The initial years of ministry are a distinct stage of ministry. Research shows that the first three years are the most formative for a priest’s identity, confidence, and agility in ministry practice. Launching into Ministry of Lifelong Learning offers intentional and focused conversations for developing Spiritual Leadership Habits and Practices for a lifetime of ministry. […]
Ordained leaders develop throughout their lives. Over time, they hone clearer insights, abilities, skills, and habits, but they also run the risk of plateauing, stagnating and resorting to “auto-pilot.” Typical continuing education programs focus on short-term bursts of new learning, and while inspiring, do not yield long-term growth. Priests need spaces where they can focus […]
The Mutual Ministry Initiative (MMi), one of the Department of Lifelong Learning’s Lilly Endowment Inc. funded grants, has completed the first year of its project. A critical component of this multi-year effort to meet the urgent need for clergy and lay leaders trained as ministry developers in local, culturally specific contexts includes the Bishops’ Collaborative: […]
Forma, the Network for Christian Formation for the Episcopal Church and beyond, became part of Lifelong Learning in March 2022. Founded in 1997 as the National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors, Forma has a long history of serving lay and clergy Christian formation leaders by providing advocacy, professional development, networking opportunities, and resources. Over the […]
As one of thirteen participating grantees in the Called to Lives of Meaning and Purpose initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., Baptized for Life (BFL) has walked alongside 17 faith communities from six dioceses with a focus on forming Christians who are confident about their baptismal identity and vocation. Now at the end of our five-year project, […]
Deep Calls to Deep, a program to nurture and strengthen preaching, is housed in VTS’s Lifelong Learning Department, and is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. The program supports several peer groups of four to six preachers who covenant to meet monthly for a year to preach for each other, receive feedback, and […]
In 2018, a new program was launched by Lifelong Learning at VTS called Thriving in Ministry. Funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Thriving is but one of several initiatives at Virginia Theological Seminary supported by grants made by the Endowment, an Indianapolis, IN-based philanthropy founded in 1937 to support community development, education, and religion. Leadership at […]
In graduate school, I was encouraged to take an introductory course in program evaluation and grant writing. My advisor knew that I worked for The Episcopal Church and (rightly) assumed there was room for growth in both areas! Not only did I enjoy the class, I discovered unexpected creative freedom at the intersection of accountability […]
