Leadership Academy features learning opportunities for new and seasoned church leaders alike. The format for all the sessions will follow the World Café – Art of Hosting process introduced at convention last November. All sessions are at least 90 minutes. Some offerings will constitute two or more 90-minute sessions. If you plan on attending a multi-session program, please commit to the entire program. Please register soon to help us plan a smooth and successful Leadership Academy!

Download the Leadership Academy Agenda 2020.


Click below to register for Leadership Academy 2020.
Register

Service and Justice Track

Sacred Ground: Becoming the Beloved Community:
Katrina Browne, creator of the emmy-nominated Traces of the Trade, the Rev. Kim Coleman, president of the Union of Black Episcopalians, and the Rev. Jerry Drino, canon theologian of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, will kick off the day with a plenary on the churchwide Sacred Ground curriculum. They will then offer two, three-hour workshop sessions delving deeper into the resources designed to help us live into our baptismal covenant and the promise to respect the dignity of every human being. The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society takes shape in the Sacred Ground curriculum. The Rev. Kim Coleman will lead us on a journey especially designed to help white people talk with other white people. These conversations invite participants to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope, and love.

Wardens, Vestries & Treasurers Track

Wardens, Vestries and Treasurers 101:
The Rev. Kirby Smith, diocesan chief financial officer, and the Rev. Gwynn Lynch, canon to the ordinary, will discuss effective leadership and administration practices in an Episcopal Church.

Wardens’ Leadership Basics:
The Rev. Kirby Smith, diocesan chief financial officer, and the Rev. Gwynn Lynch, canon to the ordinary, will discuss the unique role of wardens, their fiduciary responsibility, and how to fulfill this role effectively.

Finance and Admin Best Practices:
The Rev. Kirby Smith will share best practices for finance and administration. He will cover HR guidelines and safety and security best practices as well.

Evangelism Track

Evangelism:
Every baptized Episcopalian vowed to proclaim with our words and our lives the loving, liberating, and life-giving good news of Jesus Christ. Through the spiritual practice of evangelism we seek, name and celebrate Jesus’ loving presence in the stories of all people – then invite everyone to more. Sharpen your skills and deepen your heart by joining the Rev. Nancy Frausto for an day-long journey through evangelism Episcopal-style.

Finding & Sharing the Joy of Christ Online: Social Media & Evangelism:
In a world of tweets, emojis, esports gaming, live streaming, and a new social platform every year, how do we find Christ, share Christ, and be the hands of Christ in today’s digital world? Explore with our new diocesan communications director, Chris Tumilty how the internet, social medial, and the church connect.

Discipleship Track

Bishop Susan has called us to spend the year 2020, focusing on discipleship: how we grow in faith as followers of Jesus Christ. Discipleship grows as we adopt spiritual practices for daily living. Experience ways we can fortify ourselves for a deep walk with Jesus in an all-day track by following the Way of Love to Discerning and Practicing Mission as Disciples.

Discipleship and Evangelism:
What is the relationship between discipleship and evangelism? How can the practice of one inform the depth of the other? Come learn with Christian Gillette, workshop facilitator, about the vision for the future of discipleship and evangelism in our diocese and practical tools to deepen our life of faith and sharing faith.

Following the Way of Love in 2020:
This year Bishop Susan Brown Snook has called us to a year focused on discipleship and the practices of the Way of Love. How do these practices help us on our path of discipleship? What are the resources at our disposal? Learn about the year of discipleship ahead.

God’s Pray Ground:
|ow can we transform our worship spaces to be more inviting to an intergenerational community? What resources can we utilize to make this critical shift in our churches? Learn about initiatives with Maya Little-Sana of St. Paul’s Cathedral already taking place around the diocese and tools you can take back with you to your sanctuary.

Faith Communities Supporting Families with Special Needs Children:
Come learn about this subject with Grace Fantaroni.

Transformational Leadership Track

Transformational Leadership: Building and Leading Missional Congregations.
The goal of the Christian faith is not simply to become a more loving community but to be a community of people who participate in God’s mission to heal the world by reestablishing his loving reign “on earth as it is in heaven.” Transformational leaders involve staff and lay leaders in collaborative goal-setting; they reduce isolation, support cultural changes, share leadership by delegating power, and actively communicate values, norms and beliefs. Explore the marks of a healthy church, leadership competencies, and conflict transformation, and how these tools can lift us up as we listen for God’s call in our communities.

Other Workshops

The Diocesan Service & Justice Coalition Needs You!
Since 2011 outreach coordinators from congregations throughout the diocese have met quarterly to share ideas on activities and challenges, to collaborate on diocesan service projects, and to inspire each other in their work. Explore how the coalition brings us together to serve and hear about the upcoming plans for service and justice for you to join and share with your church.

Organizing as God’s Way:
Join the Rev. Richard Hogue of St. Andrew’s, Encinitas, and Pete Hasapopoulos of the San Diego Organizing Project to learn about their work together in North County. How can community organizing relieve the suffering of the last, lost and least among our neighbors? How can the process liberate us? The conversation will focus on concrete next steps to begin noticing how God is already at work in our neighborhoods and how we might best join in alongside.

Questions? Contact the Rev. Nancy Holland, 619-823-8998.