Discipleship, Formation, and Congregational Development
Discipleship & Formation
The ability and willingness to express our faith and our unique God-given gifts in the world as a disciple of Jesus Christ; life-long growth in knowledge, service, and love of God as followers of Jesus Christ.
Resources:
Green Mountain Online Abbey
A daily offering of online prayer at 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8:00 p.m. Sunday. Seasonal opportunities and programs are also offered in areas of discipleship and spiritual renewal for individuals and lay leaders.
Contact the Rev. adwoa Wilson, Vicar of Adult Formation and Discipleship
The Way of Love
An intentional commitment to a set of practices in our lives as Episcopalians. How together we can grow more deeply with Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, so we can bear witness to his way of love in and for the world.
Offered by The Episcopal Church
Education for Ministry /EfM
A four-year distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study and practice. EfM helps the faithful discover the Christian tradition, bringing it into conversation with their experiences of the world. EfM seminar groups meet in onsite and online, developing theologically informed, reflective, and articulate seekers of God.
Contact Steven Isham, Diocesan Coordinator for EfM
Congregational Development
Building a sustainable future for our congregations and diocese is about engaging in vibrant ministry together as the Body of Christ in the world. We pray, worship, give, learn, discern and serve.
Thriving congregations demonstrate several characteristics, no matter their size or location or age:
- they explore and understand changing social and cultural contexts;
- they have a strong identity and can articulate “why” they are called to love and serve;
- they live out their common life through our Christian/Anglican/Episcopal practices.
Resources:
A Process for Congregational Discernment
An Invitation from Bishop Shannon
“As we consider how new models of ministry and new collaborative relationships might offer our Diocese new ways in our future, I call upon all of our congregations also to enter discernment. I ask that you consider your current ways of life as God’s gathered people in your local communities and how—and whether—these ways of life will continue into our future.”
This manual is for congregations that are: in discernment about their future; for congregations that wonder what God might be calling them to next; for those questioning their mission. This manual is for congregations that are concerned about their future, congregations that are afraid of failure, and congregations that are worried that they might have to close.
Contact the Rev. Susan Ohlidal, Canon to the Ordinary for Missional Vitality
TryTank
An Experimental Laboratory for church innovation, TryTank offers inventive approaches to the challenges facing the Episcopal Church. Their mission is to help the church innovate as a way of following the Holy Spirit. It is a joint project between Virginia Theological Seminary and the General Theological Seminary.
The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, founding director of TryTank, returned to diocesan convention in 2023 to continue the discussion that began at his plenary session in 2022. Slides from the Rev. Lebrija’s presentation are available for download. Watch a recording on YouTube.
Resources and opportunities through TryTank are available to individuals and congregations.
Contact the Rev. Susan Ohlidal, Canon to the Ordinary for Missional Vitality
MissionInsite
A community analysis tool to identify insights and to help determine your congregation’s missional plan. A cloud-based technology platform that bridges the gap between data and decisions by answering the “where” and “what about” questions about your surrounding community and region.
Contact the Rev. Jeremy Means-Koss, diocesan contact for MissionInsite
TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship
TENS is an association of church leaders who understand, practice, and proclaim God’s call to generosity. All congregations in the Diocese of Vermont are members of TENS and can use the resources provided for members: resource library, pledge/annual commitment tools, webinars, best practices information.
Contact the Rev. Susan Ohlidal, Canon to the Ordinary for Missional Vitality
Lay Liturgical Ministry Training
Discernment and training, plus licensing of lay ministers (Morning Prayer Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, and Eucharistic Visitor) occur in a process with both the local congregation and the ministry of the bishop.
Training for Morning Prayer Leaders and Preachers is currently offered diocesan-wide and online. Completion of Safe Church training is required for all licensed lay ministers.
Contact the Rev. Kim Hardy, Chairperson of the Liturgy Committee, for information on training.
Contact Kathy Torrisi, Bishop’s Executive Assistant, regarding Safe Church training records or lay licenses.
LeaderResources
A wide range of resources that create an environment where people can be transformed by God and/or where the group/congregation’s way of being would be transformed. Programs in youth ministry, adult education, and congregational resources. Some resources are available free to Episcopal congregations in Vermont.
Contact the Rev. Canon Linda Grenz, Transition Ministry Consultant
Building Faith
A curated collection of articles and resources by ministry leaders in the field—practitioners, both clergy and lay– to equip and inspire churches and individuals for the ministry of Christian education and faith formation for all ages and in many ways: worship, church school, faith at home, outreach, mission, camp, and more. Published by Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary.
It’s All about Love
A churchwide festival of worship, learning, community, and action for the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement was held July 2023. The festival ignited and fanned the flames of mission and love and is part of the ongoing revival of The Episcopal Church. Follow-up resources available: