July 30 – August 7, 2010

Mission on the Bay, Bay St. Louis, MS

In the summer of 2007, we took 30 people from all over the Diocese of Chicago to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to work on Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. In the summer of 2008, we took 57 people to continue our Katrina Relief efforts.  In 2009, 48 people attended.  We are heading to Mississippi again in 2010!  There is much work still to be done!

2010 Dates:  Friday, July 30 – Saturday, August 7, 2010

Location:  Mission on the Bay, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Ages: for youth entering high school in the 2010- 11 year, college students & adults.  (those currently in 8^thgrade, high school and college) (must be 14 years of age according to Mission on the Bay rules)

Transportation:  Amtrak Train from Chicago to New Orleans.  A limited number of seats have already been reserved.

We will be renting vans in New Orleans to get to our accommodations at Mission on the Bay in Mississippi and to our worksites daily.

Register early!  Space is limited!

Preference will be given to youth and college students, but adults are welcome to join us, especially youth ministers.

ALL who attend (youth and adults) will be expected to complete the diocesan requirement of the Keeping God’s People Safe Training, which will be offered in conjunction with one of our meetings.  Adults attending the Mission trip may need to have a background check.

Cost:  TBA

Cost estimates depend on fundraising efforts by the group attending the Mission Trip!   Base cost is about $550 – $600 a person.   We hope to fundraise together and that each participant may pay $50 – $100 out of pocket, and raise the rest.

If you want more information, come join us for our Informational Meeting on February 27 or see the website.

For more information about the community, go to Holy Wisdom Monastery website.

Camp Kanuga is a traditional summer camp for boys and girls ages 7-15. We offer a variety of programs including rock climbing, campouts, archery, sports, arts and crafts, Kanuga Community (Christian exploration), music, and much, much more! We are currently seeking male camp counselors, Waterfront Director, EMT, and Climbing Director.

Contact: Brad Thompson, brad.thompson@kanuga.org or 828.692.0077 ext. 279 Web site

Camp Bob is a summer camp for disadvantaged and at-risk children ages 8-12. Campers come from inner-cities from throughout the southeastern United States. Currently seeking male camp counselors and an Assistant Director.

Contact: David Griffin, david.griffin@kanuga.org or 828.692.0077 ext. 264 Web site

Kanuga Conference Center is host to summer conferences and guest vacation periods. Nearly 50 positions are available ranging from guest services support staff to youth program leaders. Specific positions we are still looking to fill are:

Ø      Staff Coordinators

Ø      Youth program counselors

Ø      Program Directors/Assistant Program Directors

Ø      Lifeguards

Ø      Guest Services Support

Contact: Chip Redfern, chip.redfern@kanuga.org or 828.692.0077 ext. 223 Web site

Trailblazer Adventures is a wilderness adventure program for teenagers ages 15 and 16. The program consists of leadership training and backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. Additionally, the Pack and Paddle program includes several days of flat-water canoeing. Currently hiring field instructors ages 21+ with WFA or WFR certifications and a Field Director (person must be 21+ with considerable backpacking experience).

Contact: Christine Murawski, christine.murawski@kanuga.org or 828.692.0077 ext. 281 Web site

Each of our discussions will focus on a specific topic related to the intersections of religion and sexuality. Participants will be invited to engage these topics from the vantage point of “What do these questions about sexuality mean in diverse religious and spiritual contexts?” Participants will be encouraged to express their own ideas and to engage with other’s answers. Specific topics will include Dating, Marriage, and Singlehood, Sex Education, Sexual Violence, and LGBTQ people.

Our discussion seeks to foster dialogue as opposed to giving answers or creating debate. We hope that participants will commit to attending all eight sessions, the first of which will be a general session to set the tone for future conversation.

