Deep Calls to Deep, a program to nourish working preachers, began in 2015, funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. Now, as the grant funding comes to an end this fall, it is a good opportunity to look back on what the program has accomplished. The fundamental principle of Deep Calls to Deep […]
I’m excited to bring you updates on the Faith-Filled Families: Christian Practices for Abundant Parenting (FfF) initiative. We are committed to enrich religious education in church preschools and congregations by equipping teachers and parents/guardians with Christian practices for faithful living in daily life. In the early spring, I embarked on a mission to visit churches […]
The Spirit of God moved over the face of the deep in creation and over the campus of VTS in the Deep Calls to Deep Residency, 2023! While twenty preachers gathered for five days at VTS to work with six different presenters the Holy Spirit created ONE unified experience. Uncoordinated between the preachers, speakers, and […]
In the Spring of 2022, Forma, the Network for Christian Formation for the Episcopal Church and beyond, became part of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. After a year of transition and planning, Forma is now accepting membership dues through a brand-new platform: The Forma Space on VTS Plus. Below you’ll find a list of […]
A Peer Learning Community (PLC) is a gathering that promotes powerful clergy growth and development. Peer Learning Communities are a cornerstone of both the Launching into Ministry and Thriving in Ministry programs. In both, PLC members are all clergy working in the same ministry context. Leaders find themselves asking a question like, “How can […]
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, […]
