These digital workshops are offerings of the Episcopal Parish Network to the church.
They are presented at no-cost, but registration is required.
Category: Governance / Finance
Parish Finances: The Mysteries of the Treasurer’s Role
Tuesday, July 30 at 3:00pm ET
The role of the treasurer in a parish system varies greatly from church to church. Some parishes are clear on the treasurer’s role and responsibilities, others are less clear on these fronts. Some larger churches have deep resources to assist the treasurer in her/his role, while less resourced churches often rely on the expertise of volunteer treasurers to handle much of the finance work of the parish. Regardless of role definition or responsibilities, the treasurer is an indispensable role for the successful parish.
If you and your team wonder how your church treasurer can excel in his/her position given these variables, join our experts for a discussion on the role and responsibilities for this critical position and how to secure the appropriate resources for this person to fulfill their responsibilities.
This workshop, led by EPN partner Chazin & Company, will help you understand how to define the treasurer’s role and responsibilities and what tools are available to help the treasurer succeed. Accounting expert Jackie McLaughlin, CPA will join Gary Hacker, treasurer at Emmanuel Church Baltimore for this important conversation.
Panelists include:
- Jackie McLaughlin, CPA – Learning Manager, Chazin & Company; Washington, D.C.
Gary Hacker – Vestry Treasurer, Emmanuel Episcopal Church; Baltimore, Maryland
Category: Current Events
Braver Angels: Providing Resources to Deal with Polarization as We Approach the November Election and Beyond
Tuesday, August 6th at 3:00pm ET
Every day, we see headlines about divisions in our country. There are news reports that feature anger and animosity. Our politics seem more coarse than ever and this often leads us to despair. However, as Christians, we are called to be repairers of the breach. In this moment, what can we do to live into this call? During this workshop, we will learn about how congregations can lead in being bridges between communities and help repair the fractures in our social contract.
This workshop will feature leaders from Braver Angels, a national movement that began after the 2016 election and dedicated to helping depolarizing America. Since 2016, Braver Angels has gathered thousands of members, trained hundreds of moderators, enlisted scores of ambassadors — and provided workshops, debates, and resources to help America deal with the growing epidemic of political polarization. The workshop’s panelists have been engaged in Braver Angels work in their respective Episcopal church congregations: one in St. Paul, Minnesota, one in New London, New Hampshire — and the third, co-chairs the Faith Communities Engagement team for Braver Angels.
Our panelists will share how Braver Angels resources can help congregations, and their local communities, engage in reconciliation, which is of particular importance as political polarization becomes more intense as we approach the November election. Panelist Bishop Mark Beckwith (retired), refers to Braver Angels as the secular version of the Anglican movement. As a church, we developed our polity out of tension between conflicting political factions. As Anglicans, we know how to live in tension. We will share how Episcopalians can draw on this historical experience and provide reconciliation resources to a polarized country.
Join us to learn how Braver Angels works to provide a balance between political factions — we don’t seek to pull one side to the other, but work to enable listening and help communities at odds find common ground.
Panelists Include:
- Mark Beckwith – Canon for Spiritual and Leadership, Diocese of Western Massachusetts; Springfield, Massachusetts
- Randi Atchison – Leader, St. Matthew Episcopal Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Jennifer Giles – Leader, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New London, New Hampshire
- Ramelle Mccall – Canon for Justice and Future Leaders, The Diocese of South Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina
Category: Administration
Church Security Mini-Summit
Monday, August 12 at 11:00am ET*
*Note: This workshop is scheduled earlier than our traditional 3:00pm ET time.
As Christians, we strive to provide a gracious welcome to all who come through our doors. Whether it is the long-time parishioner, the newcomer, or the visitor entering our sacred spaces and community facilities we want those joining us to feel that the Episcopal Church truly ‘welcomes you’ as our ubiquitous blue and white signs state.
