For ten years now, we have worked together to listen to the Spirit’s call, building on the rich legacy of this community as we look toward our Bicentennial Celebration. One of the hallmarks of my time with you all is the way Grace has become a teaching parish. We have seen members of this community enter seminary, both for a deepening of their vocation in Christian education, law, and other aspects of life as well as for ordination within the wider Episcopal Church. We have sponsored seminarians and we have been the site placement for seminarians and their families. Our parish is known throughout the diocese and beyond as a place that takes seriously the nurture and prayerful support of those who hear God’s call to study, pray, and serve in these complex days.
We have now been invited to take a further step into this supportive role as a teaching parish, and I am excited to share the update with you. I have been invited to teach a class at Candler School of Theology beginning this fall, on Wednesday afternoons, focusing on the contextual education program of all Episcopal seminarians. Dean Jan Love invited me to come speak with her and Associate Dean Fry Brown as they explore how they want to further develop the rich space at Emory. The bishop and key faculty recommended to Dean Love that they ask about this possibility as they look at the changing shape of church ministry.
I will join the faculty at Candler as Assistant Professor in the Practice of Spiritual Formation and Ministry, with a deep awareness of our shared work at Grace. When I met with them, we wondered together how we could actually host key staff, wardens, and parish leaders from Grace as guest lecturers for the seminarians. They were excited to explore how we can use the budget at Candler to support this collaborative effort. As well, the seminarians will also come to visit the parish at least once in the fall and spring, participating in workshops and conversations with the wider community as they continue their own formation and training to serve in the wider Christian community. In this way, the seminarians will learn from the staff, wardens, and leaders at Grace as they continue their studies in this changing church environment. They will be blessed by what they learn from the phenomenal leadership at Grace!
This invitation is an affirmation of our work as a community of faith, and I am thrilled to listen to how the Spirit continues to move among us. We have been through a lot these past few years, and your dedication and deep prayerfulness continue to inspire me–and many others–as we wonder what it means to be the Body of Christ today. I hope you will consider participating in upcoming Sunday Forum conversations this fall as we explore this practice together, connecting our life at Grace with studies at Candler–and beyond.
Blessings and gratitude,
Stuart