Category: Lifelong Learning

Launching into Ministry Initiative Helps Clergy Build a Solid Foundation

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.  […]

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Changing Clergy Culture by Changing How Clergy Continue to Learn

  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 […]

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Forma Settles into Lifelong Learning and Prepares for Annual Conference

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 […]

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Baptized for Life Final Residency

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, […]

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Nurturing and Strengthening Preaching Through Deep Calls to Deep

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 […]

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Building a Thriving Clergy through Thriving in Ministry

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 […]

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An Introduction to Lifelong Learning’s Initiatives and Grants

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 […]

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