One year ago, leaders from across the diocese cast a bold vision for our future: Establish a School for Christian Faith and Leadership. Start with offerings that have been equipping both lay and ordained leaders for ministry for years and allow these seeds, that have been faithfully sown over time, turn our vision into a reality. Today, the School is well on its way to that reality.
Firmly committed to the belief that every baptized person is a full member of the body of Christ, with gifts to fulfill the mission of the Church, the School seeks to affirm, strengthen, and celebrate the gifts of all people for baptismal living. Our vision is to be known as a catalyst for faithful discipleship and adaptive leadership, offering trusted resources and learning journeys that equip individuals for baptismal living and lead faith communities into greater vitality for the 21st century.
Since its soft launch in September 2020, the School has hosted nearly 40 offerings in areas of congregational leadership and discipleship. We have served more than 1,500 individuals within the diocese and throughout the Episcopal Church and beyond. You can view our summer offerings at www.edow.org/school. A number of past courses will be made available for on-demand learning. Fall 2021 offerings will be announced soon.
In addition to online courses, in collaboration with congregational leaders the School has:
- Discerned a path of discipleship with five core practices–pray, learn, serve, give, and share–to help individuals grow as followers of Jesus committed to his loving, liberating, life-giving way. Look for a Path of Discipleship phone app to be premiered in the fall.
- Piloted a six-week online seekers program for adults called Discover as well as an online confirmation program for youth called CREATE. Both can be customized for your congregation. Consider bringing your congregation on board with Discover. Learn more about Discover here and CREATE here. Both will be fully available for your congregation’s fall formation program.
- Assembled an Advisory Board comprised of leaders from the diocese and a few outside the diocese to guide the ministry of the School going forward. Jordan Rippy has accepted the invitation to chair the board, which will meet for the first time early this summer.
We invite you to consider taking advantage of some of the many opportunities offered by the School and to hold the School in prayer as we move forward together.
The Rev. Jenifer Gamber
Missioner for the School for Christian Faith and Leadership and Program Director for Tending Our Soil Thriving Congregations
The Rev. Emily Snowden
Program Coordinator for the School for Christian Faith and Leadership and Tending Our Soil Thriving Congregations