Please consider to coming to our first session on Monday, February 1 at 4:30 with food provided. Feel free to invite anyone else you know who may be interested (or send us their contact information). And do not hesitate to contact Jimmy Hoke (jhoke@uchicago.edu) or Shannon Copp (sccopp@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

Located at the head of Wall Street, Trinity Church has been part of New York City and our nation’s history since its charter in 1697. At its core, Trinity is an Episcopal parish, offering daily worship services and faith formation programs at Trinity Church, St. Paul’s Chapel, and online at trinitywallstreet.org.  Today, the collective organization is known as Trinity Wall Street, and includes Trinity Real Estate; Trinity Grants; St. Margaret’s House; Trinity Preschool; Trinity Institute; Faith in Action ministries, and an extensive music program, including Concerts@One, the Trinity Choir, and the Downtown Youth Choir.

POSITION TITLE: Theologian for Education                   DEPARTMENT: Mission and Ministry

REPORTS TO: Vicar

POSITION SUMMARY: Provide oversight and assure integration of all Trinity’s educational offerings, developing and delivering adult Christian education programs, providing oversight to the development and implementation of Family, Children and Youth education, and to theological education for clergy and lay leaders. Develop and implement a long-term strategy and objectives for creating opportunities for education for the broader Episcopal and Anglican communities.

DESCRIPTION:

• Develop strategy and plan for integration of Trinity’s educational offerings with short-term focus on holistic Christian Education program for adults, children, youth and families.
• Develop and manage adult catechetical program, incorporating and enhancing current programs, such as Discovery Classes, preparing adults for the baptism of their children and for confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation.
• In collaboration with internal and external partners, design, develop, assess, and distribute educational programs and resources for use in the New York Diocese, the national Church and the Anglican Communion.
• Provide leadership and support to Associate for Children, Youth and Family Ministries in developing and managing catechetical programs for children, youth, and families in the congregation.
• Serve as a primary teacher for adult education programs.
• Provide direction and leadership to the ongoing implementation of Trinity Institute with special attention to assuring the integration of Institute and clergy leadership development content with Trinity’s overall educational strategies, values, approach and content.
• Serve as resident Christian pedagogy expert for Trinity overall, working directly with the Vicar, direct reports, the Senior Theological Fellow and other Program Leaders to support and ensure the integration of educational offerings with One Parish initiatives and programs.
• Provide leadership and manage department staff and program volunteers from the parish and wider Trinity community.
• Champion leadership opportunities for congregation, and recruit, train, and supervise lay leadership to strengthen relationships and expand individual and collective leadership skills.
• Participate as a full member of the Program Leader Group, working in cross-parish initiatives and activities, as requested, and enlist support and participation of others to work with the congregation.
• If a cleric, participate in the Trinity liturgical rota.
• Provide expert staff support to the Faith Formation & Education Committee of the Vestry

REQUIREMENTS:

• Holistic understanding of catechetics (formation, education, instruction/training).
• Ability to engage in sophisticated and original theological reflection and discourse.
• Creative visionary, facilitator, and enabler who works well in teams.
• Skills in leadership, program implementation, project management, administration and staff management.
• Demonstrated effectiveness working in partnership with various constituencies, and in guiding collaborative work processes.
• Understanding of the importance of music and the arts in education, and experience integrating arts experiences into religious education curriculum and activities.
• Proficiency in taking big ideas and developing programs to carry out goals, and implementing them through collaboration with and guidance to others.
• Flexibility and energy to take advantage of program opportunities.
• Ordination or significant lay experience in the Episcopal Church.
• Advanced degree in theological disciplines; PhD, EDD or equivalent degree desirable.
• Ordained clergy preferred.
• Extensive success in teaching adults in a sophisticated multicultural urban context, and knowledge of adult education.
• Demonstrated experience developing new curriculum methods of teaching, and launching an adult education program in a large parish or other religious education setting.

SCHEDULE: Weekly schedule includes Sundays.

We offer a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package.  For consideration, please send your resume and salary history with your salary requirements to:

Trinity Wall Street

Human Resources Department

74 Trinity Place, Room 503

NY, NY 10006-2088

Fax 212-602-9649

Email: HR@trinitywallstreet.org

No phone calls please.

Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

The Parish of Trinity Church is an Equal Opportunity Employer

for Undergraduates and Ministry Students!

