SIM News
HELP DESIGN A NEW CHURCH FOR A NEW WORLD
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Empowering Diversity: Investing in Future Church Leaders
12/06/23
Thank you for joining us in supporting this year's Sim's scholarship campaign! I'm Courtney Cowart, the Executive Director of The Society for the Increase of the Ministry. We aim to raise $200,000 for scholarships that will directly aid in diversifying Episcopal Church leadership.
Since 2018, we've funded 63 community scholarships, empowering a diverse range of seminarians. Your contribution helps us elevate these courageous young leaders, bridging cultures and ethnicities in our churches and communities. Please consider giving what you can to support this vital ministry.
Stay tuned for testimonials from our scholars—they embody the impact of these scholarships firsthand. Your generosity towards these future leaders and love for God and the Episcopal Church means the world to us. Thank you very much. You can make a donation by clicking here.
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Empower Future Church Leaders: Support SIM's Scholarship Fund Today!
12/05/23
Hello everyone! I'm Jim Goodman, the associate director at The Society for the Increase of the Ministry. Over the past awards seasons, your generosity has helped us award 63 scholarships, nurturing a diverse group of emerging leaders for the church. Yet, there are many more deserving applicants seeking support for their ministries. Your donation to SIM's scholarship fund can make a profound difference in empowering these future leaders. Join us in this transformative journey of supporting God's work through education and love. Thank you for your generosity, and may God bless you abundantly. Please donate.
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A Message from Our Executive Director, Courtney Cowart.
12/04/23
Expressing Gratitude for Your Support! I'm Courtney Cowart, Executive Director of the Society for the Increase of Ministry. I'm thrilled to kick off our annual campaign in this season of giving. Throughout Advent, we'll be sharing heartfelt messages from our scholars whose education you've helped fund. Their gratitude and passion mirror my journey through seminary, a transformative time that became a reality thanks to our community support. If you've experienced theological education, you'll understand its profound impact. Join us in changing lives by supporting these remarkable scholars in answering their divine call. Watch their inspiring messages this Advent, and be part of our SIM family—blessings to all and the spirit of giving. Please donate.
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Reverend Hilary Greer on SIM developing leaders
12/20/22
The Rev. Hilary Greer, SIM’s Board Chair, talks about the role of SIM in developing leaders and the future of the church, hinting that perhaps our greatest treasure is each other. Potentially, our greatest resources are the charisms and calling of one another to become a church alive.
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The Right Reverend Brian Lee Cole
12/19/22
Meet The Rt. Rev. Brian Lee Cole, SIM Board Member -
Marycelis Otero, A beacon of hope
12/16/22
Greetings! I am Jim Goodmann, Associate Director for the Society for the Increase of the Ministry and it is my pleasure to introduce Ms. Marycelis Otero, one of our newest SIM scholars.
Marycelis speaks eloquently about the suffering and, ultimately, the love that she encountered in pursuing her vocation. Her determination to be "a mother to those who live at the intersection of racism and sexism" is one of the signs of the times for our church, as we are called more and more to the same and other, similar intersections with open and compassionate hearts.
Hear her testimony and be inspired!
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Hearts On Fire
12/13/22
38 Lay Consultants
120 Congregations
4 Dioceses
Adding to the excitement of this year, thanks to funding from Trinity Church in New York, SIM has created Hearts on Fire, a new resource of spiritual practices for ministry innovators that helps lay leaders increase the ministry in small congregations. In the short time since the program’s introduction, SIM has trained thirty-eight lay consultants who will be working over the coming year with 120 small congregations in four dioceses where approximately a third of our Episcopal Churches are no longer able to afford ordained leadership.
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Demarius Walker SIM Scholar
12/13/22
Meet Demarius, One of SIM's Most Inspiring Beloved Community Scholars
With your support SIM is funding the most inspiring group of young scholars in recent memory, and I want everyone to have the chance to meet each and every one of them! It is a joy to introduce Demarius, who is working with Bishop Jennifer Baskerville in the Diocese of Indianapolis.
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Advent Greetings
12/12/22
Executive Director Courtney Cowart; An update on SIM's work this year in an ever changing world, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has assisted SIM in attaining this year's milestones.
