Lessons from Leadership Academy 2025

St. Dunstan’s was teeming with voices—singing, greetings, laughing. The opening Eucharist for Leadership Academy set a foundation of purpose for the day. With over 100 attendees gathered, it was clear they weren’t there just to listen. They came to engage, to challenge themselves, to step forward in faith and action.

The Rev. Cyndi Jones, interim priest in charge at St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea in Pacific Beach, set the tone with her sermon–calling on all attendees to embrace inclusion not as a task but as a way of life. Speaking from her own experience as a wheelchair user, she challenged the community to reflect on what true inclusion looks like in the Church. She reminded the congregation, “All people are fearfully and wonderfully made.” But do we celebrate the inclusion of all—or do we default to questioning the cost? 

Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, participants discovered perspectives they had never considered before. During the Safe Church, Safe Communities training, while focusing on ways the Church remains vigilant in protecting its most vulnerable members, one participant admitted they had not fully grasped the prevalence of abuse and the responsibility churches carry in addressing it. For many, this training reframed the way they understood their role in fostering a culture of safety and trust. Safe church, Safe Communities training is required for all clergy, staff, vestry members, and other key lay leadership roles. You can find out more about Safe Church Safe Communities training here.

Across the campus, in the Welcome Track, a conversation on neurodiversity became a true moment of awakening, when a participant admitted that they had never encountered the term “neurodiversity” before. Another person shared that people with disabilities make up the largest marginalized group in society, with approximately 20% of the population identifying as having a disability. It was a humbling realization. The session provided thoughtful conversation and reshaped the way people thought about true inclusion, but the class didn’t conclude with theories or statistics; it moved into real, actionable changes that churches can implement to become places where neurodiversity is embraced. You can read more about neurodiverse church experiences here.

The Storytelling Track, tucked away in St. Dunstan’s Youth Room, became an unexpected place of discovery for many. One participant, reflecting on the session, said they had never realized how powerful character transportation was in crafting a compelling story. Another marveled at the experience of writing a group poem, something they never expected to be part of a leadership workshop. “I didn’t know we could write a group poem,” they said. “Thank you, Chris T!” There was an energy in the room, a collective realization that our stories are opportunities for connection, authenticity, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. To learn more about sharing your story, reach out to Director of Communications, Chris Tumilty at ctumilty@edsd.org

And that only speaks to three of the workshops. There were important conversations around accessibility, presented by the St. Dunstan’s disability ministry, and practical and engaging faith formation opportunities for teens, led by the EDSD Youth Leadership Council. The workshops provided practical tools for ministry, but it was the people—their passion, their honesty, their courage to be vulnerable—that made the day transformative. Again and again, attendees were moved by the sheer depth of commitment in the room. One participant described the overwhelming desire of so many to be truly welcoming. Another shared that St. Brigid’s talk about inclusion, particularly for people on the spectrum, left a lasting impact. A third reflected on a simple yet profound truth they had taken from the day: “Everyone matters or no one matters.”

The Youth Leadership Council, a group of 12 teenagers from across the diocese, left a powerful impression.  What do young people need from the Church today? It is simple: a place to belong, a space to ask hard questions, a faith that feels real. The council’s guidance stirred important conversations about how congregations could better serve the next generation. One participant was deeply moved by what they heard and made a commitment to expand children’s and youth programming in their parish–determined to create an environment where young people truly feel at home.

Throughout the day, the holy moments were impossible to miss. The kindness of St. Dunstan’s volunteers, the warmth of the facilitators, the creativity that flowed through the storytelling sessions, the powerful testimonies shared in discussions on neurodiversity—all of it created an atmosphere where Episcopalians felt encouraged to step into their callings.

Transformation begins within individuals before it can take hold in communities. It was a call to step forward, equipped and inspired, into the work that will shape the Church for years ahead.

The commitments made at Leadership Academy were not empty words. They are aspirations for the future of the church. It is a reminder that transformation begins within individuals, take hold of their faith and share it. It is a call to step forward, equipped and inspired, into the work of discipleship that will shape the Episcopal Church in San Diego.

Leadership Academy is not just an event every year; it is a movement toward growing into the Church that God calls us to be.