Undergraduates Exploring Ministry seeks to support gifted young leaders from diverse racial and ethnic communities and a variety of Christian faith traditions who are exploring ministry as vocation. The program provides a stipend of $2,000 for educational expenses or a project designed to explore ministry, as well as a network of support through attendance at the FTE Conference on Excellence in Ministry. To apply, you must be a current sophomore or junior, be considering ministry as a career (although it isn’t necessary to have decided), have a GPA of at least 3.0, and be a U.S. or Canadian citizen. You must also have exceptional gifts for ministry: love of God and church, imagination, creativity, compassion, a capacity for critical thinking, leadership skills, personal integrity, spiritual depth, dedication to a faith tradition and a passion to understand and to serve the needs of others. Contact Stacy at stacyalan@brenthouse.org if you are interested in being nominated, or see http://www.thefund.org/programs/undergrads_fellowships.phtml for more information.

The Ministry Fellowships program provides financial support of $10,000 for living and educational expenses for graduate students as well as for a self-defined ministry project. Each Fellow also receives mentoring support and participates in the Congregational Leadership Intensive and a follow-up retreat upon completion of the ministry project.

To apply for the Ministry Fellowship program, you must be nominated by the dean or president of your seminary. Eligible candidates must be first-year, full-time Master of Divinity students who have completed one semester at seminary. You must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a seminary GPA of 3.3 or higher. You must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen, 35 years of age or younger, and you must be available to participate in all fellowship activities. You must already be demonstrating excellent abilities for ministry and a deep commitment to the life of the spirit and ministry as a career, as well as a record of high academic achievement. You must have a relationship with and dedication to a particular denomination of the Christian church. You must have a drive to understand and act on behalf of others’ needs, as well as the potential for empowering others to lives of faithfulness. Finally, you must bring imagination, creativity, compassion, vision, capacity for critical thinking, leadership, personal integrity and good communication skills to your work. For more information, see http://www.thefund.org/programs/ministry_fellowships.phtml.

Participants must be able to attend both workshop sessions. Limited enrollment; RSVP required to Laura Hollinger(773-702-7111); marie1@uchicago.edu. $20 fee; free for University of Chicago students

Trinity Anglican Church, Aurora is a regional church in the suburban community of Aurora, 40 kms north of the City of Toronto. We are a vibrant and accepting community of faith that strives to recognize and respond to the Divine in daily living. To achieve this we strive to provide: relevant and meaningful worship; consistent care and compassion for those in need and spiritual resources that fosters a deepening of Christian formation.

In this context, Trinity’s vision for youth ministry is that our young people will be:

• Strengthened and encouraged in their personal Christian journeys,
• Empowered to express their faith in worship, word and action,
• Equipped for a meaningful role in the life and leadership of the church and community
• Connect with others as they grow as a community.

To help achieve this vision we are looking for a Youth and Children’s Ministry Coordinator who is dedicated to developing, nurturing and supervising children’s and youth ministry that supports and strengthens their journey of faith and practice.

Job Description

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Develop congregational systems, support structures and programs for children and youth Christian formation that are dynamic, relevant, missional and fun!

1. Integrate children and youth into the broader life of the church as a bridge builder between age groups, the church and the community of Aurora.
2. Equip and mentor leadership skills for Christian service in both adults and young people.
3. Build a senior youth program that fosters the development of maturing, Christian, global citizens.
4. Recruit, supervise, support, train and resource the leaders of the Church School, junior and senior youth ministry programs.
5. Develop and manage the Youth Program budget.
6. Attend youth ministry training, formation and networking events.
7. Attend leadership meetings, Sunday worship, and be available for evening meetings, weekends and for holy festivals.

Skills / Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary training or equivalent with formal theological studies.
2. Able to work effectively within a mainline Anglican spiritual ethos.
3. Relates to youth and their families in a friendly, respectful and joyful manner; loves youth and takes joy in their growth and development
4. Working knowledge of child/adolescent development and youth culture.
5. Proven successful experience working with children and teens in a Christian setting.
6. Passionate about youth ministry and able to articulate and model a maturing personal Christian faith.
7. Able to recruit, equip and support adult/parent volunteers to cultivate a team environment.
8. Passionate about building a caring community and willing to network effectively with other churches, agencies, faith groups, diverse backgrounds and special needs.
9. Strong interpersonal, communication, and listening skills.

