Upcoming Digital Workshops

Category: Current Affairs

Crisis in the Sudans: Action Needed to Save Lives
Tuesday, December 10 at 3:00pm ET

Join us for a powerful digital workshop that delves into the ongoing crisis in Sudan and South Sudan, where devastating violence has claimed thousands of lives, displaced over 10 million people, and pushed millions more to the brink of starvation. As rival military factions battle for control, civilians bear the brunt of the conflict, facing unimaginable hardship and human rights abuses.

This timely conversation will feature Sudanese and American experts who will shed light on the roots of the conflict, the current humanitarian situation, and the path toward potential solutions. Panelists will explore how people of faith—including members of the Episcopal Church—and advocates of good will can take action to support peace, justice, and survival in the region.

In collaboration with the American Friends of the Episcopal Church in the Sudans (AFRECS), this webinar will also highlight the crucial work being done by Episcopal leaders in Sudan to offer hope amidst the crisis. Learn about AFRECS’s initiatives to amplify the church’s witness for peace and provide humanitarian aid to those in desperate need.

Why Attend?

This workshop provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from those on the frontlines of the conflict—faith leaders, humanitarian experts, and advocates working tirelessly to find pathways to peace. Participants will:

• Understand the complex dynamics driving violence in the Sudans
• Hear first hand stories from Episcopal leaders in the region
• Learn what advocacy, partnerships, and faith-based efforts can do to make a difference
• Discover how you and your community can support the ongoing work of AFRECS and other initiatives

Now more than ever, action is needed to save lives and prevent further devastation. This conversation will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to make a meaningful impact.

Register today and stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan and South Sudan. Together, we can support their journey toward peace, stability, and hope.

Panelists Include:

• Andudu ElNail – Bishop of Kadugli & Nuba Mountains, Episcopal Church of Sudan; Kadugli, Sudan
• Niemat Ahmadi – Founder & President, Darfur Women’s Action Group; Washington, District of Columbia
• Tom Staal – Former Counselor, USAID; Acting USAID Director, Sudan (Summer 2024); Board Member, AFRECS; Alexandria, Virginia
•  Anita Sanborn – President, AFRECS; Alexandria, Virginia
•  Tom Prichard – Executive Director, Sudan Sunrise; Fairfax, Virginia

Category: Changing Church/ Preaching

​​Being Human & Pastoring Toward the Good Life
Wednesday, December 11 at 3:00pm ET

How do we find the good life as creatures loved, limited, and liberated by God, in a culture that values independence and endless options? This conversation will focus on how to pastor faithfully these mortal, yet beloved creatures, known as humans, from birth to death, and how we can answer, and help others answer, the great commission in light of this reality.

The panel hopes to equip clergy and lay leaders to better address contemporary ethical and pastoral concerns related to contemporary life, from welcoming new life and navigating relationships, to embracing change and dying well. Join us for this important session with leading thinkers.

Panelists Include:

• Matthew S.C. Olver – Executive Director and Publisher, The Living Church Foundation (moderator)
• Amy Peeler – Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies and Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois
• Katherine Sonderegger – Affiliated Faculty, Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia
• Victor Lee Austin – Theologian-in-Residence, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
• Elisabeth Rain Kincaid – Director of the Institute for Faith and Learning, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
• Michael Cover – Associate Professor of Theology, Marquette University; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Category: Current Affairs/ Racial Equity & Reconciliation

​​Voices from the Land of the Holy One: A Conversation with Archbishop Hosam and Dean Richard Sewell
Tuesday, December 17 at 1:00pm ET*

*Please note that this workshop is scheduled for 1:00pm ET rather than our traditional time of 3:00pm ET.

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Christ, Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Diocese of Jerusalem, and Dean Richard Sewell, Dean of St. George’s College in Jerusalem, will discuss the current situation in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank. They will also discuss:

• The mission of St. George’s College and the Anglican Center for Pilgrimage and Reconciliation.
• The Center’s critical role in personal faith formation through pilgrimages and as a gateway to the Diocese of Jerusalem, providing a deeper understanding of the work and witness of the diocese.
• How you can support their work and mission.

Join us for this “on the ground” conversation as we prepare to make the transition from Advent preparation to celebration of the incarnation.

Panelists Include:

• Hosam Naoum – Archbishop, Diocese of Jerusalem; Jerusalem
• Richard Sewell – Dean, St. George’s College; Jerusalem
• Barkley Thompson – President, North American Committee; Board Member, St. George’s College; Little Rock, Arkansas
• Della Wager Wells – Corporate Secretary, North American Committee; Newport, Rhode Island

Category: Formation/ Wellness

​​Practicing the Pause: An Hour in Advent to Remember and Wonder
Thursday, December 19 at 3:00pm ET

Advent is a season of anticipation, but it often gets overshadowed by the busyness of preparing for Christmas—both in our professional and personal lives. What if we could take a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the wonder of the story at the heart of it all?

Join us for Practicing the Pause, a special Advent offering from EPN, Being With, and the Godly Play Foundation. This webinar is designed as a sacred hour to center yourself amidst the rush, rediscover the joy of the Advent story, and reflect on its unfolding truth in the year ahead.

Through the guidance of James Fawcett, Head of Being With, and Heather Ingersoll, Executive Director of the Godly Play Foundation, you’ll be invited into a space of stillness and delight—a place to wonder, remember, and be renewed.

Let this hour be your Advent gift: a time to reset and embrace the beauty and goodness of the season. We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful time of reflection and connection.

Let’s journey together toward Christmas with hearts prepared and spirits refreshed.

Panelists Include:

• James Fawcett – Head, Being With; London, England
• Heather Ingersoll – Executive Director, Godly Play Foundation; Ashland, KS

Category: Changing Church/ Formation/ Technology

​​Faith Podcasting: Reaching the Seeker
Wednesday, January 15 at 3:00pm ET

In a world flooded with podcasts, reaching spiritual seekers has never been easier—or more complex. Digital content creation is a powerful tool for faith formation, and this session offers a unique opportunity to learn how to harness its potential effectively.

Join the hosts of the popular Popping Collars Podcast as they share insights on starting a faith-based show, its impact on their ministries, and how their digital content has adapted over the past decade. You will also gain practical knowledge that can guide your own ministry’s digital journey.

Panelists Include:

• Greg Knight – Director of Spiritual Development, 1st Unitarian Universalist of the Palm Beaches; North Palm Beach, FL
• Liz Easton – Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska; Omaha, NE
• Ricardo Avila – Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church; Los Gatos, CA
• Laura Manley – Administrative Resource, EPN; Co-Founder, Being Truly podcast; Lake Worth Beach, FL (moderator)