The Way Forward Speaker Series:How Will We Regather the Church? With Bishop Mark Edington September 27, 6:30 pm–7:30 pm Join the Rt. Rev. Mark Edington, editor of We Shall Be Changed: Questions for the Post-Pandemic Church and Bishop of The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, for a Zoom conversation about regathering the church. More information >
The Way Forward Speaker Series: The Way Forward is Not the Way Back with Tamara Plummer October 7, 6:30 pm–7:30 pm Join Tamara Plummer of Episcopal Relief & Development to learn about the emotional life cycle of a disaster and lessons for the church today. More information >
The FaithX Project in partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) is pleased to announce the launch of version 2.0 of the Congregational Vitality Assessment tool (CVA), available at no cost for immediate use. After 10 years of research and implementation of a paper-based CVA tool, the digital version was built in early 2020. The Congregational Vitality Assessment tool is designed to provide a congregation with an assessment of its Vitality (how healthy it is) and its Sustainability (whether it has the people, financial, and contextual resources necessary to survive). The vitality section carries the bulk of the assessment, measuring ten areas of congregational functioning, such as Vision and Mission, Leadership, Lay Empowerment, Worship, Formation, Stewardship, and more. Find out more >
Episcopal Evangelism Society Grants: Grants are available to any Episcopalian in any accredited seminary community or local formation program (ie. diocesan school, Iona Collaborative) is eligible. This includes students, faculty or staff, or the Episcopalian spouse or partner of a student, faculty, or staff member. Students (and spouses) who have completed their course work within the past year are also eligible . Call or email the Executive Director with questions about eligibility. Grants are available for Evangelism in sharing the Good News of God’s restorative work in Jesus Christ. There are many authentic expressions of evangelism. At EES, we believe that, in this critical moment, the Spirit is leading Episcopalians to an evangelistic witness that incorporates racial reconciliation and justice. We invite you to share innovative proposals with us that address one or more of the following:
Identify the church, to society, as centered in Jesus’ Way of Love
Identify the church, to society, as justice-focused
Embolden the cultural identity of non-dominant groups in their witness to Jesus
Work toward dismantling the dominant Anglo-American identity of the Episcopal church
Engage church members with people living on the margins of society
Equip church members to invite others to engage the Good News of God’s restorative work in Jesus Christ.
United Thank Offering invites 2022 Annual Grants Fall webinars will provide info, answer questions about process The United Thank Offering (UTO) Board is pleased to announce the availability of their 2022 UTO Annual Grants, with an application deadline of Feb. 4, 2022. These grants are awarded for projects in The Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion, each year with a different focus. Read more: http://iam.ec/pa2021UTOGrants2022
Resources
Theological Explainer Videos: A library of whiteboard videos that explain theological concepts in 2 minutes. The videos are on YouTube. Our first 6 videos are done. We are in production for 3 more! Want to see the first videos? HERE they are.
YouTube Channel aimed at young adults that covers spirituality from the perspective of one young adult. Ellie has launched the channel. Check it out.
Episcopal Church Foundation’s Racial Justice and Reconciliation Resources: ECF continues its attention to the themes of racial justice and reconciliation through the Racial Justice Resources section of the Vital Practices website. This curated collection of resources is divided into four areas, Read, Watch, Listen and Act and includes materials in English and Spanish that are appropriate for adults, youth and groups at varying stages of knowledge. Online events and webinars are listed under the Watch area.
Task force announces training updates to Safe Church curriculum Three new courses related to safe church policies within The Episcopal Church will be released July 14, with webinars planned soon to help dioceses transition to a new learning platform. All new courses will be launched to create a new program called Safe Church, Safe Communities. Read more (In English and Spanish): https://iam.ec/pa2021SafeChurchUpdates
