On Wednesday, June 19, we are offering pre-conference seminars for those who would like to take a deeper dive into a particular topic. You will be able to choose two 3-hour sessions to attend. Planned sessions include:
Discipleship and Justice:
An Asset-based Approach to Politics, Social Justice and Transforming Community
Often, we focus on the perceived needs and challenges of a community, sustaining narratives and cycles of dependency that are usually defined by others. What if our ministries and our response to injustice and political unrest were to engage ordinary people in public life, shifting discontent to action by activating our corporate gifts to achieve the dreams we have for our community?
In this seminar, learn how Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) builds and strengthens relationships both inside and outside of the Church, shifting viewpoints and creating sustainable growth.
An Asset-based Approach to Politics, Social Justice and Transforming Community
Often, we focus on the perceived needs and challenges of a community, sustaining narratives and cycles of dependency that are usually defined by others. What if our ministries and our response to injustice and political unrest were to engage ordinary people in public life, shifting discontent to action by activating our corporate gifts to achieve the dreams we have for our community?
In this seminar, learn how Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) builds and strengthens relationships both inside and outside of the Church, shifting viewpoints and creating sustainable growth.
Chad Brinkman is the Program Officer, Engagement for Episcopal Relief & Development, where he works to “engage”, educate and mobilize local communities, affinity groups and the larger Episcopal Church in the work of Episcopal Relief & Development. Previously he served the organization through the NetsforLife® Inspiration Fund, working to raise awareness and support for Episcopal Relief & Development’s award-winning malaria prevention program partnership. He is also a regular contributor of pictures and stories to the organization’s website. Chad has been on staff at Episcopal Relief & Development since 2010. [email protected]
Rev. Melanie Mullen serves as Episcopal Church’s Director of Reconciliation, Justice & Creation Care. Prior to joining the Presiding Bishop’s staff she was the Downtown Missioner at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, leading a historic southern congregation’s missional, civic, and reconciliation ministries.
Before the ministry, Melanie worked in campaign fundraising and development, raising more than $10 million for leadership PACs, the Congressional Black Caucus, and US Congressional and gubernatorial races from Louisiana to Connecticut; and she served as Development Associate for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, with a focus on poverty advocacy. [email protected]
Before the ministry, Melanie worked in campaign fundraising and development, raising more than $10 million for leadership PACs, the Congressional Black Caucus, and US Congressional and gubernatorial races from Louisiana to Connecticut; and she served as Development Associate for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, with a focus on poverty advocacy. [email protected]
A Lifelong Romance: Ignatian Methods and Understandings of Prayer
(or: Do You Suffer from Imposter Syndrome When You Pray?)
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, had a passionate, reflective, and practical relationship with Jesus. His prayer practices and insights into the realties of the spiritual life were simultaneously rooted in tradition and well-suited to a post-modern age. Over the centuries many people have found his teachings helpful in learning to pray and in discerning God’s call in our lives. This workshop will introduce some of Ignatius’ foundational understandings of the relationship between us and God, explore how that relates to a lifetime practice of discernment, and offer some practices of prayer that anyone can learn.
(or: Do You Suffer from Imposter Syndrome When You Pray?)
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, had a passionate, reflective, and practical relationship with Jesus. His prayer practices and insights into the realties of the spiritual life were simultaneously rooted in tradition and well-suited to a post-modern age. Over the centuries many people have found his teachings helpful in learning to pray and in discerning God’s call in our lives. This workshop will introduce some of Ignatius’ foundational understandings of the relationship between us and God, explore how that relates to a lifetime practice of discernment, and offer some practices of prayer that anyone can learn.
The Rev. Stacy Alan (center in photo) has been the chaplain at Brent House, the Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Chicago, since 2005. She was educated by the Jesuits at Seattle University and attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City (including a year at the Seminario Bíblico Latinoamericano in San José, Costa Rica). Before ordination she coordinated the volunteer programs for five years at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in New York and did health outreach at La Casa de Amistad in South Bend, Indiana. She is married to John Poole, playwright and improv actor, and has two young adult children, Ignacio and Cate. She loves Latin American protest music, dancing Latin, swing and Texas two-step, and watching bad movies with her husband. Stacy received a Leadership Grant in 2017 from the YACM office for a project to develop a curriculum using an Ignatian framework to explore baptismal vocation.
Deep Dive into Social Media and Technology (morning session)
Social media can be more than just one more thing to manage in your young adult or campus ministry. Join us for a pre-conference intensive focused on the philosophy behind using social media and new technology, as we work to maintain communication, grow connection, and deepen formation. Over our time together, we’ll also work on the practical side of things: What platform is right for our ministry? Where can I create simple and appealing graphics for my group? How can I use social media to foster conversation instead of just promoting events? This will be a hands-on session, so bring your preferred connected device as we cover the breadth of this important topic and begin to dive in ourselves.
