the Contemplative Life.

He has committed his life to the daily discipline of Centering Prayer. He began writing in 2001 on the Sermon on the Mount to gain a deeper understanding of the Christian life as described by Christ in these three chapters of Matthew's Gospel. That book was published in 2007. After further work in the Contemplative Life, he decided that the published writings did not adequately reflect his spiritual life in the church. Since then he has written a trilogy of meditation books that include 3 church years. All of his writings are personal reflections on God's presence and love in his life. The reflections are for him a form of the prayer practice Lectio Divina. He has written primarily for his own spiritual journey.

He was encouraged to share his reflections with others. He agreed. He is publishing 3 volumes in three consecutive years. The books are intended to share his journey and invite others to share the journey with him.