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ECF is pleased to announce that the 2012 application process for the ECF Fellowship Partners Program is now open. Emerging leaders, teachers, and scholars are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 15, 2012.

For nearly 50 years ECF has identified and helped to raise up dynamic and transformational lay and ordained church leaders who are engaged in academic study and transformational ministries that address important areas of need in the Episcopal Church. “ECF is incredibly proud of the talented, innovative, and creative Fellows who, over the years, have and are serving as bishops, seminary deans and faculty members, scholars, writers, teachers, preachers, rectors, priests, community organizers, farmers, an lay leaders at all levels of the Church,” said Donald V. Romanik, President of ECF. “They are making a significant difference in the lives of their local communities in classrooms, congregations, and other faith communities all across the country and the wider world.”

ECF typically awards three Fellowships per year, and while the application process is competitive, the program offers Fellows unique opportunities to serve the Church. “In addition to receiving financial support for up to three years, Fellows also have the ability to focus on ideas and new ministries, gain visibility for their work, and become part of the network of ECF Fellows,” noted Anne Ditzler, ECF Senior Program Director. “ECF partners with our Fellows to help them share their knowledge, experience, and best practices with the wider Church.”

In 2011 fellowships were awarded to the Rev. Sam Dessórdi Peres Leite, the Rev. James Brian McVey, Sr. Greta Ronningen, and Andrew Thompson. Sam is working on his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, with a focus on issues in Latino Ministries for the Episcopal Church; Brian is rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davenport, Iowa, where his is leading his congregation and local community in addressing the issue of human trafficking; Greta has created and will lead The Good Seed Project, a series of spiritual formation and faith building classes for young girls in juvenile detention in Los Angeles; and Andrew is a doctoral candidate in Christian ethics at Yale University, where his research focuses on the ethics of the Church and its relationship to different cultural contexts.

New awards will range up to $15,000 and may be renewable for an additional two years. New Fellows will be announced in May, 2012.

Details about the application process for the ECF Fellowship Partners Program can be found here or by calling 800-697-2858.