Making your Community Identifiable using Visual Identity (afternoon session)
Show up to learn tips and tricks to be consistent and immediately identifiable in all that you produce. We’ll share the visual identity style guide of The Episcopal Church and the ELCA Style Guide as well as best practices for your ministry. With the examples of the Way of Love, AdventWord, and many other ecumenical resources, you’ll see how to create an engaging branding project that includes both corporate and grassroots contributions. Shifting into the practical and hands on, participants will learn how to set-up a visual style guide within the easy-to-use Canva, including colors, texts, logos, and more. Wondering how to use that same style guide cross-platforms, in-print and online, on email newsletters and swag? Dive into visual identity and how it can be used for your community.
Social media can be more than just one more thing to manage in your young adult or campus ministry. Join us for a pre-conference intensive focused on the philosophy behind using social media and new technology, as we work to maintain communication, grow connection, and deepen formation. Over our time together, we’ll also work on the practical side of things: What platform is right for our ministry? Where can I create simple and appealing graphics for my group? How can I use social media to foster conversation instead of just promoting events? This will be a hands-on session, so bring your preferred connected device as we cover the breadth of this important topic and begin to dive in ourselves.
Making your Community Identifiable using Visual Identity (afternoon session)
Show up to learn tips and tricks to be consistent and immediately identifiable in all that you produce. We’ll share the visual identity style guide of The Episcopal Church and the ELCA Style Guide as well as best practices for your ministry. With the examples of the Way of Love, AdventWord, and many other ecumenical resources, you’ll see how to create an engaging branding project that includes both corporate and grassroots contributions. Shifting into the practical and hands on, participants will learn how to set-up a visual style guide within the easy-to-use Canva, including colors, texts, logos, and more. Wondering how to use that same style guide cross-platforms, in-print and online, on email newsletters and swag? Dive into visual identity and how it can be used for your community.
Christopher Sikkema serves as the Manager for Special Projects in the Office of Communication for The Episcopal Church, working with the Way of Love, Becoming Beloved Community, Episcopal Revivals, Sermons That Work, and the Episcopal Asset Map. He is currently based from Rochester, Minn. He earned a B.A. in Political Science and Religion from Hope College in Holland, Mich., and a Masters in Theology, focusing on the history of religion in America, from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Before serving in this role, he served with Jubilee Ministries of The Episcopal Church and studied Appalachian serpent handling and the Catholic Movement in the 19th century Episcopal Church.
Sarah Stonesifer works in Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary as the Manager of Operations and Digital Missioner. She focuses on digital outreach, resources and training for thoughtful, innovative Christian formation for all ages. She spends her time digging into social media, educational technology and digital communications and creating digitally-savvy leaders. Years spent as a school librarian have given Sarah experience in educational technology, lesson planning and collaborative opportunities. She serves as an elected at-large member of The Episcopal Church's Executive Council. When she’s not working, Sarah teaches yoga and hangs out with her terrier-chihuahua, Lucas. Find her: sarahdigitally.com, Twitter and Instagram: @sarahdigitally
Sarah Stonesifer works in Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary as the Manager of Operations and Digital Missioner. She focuses on digital outreach, resources and training for thoughtful, innovative Christian formation for all ages. She spends her time digging into social media, educational technology and digital communications and creating digitally-savvy leaders. Years spent as a school librarian have given Sarah experience in educational technology, lesson planning and collaborative opportunities. She serves as an elected at-large member of The Episcopal Church's Executive Council. When she’s not working, Sarah teaches yoga and hangs out with her terrier-chihuahua, Lucas. Find her: sarahdigitally.com, Twitter and Instagram: @sarahdigitally
Going Deep: Using the Small Group Model to Build Connection
Participants will learn how to create small group environments that foster empathy, build connection and allow for discernment. Various skills will be taught and easy to deploy models will be used to give practical examples and experiences of setting up and sitting with small groups. Ever wonder how to create a small group that goes deep? Worry about facilitating the dynamics of small groups? Then this workshop is for you!
Participants will learn how to create small group environments that foster empathy, build connection and allow for discernment. Various skills will be taught and easy to deploy models will be used to give practical examples and experiences of setting up and sitting with small groups. Ever wonder how to create a small group that goes deep? Worry about facilitating the dynamics of small groups? Then this workshop is for you!
