Upcoming Digital Workshops

Category: Strategic Leadership / Current Affairs

​​Tending Our Soil: Supporting Ground-level Church Revitalization
Wednesday, October 23 at 3:00pm ET

The church is undergoing a period of profound change, realignment, and reforming. Revitalizing parish ministry is key to building the church of the future. And, this revitalization requires lay and clergy leaders to imagine and implement new ways of being church to meet the needs of our congregations and communities. This workshop is the story of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington’s efforts to uncover these new ways of being church through our parish revitalization initiative, Tending Our Soil.

During this workshop, you will learn about our work with 26 congregations over the past three years. Panelists will share both their successes and challenges and the changes in their congregations through participating in the Tending Our Soil initiative.

Leave this conversation with a better understanding of what it takes to listen to God and neighbor and bring those learnings into the life of a congregation. You will also hear about specific resources your congregation might find helpful, including how you can employ a persona – a representation of the people you serve – to focus your ministries.

Panelists Include:

• Patricia Alexander – Rector, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church; Bethesda, Maryland
• Elsie Kirton – Member, St. John’s Episcopal Church; Beltsville, MD
• Richard Wall – Rector, St. Paul’s Parish, K Street; Washington, District of Columbia
• Melissa Williams – Member, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church & Coach, Tending our Soil; Washington, District of Columbia
• Mariann Edgar Budde – Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Washington; Washington, District of Columbia
• Anne-Marie Jeffrey – Canon for Congregational Vitality; Episcopal Diocese of Washington; Washington, District of Columbia (moderator)

Category: Communications/ Current Affairs

​​Navigating Crisis Communications in Congregations, Especially During an Election Year
Thursday, October 24 at 3:00pm ET

In times of heightened political tension, effective communication within your congregation is more important than ever. Join Crisis Communications Expert Crayton Webb, CEO of global PR firm Sunwest Communications, and the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels in Dallas, for a timely discussion on managing communications in polarized environments. They’ll share strategies for knowing when to speak up, when to remain silent, and how to navigate your church’s role in today’s charged atmosphere. Expect actionable insights, real-world examples, and engaging commentary from this dynamic duo. Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare your church for the challenges ahead.

Panelists Include:

• Crayton Webb – CEO, Sunwest Communications; Dallas, TX
• Christopher D. Girata – Rector, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church; Dallas, TX

Category: Changing Church / Current Affairs

​​Serving the Global Community: Strengthening Parish Outreach
Tuesday, October 29 at 3:00pm ET

Episcopal parishes and congregations are at the forefront of service, often partnering with local, national, and worldwide nonprofits and organizations to live out the gospel mandate of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Our congregations often recognize that in today’s interconnected world, we have unprecedented opportunities to extend our outreach beyond the confines of our local communities. Our parishes, while grounded in local traditions and needs, can flourish even more by embracing a global perspective. By serving with and learning from the global community, congregations can support the work of churches around the globe, enrich our own congregations, see the Spirit at work, and help bring about a compassionate world.

During this workshop, Education Equals Hope, an Episcopal Parish Network non-profit partner connected to The Episcopal Church in Ecuador, Haiti, and Madagascar will share about its work in providing unique partnership opportunities for Episcopal congregations.

Our panel will discuss how you can strengthen your parish’s outreach by serving the global community through short-term mission activities. Attendees will learn how, by implementing Education Equals Hope’s Philosophy of Mission on Short-Term Mission, parishes can create reciprocal partnerships vs. mutual “using.”

Panelists Include:

• Daniel Paul Richards – Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina (moderator)
• Dianna LaMance Deaderick – Deacon, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church; Columbia, South Carolina
• M. Dorian Del Priore – Rector, Holy Cross Episcopal Church; Simpsonville, South Carolina
• Cameron Graham Vivanco – Co-Founder & Director, Education Equals Hope Scholarship Program in Ecuador; Quito, Ecuador
• Celeste Bundy – Executive Director, Education Equals Hope; Fort Mill, South Carolina

Category: Finance/ Current Affairs

Sustainable Investing Insights with The Church Commissioner’s Net Zero Lead, Sofia Bartholdy
Wednesday, October 30 at 3:00pm ET

EPN is excited to welcome Sofia Bartholdy, the Church Commissioners for England’s Net Zero Investing Lead, on October 30th for an exclusive session. Sofia will provide essential insights on how your church can integrate sustainability into its investments and achieve net zero goals, focusing on impact-driven solutions to combat climate change. In a landmark move, the Church Commissioners made a decisive choice in 2023 to divest from multiple fossil fuel companies after seven years of unfruitful engagement. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leader at the forefront of responsible investing—mark your calendars for this must-attend event!

