The Barnabas Project

In September 2011, ECF launched a 3-year pilot program, The Barnabas Project: Parish Life Education for Seminarians, New Clergy, and Lay Leaders.

The goal of Barnabas is to support the ministry of seminarians and newly ordained priests by providing them with training, skills development, best practices, and other resources in the area of parish finance and administration, as well as working with lay leadership.

While seminarians receive excellent theological education, changing realities throughout the Episcopal Church have resulted in fewer curacies and assistant positions that formerly provided new clergy with the opportunity to learn the practical skills needed to navigate the day-to-day challenges of leading a parish under the supervision of a more experienced priest or rector.

During Year 1 nearly 200 seminarians, new clergy, and lay leaders attended intensive one-day workshops, followed up by a series of six web conferences covering topics including:  Leading & Managing Change, Managing & Administering, Partnering In/For Ministry, Giving & Asking, Communicating with Purpose, and Vision and Planning.

Five seminaries will participate in Barnabas during the 2012-2013 academic year:

Bexley Hall, Columbus, OH
Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, CA
General Theological Seminary, New York, NY
Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, TX
Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA

During 2012 three dioceses also participated in Barnabas: the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, the Diocese of Oregon, and the Episcopal Dicoese of West Texas,  ECF is currently working to identify dioceses interested in participating in The Barnabas Project in 2013.

For more information, please contact Kate Adams, Vice President of Program or call 800-697-2858.