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A 300-year-old church hopes to connect with spiritual but not religious neighbors
02/17/22
A New Church for a New World
SIM congratulates our partner, Trinity Church, Southport, and SIM board member, Mark Grayson, for the recent recognition they have received as innovators, exploring new ways to be church in their current context. SIM is honored to be working with the Vestry of Trinity, and The Rev. Peggy Hodgkins, guiding and supporting leadership that is deeply listening to what the Spirit is saying to her Church, and allowing God’s future that is seeking to emerge through them to take shape in beautiful, faithful and inspiring ways.
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Ordination of SIM Alumna makes National News
02/16/22
Melina Dezhbod tells of her life journey from fleeing persecution to eventual ordination.
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Change a Life, Change The World
11/10/21
Salmoon Bashir on the impact of a SIM Scholarship
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What Will It Take for the Episcopal Church to Become an Anti-Racist Organization?
09/29/20
Welcome to the second in a series of web meetings to HELP DESIGN A NEW CHURCH FOR A NEW WORLD, in our Circle of Discernment & Design.
Multiple sessions over four months gathering Episcopalians, lay and ordained, with strong commitments to designing Episcopal faith communities of the future that are: Faithful - Reflective - Anti-Racist - Mutual - Contextual - Innovative
Today's title is What Will It Take for the Episcopal Church to Become an Anti-Racist Organization?
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How Do Faith Communities Benefit from Becoming More Reflective?
09/14/20
The first in a series of web meetings to HELP DESIGN A NEW CHURCH FOR A NEW WORLD, in our Circle of Discernment & Design
Multiple sessions over four months gathering Episcopalians, lay and ordained, with strong commitments to designing Episcopal faith communities of the future that are: Faithful Reflective Anti-Racist Mutual Contextual Innovative
Today's title is How Do Faith Communities Benefit from Becoming More Reflective?
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A Conversation on Food and Faith with Darriel Harris
07/07/20
We were so grateful to host an online conversation yesterday with Darriel Harris from the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future where he has served as manager of the Baltimore Food and Faith Project.
Darriel is also a founding member of the Black Church Food Security Network, pastor of Newborn Community of Faith Church, and farmer. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the JHU Department of Health Behavior and Society. His research interests are in faith-based health communications, neighborhood-related health factors, social determinants of health, and community-based participatory research. Watch a video of Darriel giving a Christian perspective on Food HERE.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
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A Conversation about Food Justice
06/23/20
Robert Two Bulls and Ritchie Robertson Two Bulls from All Saints Indian Mission and First Nations Kitchen near Little Earth of United Tribes community in South Minneapolis joined us for today's conversation. The mission is adjacent to the neighborhood where George Floyd was murdered and blocks away from the 3rd Precinct the site of the protests and riots.
As part of our continuing series of webinars on food access and sustainable food systems for all, this webinar/web meeting focused on Food Justice and how issues of access, sovereignty, and racism impact our lives. Particularly during this time of stress as we confront the pernicious impact societal and systemic racism.
Robert is the vicar of All Saints along with serving as Missioner of Indian Work & Multicultural Ministries with the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Ritchie is a Registered Art Therapist and has worked for almost ten years at the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center with Native Women in recovery. Because of COVID19 the program has been closed.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
Resources and Links Mentioned in Webinar:
The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge
NY Times Article about Ghandi Mahal
Robert is the vicar of All Saints along with serving as Missioner of Indian Work & Multicultural Ministries with the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Ritchie is a Registered Art Therapist and has worked for almost ten years at the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center with Native Women in recovery. Because of COVID19 the program has been closed.
