Our Purpose
EDS’s new Innovating Beloved Communities Cohort will convene, equip and catalyze a circle of up to 12 faithful innovators who are creating God’s new thing (a ministry, congregation or organization the church has never seen), all to advance God’s dream of just, compassionate, multicultural, beloved community.
Together, participants will …
- Discern, incubate and experiment in community
- Deepen knowledge across relevant disciplines, including innovation thinking, facilitative leadership, community organizing, anti-racism, multicultural community development, spiritual direction, evangelism, project management and fundraising
- Deepen faith, prayerfulness and resilience
- Prepare to effectively launch ministries in local contexts
About the Program & Teaching Team
- Combination of in-person and virtual gatherings:
- May 29-June 2, 2026: Opening in-person retreat in Cambridge, MA (includes participation in EDS Kellogg Lecture Weekend, May 29-30)
- August 2026-April 2027: Six three-hour online sessions that combine teaching, relationship-building, discernment and participant presentations
- Late May 2027: Closing in-person retreat, Boston area
- Led by the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers '04, an Episcopal priest, educator and author with decades of experience leading efforts at the intersection of justice, reconciliation, evangelism, new ministry development and multiculturalism. Learn more about her work at www.stephaniespellers.com.
- Teaching team composed of experienced innovators and leaders in spiritual formation, business and organizing
- Quarterly, one-hour small groups hosted by mentors in faithful innovation
- Access to the full catalog of EDS courses and webinars during the cohort term (May 2026-May 2027)
- Certificate upon completion of year-long cohort
Cost & Eligibility
- $3,000, which covers all program costs, including travel, lodging and meals related to two in-person retreats. Financial assistance available.
- Open to lay leaders and clergy who 1) are already active in ministry and 2) crave a sacred space for learning, incubating and creating God’s new thing in community
Cohort selected and invited by Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
The application deadline as now passed.
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The Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers ’04
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers is one of The Episcopal Church’s leading thinkers around 21st-century ministry and mission. The author of several books, she recently wrapped nearly a decade as canon to The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. She currently serves as Canon in Residence at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.
Spellers previously served as chaplain to the Episcopal House of Bishops, directed evangelism and reconciliation at General Theological Seminary, and led church vitality efforts in the Diocese of Long Island. Her professional ministry began in 2005 at St. Paul's Cathedral-Boston, where she founded The Crossing, a ground-breaking church that weaves Episcopal tradition together with voices from the margins. Before that, she was an award-winning religion journalist.
Spellers earned master’s degrees from both Harvard Divinity School and Episcopal Divinity School. She received an honorary doctorate from the General Theological Seminary. A native of Kentucky, she is passionate about helping people to fall in love with God and get free.