Discipleship and 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:
Church Publishing
The Episcopal Church publisher that provides official worship materials, such as hymnals and prayer books, professional resources for clergy and lay leaders, books for general readers and education curricula for all ages.
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.
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.
LeaderResources
Programs for children and youth ministry, adult education, and congregational resources including church growth, vestry retreats, . Resources are available free to Episcopal congregations in Vermont. Contact the Rev. Canon Linda Grenz for the coupon code.
Building Faith
A curated collection of articles and resources by ministry leaders in the field—practitioners, both clergy and lay– to equip and inspire 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.
Forward Movement
Provides devotional booklets, Bible studies, formation courses, brochures and other resources.
Lay 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 in our diocese online by local leaders or by seminaries and formation schools.
The Pathways Program at Bexley Seabury and the CALL Program of Church Divinity School of the Pacific, both offer approved courses and trainings for lay ministry. Contact the Rev. Canon Susan Ohlidal with questions.
The Episcopal Preaching Foundation is recommended for all preachers (lay and ordained), particularly Word and Witness, the foundation’s monthly preaching resource newsletter.
Eucharistic Visitors, while trained by local clergy, will benefit from this Pastoral Care training as additional spiritual exploration and development of the ministry.
Completion of Safe Church training is required for all licensed lay ministers. Contact Margaret Schotto regarding Safe Church training records or Sophie Kitch-Peck regarding lay licenses.
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:
TryTank
An Experimental Laboratory for church innovation, TryTank offers inventive approaches to the challenges facing the Episcopal Church. 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.
MissionInsite
MissionInsite is a cloud-based demographic and mapping platform designed for churches. It provides community data—including population trends, income, ethnicity, and lifestyle patterns—to help churches understand their local neighborhoods and plan effective outreach. It can help with:
- Program Planning: Tailoring local initiatives, youth groups, or community services (like food pantries) to meet the specific, data-backed needs of the immediate neighborhood.
- Capital Campaigns: Utilizing wealth screening and demographic mapping to pinpoint areas of growth and identify potential donor support for fundraising initiatives.
- Community Engagement: Determining the most strategic locations for new campuses, outreach events, or community service projects.
The College for Congregational Development
The College is a comprehensive training program that seeks to nurture and develop congregational development practitioners from within existing parish lay and clergy leadership.