Panelists Include:

• Sofia Bartholdy – Commissioners’ Lead for Net Zero and Responsible Investment Integration, Church Commissioners; London, England
• JoAnn Hanson – President, Church Investment Group; Atlanta, Georgia

Category: Changing Church/ Preaching

​​Being Human & Pastoring Toward the Good Life
Monday, November 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

Category: Vocation/ Wellness

​​What Clergy Spouses Can Teach Us About Spiritual Resilience
Tuesday, November 12 at 3:00pm ET

Episcopal clergy spend years in rigorous preparation—spiritual direction, psychotherapy, mentoring, education, community formation, and hands-on experience—before stepping into the profound role of leading a faith community. Yet, standing beside them is often someone who has received none of this training but whose life is equally shaped by the spiritual challenges of their spouse’s vocation.

Supporting and uplifting clergy spouses and partners is crucial for fostering strong personal relationships and building robust support networks for clergy in their spiritual leadership roles. The Partner’s Path is one organization dedicated to this vital work.

Through listening to the stories of hundreds of men and women navigating the complex role of clergy spouse, The Partner’s Path has identified three key spiritual challenges and developed resources to address these challenges. Despite the diverse backgrounds of those engaged, our research shows that those who successfully embrace this unique calling do so by engaging with and overcoming these three critical spiritual dilemmas.

In this workshop, our panelists will share their research, discuss the identified spiritual challenges, and explore practical ways to overcome them. While these challenges are inherent to clergy spouses, they also offer valuable insights for anyone seeking spiritual maturity and lifelong wholeness. Whether you are a clergy spouse/partner or not, you’ll find this discussion relevant and enriching.
We invite you to join this conversation featuring members of The Partner’s Path, along with Executive Director Laura Jackson, as they reveal keys to a spiritually resilient life.

Panelists Include:

• Laura Jackson – Executive Director, The Partner’s Path; Evanston, Illinois
• Charles Zaucha – Board President, The Partner’s Path & Convener, Diocese of Chicago Chapter; Woodstock, Illinois
• Ellen Prall – Clergy Spouse, Grace Episcopal Church; Freeport, Illinois
• Eli Harlan – Clergy Spouse, The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity (The American Cathedral in Paris); Paris, France

Category: Art/ Theology & Scripture Study

Transforming Lives & Igniting Spiritual Imaginations through The Saint John’s Bible
Wednesday, November 13 at 3:00pm ET

Join us for a captivating digital workshop that explores the powerful fusion of Scripture, art, and spiritual growth through The Saint John’s Bible. Hosted by the Episcopal Parish Network in partnership with The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program, this event will feature inspiring stories from clergy of three dynamic Episcopal parishes—Church of the Transfiguration (Dallas), St. Michael’s (Colorado Springs), and Epiphany (Seattle)—as they reflect on their transformative journeys with the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible.

From the awe-inspiring moment of acquisition to the profound impact of ongoing programming, you’ll hear how this extraordinary work of sacred art and Scripture is deepening faith, building community, and igniting imaginations in these parishes and beyond. Learn how these congregations are using the Heritage Edition to bring Scripture alive in ways that resonate deeply with today’s spiritual seekers and create lasting legacies of faith and creativity.

Why attend?

• Discover how The Saint John’s Bible is transforming lives through a unique blend of art and Scripture.
• Hear real-world examples of how faith communities are engaging with this work in worship, study, and outreach.
• Gain inspiration for how your own parish or faith journey can be enriched by the beauty and power of this sacred art.

Panelists Include:

• Kate Wesch – Parochial Vicar, Epiphany Parish; Seattle, Washington
• Rebecca Tankersley – Senior Associate Rector, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration; Dallas, Texas
• Matt Holcombe – Rector, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church; Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Brad Neary – Director, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program; Collegeville, Minnesota

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with the intersection of art, faith, and imagination—register today to be part of the conversation that’s inspiring spiritual transformation across the Episcopal Church!