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Opening Conversations about the Legacy of Race Today
06/12/20
The entire nation is now focused on questions of race, history, and justice, creating a moment for faith leaders that is both rich with opportunity and fraught with uncertainty. How do we open authentic conversations about race? How do we ground those conversations in the 400 year legacy of race in America, rather than just a snapshot of the present moment? How do we create spaces of genuine connection and deep listening? Join us for an experiential workshop with Constance and Dain Perry, who have worked with hundreds of congregations and community organizations across the country to do just that. The workshop will model their facilitation techniques and a sample first conversation that draws people from their heads, into their hearts, and invites authentic sharing of personal experience. This will be followed by an open period of question and answer designed to help attendees learn and adapt approaches to their own communities to open conversations about the legacy of race today.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
Resources Mentioned in the Webinar:
Traces of the Trade Website: http://www.tracesofthetrade.org/buy-use-the-film/
Scaffolding of anti-racism resources and education that can be used to meet white people at different current levels of understanding and move them deeper, depending on where they are starting: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/preview?fbclid=IwAR0plAvlINUTxsFXNcm4mJrjr9FU13rAthkwGdSlRiwZkHgUkSn-SUwCWfE&pru=AAABcpq8c14%2AC_JncXmFmMjf8og2gUGURA
Episcopal Church guidance on organizing dialog: https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/organizing-dialogue-circle
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Outdoor Worship
06/09/20
There are countless examples of outdoor worship from the Sermon on the Mount to a growing number of churches like Church in the Woods in Canterbury, NH, Salal + Cedar in Vancouver British Columbia, and Abundant Table Farm Church in Ventura, California. Many, if not most, of our congregations, hold outdoor worship services during the summer or for special celebrations. During COVID we are gathering on-line and open to new ways of gathering for worship. Yesterday's meeting was inspiring and many thanks are due to The Rt. Rev. Brian Lee Cole and Rev. Anna Woofenden for sharing their experience and wisdom.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
Resources Mentioned in Webinar:
Anna’s podcast: https://www.foodandfaithpodcast.org/
Scripture, Culture and Agriculture:An Agrarian Reading of the Bible by Ellen Davis
https://episcopalchurch.org/good-news-gardens
Facebook group to network with others involved in the garden, farm, and food ministries: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2564507933827285/
https://christianfoodmovement.org/ -
Good News Gardens Movement
05/27/20
A conversation on Good News Gardens
To call a community of people with the ability to plant gardens of all sizes and kinds together - from small parts of herbs to hundreds of acres of corn - in order to share the love of Christ through word and action, food, and labor.
A conversation with Jerusalem Greer, Staff Officer for Evangelism for The Episcopal Church, and Nurya Love Parish, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Plainsong Farm to learn about the Episcopal Church Good News Garden Movement and how you can be involved.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
Resources Mentioned in the Webinar:
GNG program at Plainsong Farm: http://plainsongfarm.com/good-news-gardens/
Michigan Good Food Charter: https://www.canr.msu.edu/michiganfood/
Facebook group to join and connect with others on the call and beyond. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2564507933827285/
Episcopal Food Movement on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EpiscopalFoodMovement/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCiSvlwCVmAlePUxF41zdQVBFxdV5ux-B4xVHK_Vj9q13DlTdTFp8JPTathFOVj2M6OKWVPEKp9ZrH5
Book - Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups by Andy Fisher - https://www.bighunger.org/
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Agrarian Ministry
05/06/20
A conversation about addressing food shortages and hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SIM continues our series interviewing adaptive leaders across the church responding to human need in the wake of COVID-19. Next week: Could those of us who know nothing about cultivating food adapt and join a new Victory Garden movement?
During World War I and II, Americans were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens as the nation faced potential food shortages. During World War II an estimated 40 percent of the nation's supply of fresh vegetables was produced in back yards, front yards, school grounds, and church property. Between increased joblessness, disruptions to the food supply, and the potential of a second wave of the virus this fall, many anticipate a food crisis next winter.Watch the Full Webinar Recording: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
Download the Resources PDF
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What is Corona Trying to Teach Us?
04/10/20
Today the Good Men Project published this blog by Episcopalian, Mark Grayson on the crisis leadership insights of SIM Director, Dr. Courtney Cowart. To access more SIM Leadership Resources for Covid-19 and click the Read More link below.On this Good Friday, We pray you and your loved ones are safe, healthy, and surrounded by a community of prayer. Please be wise about social distance through Holy Week and in the weeks and months to come.God bless. -
Coffee with Courtney and Hilary - What is Corona Trying to Teach Us?
03/31/20
Hilary Greer interviews SIM Executive Director, Courtney Cowart, about what she has learned leading faith communities through adaptive change when our worlds are plunged into chaos.
Watch the first program: YOUTUBE
Listen to the PodCast: SOUNDCLOUD
Follow us and subscribe on all our platforms as we produce reguar updates:---- FACEBOOK ---- INSTAGRAM
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Local Formation
12/05/19
Missional Practice, Beloved Community, Sustainable Pedagogy – Reflection on Two Convenings of Uncharted
By The Rev. Susan Daughtry, Missioner For Formation In The Episcopal Church In Minnesota (Ecmn)
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the women and men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry