in Vestry Papers and filtered by Christian Formation, Discernment, Communications + 6 other(s)
By Ben Maddison
Leaving your comfort zone and trying new things is always a learning experience. Sometimes it’s also incredibly fun. In TikTok and Real Ministry, Ben Maddison describes his foray into TikTok which started out as a way to make people laugh and has now become a powerful source of real ministry.
By ECF Staff
What are the long-term effects of Covid-19 on faith communities and how are we tackling them? In Bridges to the Future: Addressing the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Faith Communities, ECF staff, in collaboration with Diocesan teams, share “new ministry models to ensure the sustainability and vitality of these communities over the long-term.”
By Alissa Newton
Can ASA give us an accurate indication of a parish’s health? In How the Pandemic Cured my ASA Obsession, Alissa Newton talks about her fixation with attendance and numbers, and how the pandemic forced her to reframe ‘metrics’ in a new light.
By Janet Waggoner
How do congregations who lose their buildings and possessions refocus on what truly makes “church”? In Church Without Walls, Janet Waggoner shares the story of the Episcopal Church in North Texas, where its people have not just continued doing God’s work in the face of material loss, but have poured even more into their communities, never failing in love and faithfulness.
By Josh Anderson
In Seeking Refugia: Hope for a World in Climate Crisis, Josh Anderson describes his experience of reading Refugia Faith a book by Debra Rienstra, that brings joy, hope and the call to act to mend our relationship with our earth in small, continuous and impactful ways.
By Marc Andrus
What is our call as Episcopalians to eco-justice and stewarding the gift of our planet? In Eco-Justice Lives in the Heart, Bishop Marc Andrus shares the experience of two communities – one in California and the other in Alaska – that have been ravaged by environmental degradation and human-induced climate change, addressing how we can respect the dignity of all life and embrace care of the earth as Christians. This article is available in English and Spanish.
By Haley Bankey
There are many places and ways of meeting God on our Christian journey other than our church buildings. In Holy Hikes and Thin Spaces, Haley Bankey shares how she encountered God in a lush evergreen forest – a thin space, where heaven and earth converged. She inspires us to get out into the world and experience God through Holy Hikes and the Wild Church Network.
By ECFVP Team
Since 1964 the Episcopal Church Foundation has supported more than two hundred scholars and ministry leaders throughout the Episcopal Church, fostering innovation in theological formation and ministerial leadership in challenging times. In Resources from ECF Fellows, we highlight several transformative resources from past ECF Fellows to support your ministry.
By Haley Bankey
Have you considered how being a part of a network of like-minded individuals with similar interests may open you to new ideas and strengthen your ministry? In Gathering of Leaders – Power of Networks, Haley Bankey shares the purpose of Gathering of Leaders and points to other networks in the Episcopal Church for you to consider.
By Charis Bhagianathan
In this issue, we highlight traditional tools, as well as relationship-building and partnership-focused ideas to consider that will enrich our learning and service to our Church.
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