In this newsletter you will find:
- A message from our newly installed President & Dean
- An invitation to join EDS for a Post-Election Interfaith Vigil in NYC
- A Save the Date for our Advent Community Read
Dear EDS Community,
Not two weeks ago, I knelt at St. Mark’s in the Bowery, surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, and committed myself to serving as your President and Dean.
During this past year, I’ve had hundreds of conversations that have made clear a yearning for theological education that meets the needs of our evolving world and church.
EDS has a legacy I am proud to inherit - one of collaboration, integrity, and moral courage. We have always been on the forefront of reimagining the next iteration of theological education - and now is no different.
What is different is the nature of our church. EDS is entering a season of experimentation. In the coming months, you can expect to hear from us as we collate our learnings from this past year of listening to shape programs at the intersections of faith, justice, and impact.
Particularly during this week filled with both hope and anxiety as we await the results of tomorrow’s election, I am reminded of the urgency of our work together. I learned at EDS (alongside many of you!) how to be part of the co-creation of a more just future. As we begin this new chapter, I invite you to join us as we press our church and our world towards Jesus’ way of justice, love, and healing.
With hope,
Lydia Kelsey Bucklin
See additional photos from the Installation
Programs
Join us for a Post-Election Interfaith Vigil
On November 6, the day after the election, we invite you to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine at 7 PM for a post-election Interfaith Vigil for the Healing of the World. In a time of uncertainty, we gather as people of moral courage, reaffirming our commitment to dignity, justice, and peace.
As our country faces anxiety and unanswered questions, this vigil offers a safe space to reflect and find hope. We will be joined by the Rt. Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, 17th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and our own President and Dean, the Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, along with other prominent faith leaders and justice advocates.
Together, let us ease fears and proclaim a message of hope.
Join Us for an Advent Community Read & Author Conversation: Trash by Cedar Monroe '13
This Advent season, you’re invited to join us in reading Trash: A Poor White Journey, a compelling debut by Cedar Monroe, who earned their Masters in Divinity from Episcopal Divinity School in 2013. Monroe co-founded Chaplains on the Harbor—a ministry for and with people experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and addiction, in western Washington state—and Harbor Roots Farm, a project supporting people coming out of jail to learn how to farm and connect with the earth.
Through poignant narratives from a small town, Monroe sheds light on the struggles of unhoused people and the community's fight against eviction and neglect. With insights rooted in liberation theology, Trash will challenge us to reconsider our roles in the fight for justice and solidarity.
On December 12 at 3 PM ET, the EDS community will gather online to discuss our learnings from the book in conversation with Monroe.
EDS News
EDS Partners with Columbia Law School’s Law, Rights & Religion Project
This fall, EDS partnered on two initiatives with The Law, Rights & Religion Project (LRRP), a law and policy center based at Columbia Law School that promotes freedom of religion, religious pluralism, and social justice. On October 5th, EDS and LRRP hosted an online seminar: Protecting Religious Liberty & LGBTQ+ Rights. EDS and LRRP also launched their Black Religious Liberty Curriculum—a new 12-part video series featuring 24 scholars in conversation about the intersection of race, religion, and the law.
New Podcast Series: "For Such A Time As This: Liberating Theological Education"
This fall, EDS launched a new five-part podcast mini-series featuring EDS President and Dean Lydia Kelsey Bucklin in conversation 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. All five episodes are available now wherever you get your podcasts. Guests include:
- Dr. Kwok Pui-lan
- The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook
- The Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers
- The Rev. Nancy Frausto
- Bishop Matthew Heyd
Welcoming Mary Grace Puszka
EDS is thrilled to welcome Mary Grace Puszka as our new Communications Manager! Mary Grace Puszka is a strategic communications expert with over seven years of experience in digital and traditional media for faith-based nonprofits.
Alum Corner
Alum Spotlight: The Ven Dr. Eric Partridge '14
The Ven. Dr. Eric Partridge '14 serves as the Executive Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia on Vancouver Island, off the west coast of Canada.
“While it is hard to point to one course or one professor that I was privileged enough to encounter at EDS, one of my fondest memories of my time there was a directed reading course on Canadian Anglican polity and ecclesiology with Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett,” Eric shared. “I have carried that awareness with me in my ministry and I hope it has helped me to be more understanding and compassionate for those I encounter who may not enjoy as easy a place in our church or in the wider community.”
Read this Month's 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 November 21, 2024, featuring Eric Partridge.
Registration is required—sign up now!
In Memoriam
EDS extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of alum John Ainslie Morrison ’65.
If you wish to notify EDS of the passing of an alum, please reach out to edsinfo@eds.edu.
