Episcopal Church Foundation announces 2008 fellows for Fellowship Partners Program

The Fellowship Partners Program, which includes both academic and transformational ministry grants, emphasizes the idea of partnership. Fellows are expected to share their knowledge, experience and best practices with the wider Church in practical ways.

"These are not potential scholars and transformational leaders -- they are already persuasive educators and passionate leaders," said the Rev. Lynne A. Grifo, ECF program director. "They are modeling Christ-like action by building bridges that will help TEC embrace anew the meaning of communion."

The new fellows are engaged in ministries and studies centered on the idea of enhancing multicultural competency -- that is, the Christian calling to welcome the stranger -- and will have important impact in their communities and beyond.

Understanding our Anglican Unity
Duggan seeks "to extend the vision of former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning who said, 'there will be no outsiders in the Episcopal Church,' to there will be no outsiders in the Anglican Communion." Through his doctoral research at the Lincoln Theological Institute at the University of Manchester, U.K., Duggan will explore the impact of colonialism on Anglican theology and begin to understand and articulate a postcolonial theology.

"If there is no perfect unity to be achieved, the question is, how do we embrace ever changing relationships to live with, minister, and worship with those with whom we disagree," he said.

Duggan intends to share his research and learning through publication, initiating and participating in scholarly conferences, and speaking with congregations.

Smith is focusing his doctoral work at The General Theological Seminary, in New York City on understanding the history of mission in the Anglican tradition, particularly in Africa, its impact in the contemporary world, and developing effective ways of engaging American congregations in global mission.

"I believe that a great deal of the conflict in the Anglican Communion today results from that fact that many do not have knowledge of, and appreciation for, mission and its historical and current impact on the global Communion. I hope that through my learning and teaching, I can contribute to the listening to and sharing of different perspectives within our Communion," he said.

One important aspect of Smith's work will be spending this summer in Zomba, Malawi, at the Leonard Kamungu Anglican Theological College where he will teach and begin his field research. Smith will continue to teach about mission at parishes, as well as serve as mission consultant at Trinity Church, Wall Street, where he is helping to create mission relationships in New Orleans, the Caribbean Basin, and Africa.

Joseph is currently working towards his Ph.D. in theology at Université Laval, in Quebec, Canada, with specialization on Mission and the Holy Spirit. He plans eventually to teach theology in the U.S., but dreams first to "preach the Gospel of the love of Christ, and further, to prepare others to do so." To that end, his immediate plan upon completion of his dissertation is to help the Diocese of Haiti upgrade its seminary. In addition to providing essential spiritual and pastoral care throughout the Diocese of Haiti, churches are often the only source of important social services, and priests need training to become effective administrators of these ministries. At present, the seminary in Haiti is the only French-language theological institution in the Anglican Communion and provides important training and resources to the Diocese of Haiti. Upon its expansion, it may also be able to serve the rest of the French-speaking Anglican world as well.

Resources for 21st Century Congregations
Richardson, assistant minister at Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seeks to support children and families of children along a wide spectrum of special gifts, needs, and differences by developing a curriculum guide based on inclusion of all.

While many churches have created ad hoc solutions, there is no systematized approach for adapting curricula, supporting parents, and including families with differing needs in all-family parish events, nor any centralized resource for congregations attempting to address these issues. Richardson will connect with dioceses, congregations, the Episcopal Disability Network, and universities around the country to develop what is tentatively called the Christ Church Multi-Gift Program Guide, to provide practical solutions and resources.

She notes, "We are so grateful that ECF shares the vision to include all God's children at the table, including those with learning differences. This will help not only Christ Church, but congregations across the country, as we seek partners and resources for this project."

Richardson is canonically resident in the Diocese of New Jersey. Both the dioceses Pennsylvania and New Jersey endorse her work.

Spellers, Cox Fellow and Minister for Radical Welcome at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, Massachusetts, is launching The Radical Welcome Project – a two-part project that "will generate models and resources to help the church tear down barriers, embrace The Other, and live out the radically welcoming dream of God."

Working with a young, multicultural team to develop The Crossing, currently an emerging worship ministry at St. Paul's, into a new congregation that intentionally practices radical welcome, she will then collaborate with a team to create curricula and materials congregations will need if they want to share radical welcome in their own faith communities. Spellers is the author of Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other, and the Spirit of Transformation.

"Through our programs, products and services, ECF strives not only to strengthen the capacity of individual congregations to pursue their mission and ministry," said Donald V. Romanik, president of ECF, "but to identify, adapt and share effective models and best practices that can be used in many different contexts. Through the work of our Fellows we will be able to empower many Episcopalians to live out the Gospel."

The 2007 recipients -- the Rev. Devon Anderson, Rima Vesely-Flad, and the Rev. Daniel Velez-Rivera -- engaged in work around the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), prison ministry, and women's empowerment have all had their grants renewed for 2008.

Further information about the program is available here or by calling 800-697-2858.