What does it mean to lead during a time of religious, sociocultural, and environmental upheaval? What can churches do differently to better reflect and nurture gospel values and God’s dream of a just, reconciled, Spirit-filled world? This course in missional leadership will ask these and related questions. We will explore concepts and experience practices of congregational development, evangelism and outreach, and equity and racial reconciliation. The course is structured, in part, according to the broad themes of the Episcopal Church’s curriculum Becoming Beloved Community … Where You Are. It will require instructor and participants alike to bring open minds and brave hearts as we attempt to tell the truth about the history and present of Christ’s church as we each claim our roles in shaping its future.
Instructor: Kyle Oliver is an Episcopal priest and educational media producer and researcher interested in community-building and meaning-making practices in innovative faith- and faith-adjacent communities. His dissertation documentary, Becoming Tapestry, chronicles and develops such practices with the co-directors, mentors, and young people of a West Coast foster youth mentoring ministry. Kyle is director of communications and adjunct instructor in Christian formation at CDSP; a visiting scholar at the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University; and an adjunct instructor in digital media studies at Princeton Theological Seminary.