In this newsletter you will find:
- An invitation to the installation of EDS President & Dean Lydia Kelsey Bucklin
- EDS’ new podcast series “For Such a Time As This: Liberating Theological Education”
- A program announcement for the fourth and final workshop in EDS’ Being Church series for the election season, “Leading With Our Values in the Public Square”
- And more!
Dear EDS Community,
This past weekend, I took a walk along the shore of Lake Superior here in my hometown of Marquette, Michigan. Along the way, in the middle of the bike path, was a beautiful mural painted on the sidewalk which says, “Respect.” On the mural is a blue-spotted salamander and a monarch butterfly, two species that depend on the respect of humans in order to survive these days. That simple word, “respect” holds so much meaning. It feels at the same time both imperative and fleeting.
Growing up, my parents were not particularly strict or formal, but they were serious about one thing: the portion of the baptismal covenant that asks “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” This was the touchstone for the way we lived our lives everyday. The decisions we made. The language we used. How we spent our time.
When I began my studies at Episcopal Divinity School, I was welcomed into a community that took those values seriously. All of us—students, faculty, and staff—participated in foundational work through VISIONS, Inc, whose mission is to empower the creation of environments where differences are recognized, understood, appreciated, and utilized for the benefit of all through both time-tested and innovative training and tools, public advocacy, and consulting models addressing the personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional levels.
The community fostered through the work of VISIONS, Inc. was unlike any other community I had ever belonged to. We shared our stories. We made a covenant that guided how we would communicate and show up in community. And most importantly, we held each other accountable to the things we agreed upon. It was not always easy. Sometimes one’s intentions did not match the impact that their words or actions had. We learned from those moments. We learned not to shame or blame each other or ourselves. We learned to live with tension and uncertainty, “trying things on” for a time before making rash decisions. It was truly a transformative experience in my life.
Given the amount of transition and change the EDS community has experienced in recent years it is inevitable that people have experienced hurt. As the current President and Dean, I apologize for this hurt and the unfortunate fact that some questions cannot be fully answered. I invite us into a time of healing and forward movement where we engage one another—and all our diverse perspectives—with respect and care. Please join me as we continue the work of educating leaders for the Church and for the world who serve and advance God's mission of justice, compassion, and reconciliation.
Lydia Kelsey Bucklin
Programs
Leading With Our Values in the Public Square
On October 30 from 7-8pm ET, join Bishops Mariann Budde of Washington, DC, Andy Doyle of Texas, and Jennifer Baskverville-Burrows of Indianapolis for a conversation about leading with our Christian values in the public square. The church has an opportunity to be a voice for justice, love, healing and hope in the world. In our local contexts, what are our opportunities to step forward? When are we called to speak up? This workshop will explore the opportunities and challenges of civil engagement during this election season. Moderated by Bishop of New York, Matthew Heyd.
Click here to learn more and register.
This is the fourth and final workshop in EDS’ four-part series Being Church: Leading and Caring for our Communities through the 2024 Election. Recordings of the first three workshops can be found on our YouTube channel.
EDS News
The Installation of The Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin as President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School
All are invited to the installation of The Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin as President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School. Join us in-person or online to celebrate President Bucklin's appointment and this next chapter for EDS. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe will preside and Dr. Kwok Pui-lan will preach. The service will be held at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery in Manhattan with a reception to follow.
Click here to register.
New Podcast Series! For Such A Time As This: Liberating Theological Education
Throughout its history, Episcopal Divinity School has been at the forefront of theological responses to a changing world and church. As EDS embraces this current moment of adaptation and change, we believe there is a need for theological education rooted in critical thinking and scholarship informed by a powerful sense of social justice.
In this five-part podcast series, EDS President and Dean Lydia Kelsey Bucklin speaks with theologians and church leaders committed to theological education that embodies, enacts, and exemplifies transformative theological praxis as we educate and form leaders for social change.
Episode guests include:
- Dr. Kwok Pui-lan
- The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook
- The Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers
- The Rev. Nancy Frausto
- The Rt. Reverend Matthew Heyd
The first two episodes are out now—click here to listen!
Episcopal Divinity School and Seminary of the Southwest Civil Rights Pilgrimage
This August, EDS partnered with the Seminary of the Southwest (SSW) on the annual Jonathan Myrick Daniels Civil Rights Pilgrimage by increasing the number of students SSW was able to bring on this annual trip.
“The stories of Jonathan Daniels and Ruby Sales form an important part of EDS' legacy of witness,” shared EDS President and Dean the Very. Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin. In honor of their enduring witness, EDS was proud to support Seminary of the Southwest in bringing more students on their annual Civil Rights pilgrimage—a journey that includes visiting the very site in Hayneville, AL where this important moment in our history took place.”
Click here to read the full story.
EDS Supports the Launch of Columbia Law, Rights & Religion Project’s Black Religious Liberty Curriculum
EDS is proud to have partnered with Columbia Law School's Law, Rights & Religion Project (LRRP) on the Black Religious Liberty Curriculum — a 12-part video series featuring 24 scholars in conversation about the intersection of race, religion, and the law. This free, online curriculum can be used by individuals or faith communities and launched September 24th. Learn more about the curriculum on their website and read a note from EDS in the curriculum's discussion guide.
EDS President and Dean Lydia Kelsey Bucklin Featured in The Living Church
The Very. Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin is highlighted in this piece on the Living Church, entitled “New EDS Dean Seeks to Fill Gaps in Theological Education.”
Click here to read the full article.
Alum Corner
Alum Spotlight: The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt ’97
The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt serves as President & Executive Director of the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), which has been headquartered in lower Manhattan since the Institute’s founding in 1834 as a mission of the Episcopal Church.
“What I carry with me the most from my time and experience at EDS is a strong commitment to social justice ministry that informs the lens through which I read sacred scripture, my teaching, my preaching, and my understanding of what it means to live out my baptismal promises,” shared the Rev. Nestlehutt. “In my current role, I always strive to make sure that SCI’s chaplains, chaplain associates, and other team members are serving the immediate needs of individual seafarers while keeping an eye on the systemic issues that need to be changed to improve their overall well-being.”
Click here to read the full alum spotlight.
Join us on Zoom every third Thursday at 1pm ET for Connect: Monthly Gathering of EDS Alums, where we will connect with one another, hear about the diverse contexts EDS alums are serving in their work and ministry, and stay up to date on all things EDS!
Our next connect session will take place on October 17, 2024, featuring Mark Nestlehutt.
Registration is required—click here to sign up!
As EDS begins this new chapter under the leadership of our new President and Dean, the Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, we are excited to collaborate with stakeholders across the Church to develop a strategic plan that embodies the vision and values set forth by our board. This vision will honor EDS' long history and legacy while addressing the evolving needs of theological education. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments ahead!