While being open and welcoming, we also have a responsibility to maintain safety on our campuses and provide secure spaces for eery adult, youth, or child who engages with us (be it in our sanctuary, our parish halls, Sunday School classrooms, or school facilities).
Join our experts for this mini-summit on how we can best secure our facilities and offer a sense of safety to those joining us for worship or Christian fellowship. During this session, you will learn about:
– Best practices to improve physical security in existing physical spaces;
-Ways to plan and implement physical security for new construction or renovation;
-Understanding the process for security planning and who should be part of the implementation team;
-How to confront issues surrounding institutional culture and achieving buy-in to implement and follow security measures;
-Learn why security needs to start in design to reduce costly errors or need to undo or renovations for security improvements;
-Receive actionable information on grants and available funds to assist in implementing physical security from federal and state entities.
This mini-summit designed for parish administrators, lay leadership, and clergy will be led by Cristin Kinman. Christin has a degree in civil engineering from The Catholic University of America and has worked for DC based general contractors such as Clark Construction and Lend Lease. In 2009, she became interested in the intersection of health and the built environment and pursued a Masters in Public Health focused in biostatistics. She worked at the R Adams Crowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of MD for 5 years working on research projects funded by NIH, SAMSHA, and the Dept of Defense. Christin spent 7 years working as a Facilities Project Manager for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. During this time, she worked closely with the Division of Risk Management on safety and security initiatives. As part of her work at the Archdiocese, she worked with parishes and schools to apply for grants to fund security improvements and was successful in overseeing the award of over $4M in grants. She is an active member of ASIS, is a current member of the School Security Standards Technical Committee, charged with developing a school security standard to ANSI standards and has published several articles on security within the ASIS Cultural Properties and Houses of Worship Communities, Security Informed Roundtable, DHI Door Security and Safety Magazine and is a CPTED practitioner.
Panelists Include:
- Jim Lamm – Parish Administrator, St. David’s Parish; Austin, Texas (moderator)
- Christin Kinman – Consultant; Allegion; Hagerstown, Maryland
- Nathan Parr – Facility Stewardship Specialist, Smart Church Solutions; Temple Texas
- Erik Larsen – Global Strategy, Brivo; New York, New York
- Lee Cool – Church Facilities, Smart Church Solutions; Charlotte, North Carolina
Category: Current Events
Haiti: Hope Amidst Challenge
Tuesday, August 13 at 3:00pm ET
Haiti, home of many Episcopal brothers and sisters, is mired in chaos, suffering, and challenge. Those watching news reports or seeing online updates have witnessed the pain Haitians are suffering daily. However, significantly, change is on the horizon. Hope is emerging from a new era of security and governance facilitated by an international coalition.
We invite you to join a digital workshop for a collection of “live updates” and inspiring stories from people living through the current situation in Haiti. These are Haitians and others who were impacted by the power of an encounter, sometimes, in one of those darkest corners. These are stories of how these encounters have led one rural community towards transformation.
While most of the news out of Haiti reflects suffering, injustice, and food insecurity, an Episcopal community in Bondeau led by Father Jean Phanord is demonstrating that hope exists. It also provides an example for communities across Haiti. The South Florida Haiti Project, Food For The Poor, and Episcopal Parish Network are honored to partner and provide this update.
You will leave with the sense there is hope and the amazingly resilient people with a vibrant culture of creativity, beauty, and possibility are moving towards a better future.
Join our panelists for a fresh perspective on the situation in Haiti and be a witness to the transformative power of meaningful encounters.
Panelists Include:
- The Right Reverend Peter Eaton, Bishop, The Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida, Miami, FL
- Father Andrew Sherman, Rector, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Boca Raton, FL
- Ed Raine, CEO, Food For The Poor, Coconut Creek, FL
- Edward Buckley, Founder, Water Life Hope, Atlanta, GA
- Delane Bailey-Herd, Former Project Manager – Haiti, Food For The Poor, Coconut Creek, FL
