Dear Friends,
As we enter a new Fall season, I am excited for the possibilities it holds for EDS. I'm spending this season in Liverpool, UK. where I'm teaching at Emmanuel Theological College and exploring opportunities for working together. I am learning from Emmanuel's rich and transformative ministerial formation programming. My time here in the UK has served as a reminder of the importance of global connections for doing the work of the gospel.
I'm pleased to introduce the October edition of our e-newsletter, a vital link to Episcopal Divinity School's ongoing journey of transition and strategic planning. If you missed our previous issue, you can see that here. In this edition, we're looking ahead to significant upcoming programming events, including the online course "James Cone in a Global Context," the forthcoming Kellogg Lecture, updates on our strategic planning process, and details about the launch of a new alumni Facebook group.
I remain grateful to be on this journey with you as we work together to carry forward EDS's rich legacy and unwavering commitment to fostering a more equitable and just future.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas
Transition News
Strategic Planning Update
EDS’ Strategic Planning Process continues with an emphasis on listening to the needs of the Church. As of September 15, EDS’ Strategic Planning Consultant, Katie Glover, had completed 32 conversations with a variety of stakeholders across the Episcopal Church and beyond. An additional 5 interviews are scheduled for completion by early October. An initial report on the data collected is being prepared for the EDS board's Strategic Planning Committee. As EDS seeks new ways to serve the Church, we remain dedicated to fostering a collaborative and responsive strategic plan.
Listening Session Sign Up
As part of our year-long strategic planning process, the Rev. Canon Lydia Bucklin ‘15 is coordinating a series of Zoom listening sessions for alums and faculty of EDS. To learn more and sign up for these listening sessions, click here.
EDS October 2023 Updates
- New Website: EDS’ new website is live! Visit eds.edu for transition news, upcoming events, and more.
- Alum Resources: Resources for EDS alums, including transcripts, can be found here.
- Alum Facebook Page: EDS has launched a new alum Facebook page! Click here to join.
- New Address: EDS has relocated its office to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Our new address is Episcopal Divinity School, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025. Click here to read the press release.
- New Phone: EDS’ new general phone number is (646) 713-0845. This line will direct you to extension numbers for staff.
- Social media: EDS can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Be sure to follow if you aren’t already!
- Frequently Asked Questions: Click here to read answers to frequently asked questions regarding Episcopal Divinity School's transition from Union Theological Seminary.
Program Updates
Last Chance to Register: James Cone in a Global Context
On October 7, 2023, join EDS for James Cone in a Global Context, a day-long online seminar exploring the impact and implications of the Rev. Dr. James Cone’s theology in the UK and across the globe. Centered around Cone’s groundbreaking book A Black Theology of Liberation, this seminar will include plenary conversations, discussion groups, and lectures on how his work has been studied, celebrated, and challenged in various contexts and cultures.
Registration closes on October 5. Learn more and sign up here.
Register for the Kellogg Lecture: December 9, 2023
Mark your calendars for the rescheduled Kellogg Lecture December 9 at 7pm ET. This year's distinguished speaker, the Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward, will speak on the Close at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This lecture, dedicated to the memory of the esteemed Rev. Frederic Brainerd Kellogg and his father, Frederic Rogers Kellogg, is titled "The Master's House and the Nagging Widow: A Stubborn Call to Dismantle."
In this lecture, Dr. Heyward will revisit Audre Lorde’s well-known warning, "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house," and examine the tools necessary for dismantling the deadly sins of white Christian nationalism that continue to batter the Spirit of Justice-Love in the church.
Registration for both in-person and virtual attendance is required, and registration for in-person attendance is limited. RSVP here.
"Ordain us today, along with our brothers”: The Journey to Women's Ordination
On December 9 at 10am ET, join EDS for a public conversation between the Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward, the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, and the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This event will mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. Heyward and four other women deacons presenting themselves for ordination to the priesthood in the Cathedral in an act of liturgical protest. This event is hosted in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of New York's Taskforce for Commemorating the Ordination of Women.
This event will take place at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027. Registration is not required.
EDS News
Episcopal Divinity School Begins its Second Year of the Religion and Racial Justice Film Cohort
On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the Episcopal Divinity School kicked off its second year of “Religion and Racial Justice: Expanding the Moral Imaginary Through Film” with a day-long gathering in New York City. The two-year program, which began in 2022 and now continues into its second year, brings together a cohort of scholars, faith leaders, activists, and artists of color to reflect on films that engage topics of religion and race. The program is made possible by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Read more about this year's inaugural event here.
Alum Corner
This section of the newsletter will spotlight EDS alums and share upcoming alum events and opportunities. We will share a more detailed list of alum updates in our upcoming November and February newsletters. If you have alum updates that you would like to share, please email them to [email protected].
Lydia Kelsey Bucklin '15 serves as Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. Lydia was formed from a young age in baptismal, collaborative ministry and works with communities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in areas of redevelopment, formation, new expressions of faith communities, and baptismal ministry. Lydia also serves as Senior Advisor to the Mutual Ministry Initiative housed at Virginia Theological Seminary, a multi-year grant funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. to enhance theological education with the training and skills needed for today's church, in which the ministry of all the baptized is crucial. Previously, Lydia served the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa for 11 years, in the areas of children & youth, young adults, communications, evangelism, and new initiatives.
"Being formed at EDS in an integrated, distributive learning program provided me the opportunity to continue to serve my diocese and gain experience and wisdom in the field," Lydia shared. "EDS' focus on anti-racism and anti-oppression has informed every aspect of my life and ministry and I am grateful to now have the opportunity to work with other alums building community and honoring the EDS legacy and tradition."
EDS Alum Facebook Page
The EDS Alum Facebook group is up and running! This is a space for sharing personal and professional updates, staying up-to-date on the latest EDS events, and being in community together. Click here to join.
Alum Updates
If you have updates that you would like to share in an upcoming EDS Alum Update newsletter, please email them to [email protected]
As EDS enters this transformative strategic planning process and invites the insights of our alums through the upcoming Listening Sessions, we are confident that together we will shape a future that honors our rich heritage while embracing the ever-evolving needs of theological education. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments ahead!