Rev. Edward M. Cardoza, MA.Min. is the co-founder and Chair of the Board of Still Harbor. Ed serves as a facilitator, chaplain, and spiritual director at Still Harbor. Ed received a Master’s in Arts in Ministry from Saint John’s Seminary School of Theology in 2003. He completed a practicum in spiritual direction at the Center for Religious Development through the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to serving with Still Harbor, Ed is an ordained Episcopal preist and is Rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Ed serves on the board of directors for the global health non-profit Partners In Health, where he was the Vice President for Development for 6 years. He also serves on the board of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation.
Relationships: aka Fundraising and Board Development
Don’t moan, cringe and procrastinate! Fundraising and board development are on-going ministries that bring joy to the giver and vitality to your organization. It is all about personal relationships which deepen through a shared passion and common vision. This seminar will help you think differently about money, people and the “why” of your organization. Everything you do and learn at this conference can enhance your fundraising and board development if you make the connection. Being intentional and strategic about the connections is the discipline. Asking is easy.
Don’t moan, cringe and procrastinate! Fundraising and board development are on-going ministries that bring joy to the giver and vitality to your organization. It is all about personal relationships which deepen through a shared passion and common vision. This seminar will help you think differently about money, people and the “why” of your organization. Everything you do and learn at this conference can enhance your fundraising and board development if you make the connection. Being intentional and strategic about the connections is the discipline. Asking is easy.
Donald V. Romanik has been President of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) since 2005. Since taking the helm at ECF, Donald has stabilized the financial and administrative infrastructure; led the organization through a comprehensive and ongoing strategic planning process; developed and nurtured new programs that help Episcopal communities of faith engage in visioning and planning, develop leadership and raise financial resources for ministry and cultivated new partnerships and collaborations throughout the Church. Donald has strong Spanish language skills and has expanded ECF’s program and resources for bilingual and Spanish-speaking congregations.
Donald is a strong advocate and proponent of lay leadership and the ministry of all the baptized, and frequently writes and speaks on topics relating to leadership and resource development for Episcopal organizations. As the author of Beyond the Baptismal Covenant: Transformational Lay Leadership for the Episcopal Church in the 21st Century, Donald has worked to develop new models of lay+clergy partnerships and effective leadership teams to revitalize local congregations, respond to God’s call in new and meaningful ways and help transform the Church.
Donald has served as Chairperson of the Parish Committee of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut (Senior Warden), and as Chairperson of the Spanish Language Ministries Committee for the Diocese of Connecticut. He was formerly Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs for The Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill, a charitable organization based in Hartford and also served as an attorney in both government and private practice. Donald has a strong background in labor and employment law, advocacy, government relations and non-profit law and administration. He has been active in a variety of tax-exempt civic, charitable and religious organizations and was a former member and President of the Hartford Board of Education. Donald is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Trinity College in Hartford and earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
Donald is a strong advocate and proponent of lay leadership and the ministry of all the baptized, and frequently writes and speaks on topics relating to leadership and resource development for Episcopal organizations. As the author of Beyond the Baptismal Covenant: Transformational Lay Leadership for the Episcopal Church in the 21st Century, Donald has worked to develop new models of lay+clergy partnerships and effective leadership teams to revitalize local congregations, respond to God’s call in new and meaningful ways and help transform the Church.
Donald has served as Chairperson of the Parish Committee of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut (Senior Warden), and as Chairperson of the Spanish Language Ministries Committee for the Diocese of Connecticut. He was formerly Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs for The Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill, a charitable organization based in Hartford and also served as an attorney in both government and private practice. Donald has a strong background in labor and employment law, advocacy, government relations and non-profit law and administration. He has been active in a variety of tax-exempt civic, charitable and religious organizations and was a former member and President of the Hartford Board of Education. Donald is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Trinity College in Hartford and earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
Leslie Pendleton is Associate Program Director for Strategic Resources and Client Services at the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) and has been a Capital Campaign consultant for ECF since 2009. She has helped develop new ECF programs and strategies and has worked with a diversity of congregations, enthusiastically guiding them through the communal process of a capital campaign, raising over $11 million in the last three years. She also strategizes with and trains consultants to be adaptive, effective and sensitive leaders for their clients. With her perspective as a clergy spouse, Leslie has in-depth knowledge of the day-to-day joys and challenges parishes face today and is passionate about helping congregations identify and embrace their missions for future ministry. Personally, she has been a member of churches in the Dioceses of New Hampshire, Connecticut, Newark, Washington, and Florida.
Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care
This workshop will focus on key mental health concepts and skills for clergy and pastoral counselors doing ministry with young adults. The goals of this workshop are to present current data on the mental health needs of young adults and to introduce participants to evidenced based treatment models relevant to clergy working in a short term setting. Participants will hear from four different speakers who will address the following subjects: the mental health issues faced by today’s college students and young adults; the efficacy of Solution Focused Brief Therapy in a college setting; substance misuse and addiction in young adults and how Motivational Interviewing can be effective; and a presentation about resilience and recovery from a Harvard student as a consumer of mental health services. There will be a Q & A session after each speaker. Upon completion of the presentations, the speakers will convene in a panel to address questions submitted by the audience. Below is a brief summary of the four presentations:
This workshop will focus on key mental health concepts and skills for clergy and pastoral counselors doing ministry with young adults. The goals of this workshop are to present current data on the mental health needs of young adults and to introduce participants to evidenced based treatment models relevant to clergy working in a short term setting. Participants will hear from four different speakers who will address the following subjects: the mental health issues faced by today’s college students and young adults; the efficacy of Solution Focused Brief Therapy in a college setting; substance misuse and addiction in young adults and how Motivational Interviewing can be effective; and a presentation about resilience and recovery from a Harvard student as a consumer of mental health services. There will be a Q & A session after each speaker. Upon completion of the presentations, the speakers will convene in a panel to address questions submitted by the audience. Below is a brief summary of the four presentations:
Jayna Ellsworth, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has a private practice in Lincoln MA. She received her undergraduate degree from Tufts University and her graduate degree in social work from Simmons University. Previously Ms. Ellsworth has taught Assessment & Diagnosis, Advanced Clinical Practice and the Neurobiology of Co-occurring Disorders at Simmons University School of Social Work and is currently teaching Substance Abuse at Salem State University. Ms. Ellsworth is on staff at Emerson Hospital Addiction Rehabilitation Program
Robin Cook-Nobles, Ed.D, Psychologist, has been working at Wellesley College since 1986. She has a particular interest in Black female development, in human development in general, and in a variety of ethnic/cultural issues and concerns. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston College, her masters degree from Teachers College,Columbia University and her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston University. Previously, Dr. Cook-Nobles has worked at the Boston University, and Howard University Counseling Services She has taught the Psychology of Women at Wheelock College and has taught, Human Growth and Development, Cross-cultural Psychotherapy, and Group Psychotherapy at Antioch New England Graduate School. Dr. Cook-Nobles loves art and interior design and almost went to art school instead of Boston College as an undergrad. In addition, she is a lay leader at her church and is on the Diaconate Board at Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, MA. She sees the clinical work as a calling and what she is supposed to be do. Her publications include “The Successful Treatment of Specific Phobia in a College Counseling Center”, Adler, Jonathan M., and Cook-Nobles, Robin. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 25: 1, 56- 66, 2011. “Application of the Relational Model to Time-Limited Therapy”, J. Jordan, M. Alvarez, R. Cook-Nobles, M. Handel. In J. Jordan, M. Walker, L. Hartling (Ed) The Complexity of Connection” (pp. 250 – 269). New York: The Guilford Press, 2004. “Building Connection Through Diversity”, C. Garcia Coll, R. Cook-Nobles, J. Surrey. In J. Jordan (Ed.) Women’s Growth in Diversity (pp. 176-198). New York: The Guilford Press, 1997. Diversity at the Core: Implication for Relational Theory:, C. Garcia Coll, R. Cook-Nobles, J. Surrey, 1995. Stone Center Working Paper #75. Dissertation: “Social and Psychological Factors in the Career Development of Black Professional Females”, Boston University, 1989
Catherine Mitchell is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Lexington, MA where she counsels teens, young adults, couples and families. In working with her clients, she uses a variety of perspectives and disciplines including: cognitive behavioral therapy; psychodynamic therapy; and mind-body techniques. Catherine began her career as a counselor and program coordinator in Newton, MA's middle and high schools. In 2008 she moved into counseling and program development for college-age students at Wentworth Institute and Brandeis University. She has also served as a provider of emergency mental health and crisis management services for Riverside Community Care and Harvard University Health Services. In her various professional roles she has developed programs for young adults with chronic medical or mental health conditions, created Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) groups and worked with students and adults who are coping with anxiety, life changes, interpersonal issues or work-related challenges
Ally Beard is a sophomore at Harvard College. She began her journey with mental illness in high school, and advocating for the removal of the stigma has since become a passion of hers. When she isn't working for her nonprofit organization Running from Anxiety, she crawls out of her shell and performs improv and stand up comedy on stage.
Leslie Green, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has worked in substance use treatment for 11 years, with the past 8+ years in the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP) at Boston Children's Hospital, and recently stepped into the Social Work Clinical Director position in ASAP. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her graduate degree in social work from Simmons University. Ms. Green has also taught a practice course on Substance Use and Substance Use Treatment at Salem State University, as well as a writing course at Simmons University.