10.  Strong computer and social networking skills will be an asset.

The Youth and Children’s Ministry Coordinator will minister according to established policies, practices and guidelines of the diocese and parish. The Youth and Children’s Ministry Coordinator will function within a pastoral team, equivalent to an Associate Priest and will report to the incumbent.

The starting salary for this position is $40,000 plus pension and health benefits.  Please submit a resume, 3 references, vision statement and portfolio of youth programs either designed or implemented.

Application Package deadline:  February 15, 2010

To: Parish Administrator, trinity@trinityaurora.ca

79 Victoria St. Aurora. ON, L4G 1R3

www.trinityaurora.ca

Evangelism: More Questions than Answers. That’s the Point.

Over the past few months, I’ve been having many conversations about faith and spirituality with a Jewish student.  We have talked at length about prayer and spiritual struggles; he has attended Episcopal services and heard me preach; we have reflected on the challenges of inclusive liturgy and language.  At no point do I imagine that this student will convert and become a Christian, but I’m also convinced that what we are engaging in is evangelism.

Evangelism evokes for many images of shouting street preachers and earnest “friends” with tracts, experiences of being judged and condemned, being told you’re going to hell if you don’t accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior (as opposed, of course, to an impersonal Lord and Savior). Some of my students have argued that to try to convince another person to change his or her beliefs is an attempt to impose one’s own worldview on another and is profoundly disrespectful.

On the other hand, in some places the word evangelism has been so watered down that it simply means good parking spots and the newcomers committee at the local parish.  Not something I’d be willing to lay down my life for.

So, the questions seemed unresolved:  what is evangelism and is it appropriate for Christians to evangelize in a pluralistic society?

One of my personal missions is to rescue ill-treated concepts in Christian vocabulary, words like “sin,” “evangelism,” “salvation,” and “east-facing Eucharist” (the last one’s a story for another day).

Evangelism is the sharing of good news.  In Christian parlance, it is the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ.  What is that good news?  That should be an easy question to pin down.  But it’s not.  There are, at least, two ways of thinking about evangelism:  one based on creed and one based on action.

The credal version, based on the disciples’ and early Church’s experience of Jesus is:  God loves us so much as to become human in Jesus and to be executed as a traitor.   God raised him from death and somehow that life, death, and resurrection redeems us from sin.

The action version is based on the good news that Jesus preached and lived:  offering sight to the blind, liberation for the captives, freedom for the prisoners, dancing for the lame.

Neither of these versions of good news contradicts the other, and people may prefer one to another—and might offer very different visions of what each means in practical terms—but they are both essential pieces of our life and ministry as Christians.

Some understand evangelism as simply inviting people to church, which is limited, but a good starting point.  We invite others to church because it’s where we have found a community where we feel safe and supported and accepted and loved.  Often it’s a place where issues of justice and mercy are actively engaged.  These are the active views of evangelism.  But we need to be able give an account, as Paul says, for the commitments we make and lives we live. There are questions to be asked:  What is to be shared, i.e. who was/is Jesus, who is he for us and why? To what end do we share our faith: conversion, a happier life, a deeper sense of dignity?

In college people are asking deep questions.  They wrestle with the whys and wherefores and why bothers.  The beauty of our time is that people are used to diversity of identity, belief, and practice.  Answers seem less urgent than questions  Christians ought to be able to say why they are Christians, what is it about Jesus that they find compelling, what questions their faith raises and to what needs it responds.  We can talk with clarity and enthusiasm about that which give us life and meaning, why we work for justice, why hospitality is so important.  Sharing humbly and with integrity the good news as we have lived it (including our doubts and struggles) is an invitation to dialogue, a chance to learn from others, and sometimes exactly what an aching heart and weary spirit need to hear.