The Barnabas Project

The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) is very pleased to announce a new 3-year pilot program, The Barnabas Project: Parish Life Education for Seminarians, New Clergy, and Lay Leaders.

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.

The Barnabas Project will support the ministry of seminarians and newly ordained priests by providing them with training, skills development, best practices, and other resources in the areas of parish finance and administration, as well as working with lay leadership. Third year seminarians at five identified Episcopal seminaries, and newly ordained priests and their lay leaders in three to five dioceses, will attend a training workshop to be followed up with a series of web-based seminars and individualized assistance.

The five seminaries that will be participating are:

• 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

The first workshops at the seminaries will begin in October, 2011.  ECF is currently in discussion with interested dioceses to determine which will particpate in the pilot in 2012.

For more information, please contact Kate Adams, Vice President of Program or call 800-697-2858.  To read the announcement about the launch of the Barnabas Project, please click here.