At a Glance:
- Join EDS for a virtual, public course designed to equip you to engage in theological reflection and take action for reproductive justice
- Tune in for a podcast collaboration with Small Churches, Big Impact, where we’ll learn from small church leaders making justice real in their communities
- We’re welcoming Dr. Kwok Pui Lan as Distinguished Scholar and saying thank you and farewell to Miguel Escobar
Dear EDS Community,
This time of year, everywhere we turn, there is another “resolution” that we are encouraged to pursue, another goal to aspire to, another product to buy to make it possible. Ironically, this season for us in the northern hemisphere is also when the world goes dormant around us. Nature takes her rest and falls quiet. She hibernates. She restores balance.
Today I’m returning from my first period of intentional rest since I started this new chapter as President and Dean. I spent my holidays here at home in Northern Michigan with my family and we embraced the slowness that God’s glorious creation reminds us to take in this time of year. This renewal feels vital as I plan to be with the Council of Deans and then with the EDS staff for a time of planning and connection in New York this week.
In this season of resolutions, I’m aspiring to spend more time in tune with God’s plan for both growth and rest for all creation - including you and me.
Peace,
The Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, '15
President and Dean
The Sacred Work of Reproductive Justice
The fall of Roe v. Wade eliminated legal access to abortion in 25 states (and counting) across the US., exacerbating existing public health crises related to reproduction and raising troubling questions related to religious liberty, bodily autonomy, and the human rights of pregnant people. Christian activists and leaders have been the driving force behind the current rush to criminalize abortion, often using religion as a weapon in the debate. In response, EDS is offering a new virtual, public course: The Sacred Work of Reproductive Justice.
This 6-week, non-credit course , taught by the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters, Professor of Religious Studies and Founding Director of the Poverty and Social Justice Program at Elon University, examines how Christianity has been used in public debates about abortion, reframes the issue as a question of reproductive justice, and explores the church’s role in changing the public narrative about abortion in the country. The class is designed to equip Christian leaders to take action and engage in theological reflection on this controversial topic. It’s ideal for seminarians, students, organizers, ordained clergy, and lay folks alike.
Choosing Justice & Making Amends in Biblical & Modern Witness
EDS is partnering with the Iona Collaborative at Seminary of the Southwest to offer “Choosing Justice & Making Amends in Biblical & Modern Witness.” The course will address the challenges of slavery, racism, and reparation in The Episcopal Church through careful engagement with the Christian scriptures.
The course is currently at capacity.
Small Churches Big Impact Podcast
EDS is pleased to support the Small Churches, Big Impact podcast for its fourth season examining the unique and essential roles of congregational leaders in small churches in advancing social justice in their communities. This season of the podcast highlights how leaders of small congregations take seriously the call to respect the dignity of every human being while grappling with the challenges of limited financial and human resources and how the impact from social justice work at the hyper-local level is both distinct and a vital part of our collective struggle for liberation. It also addresses how institutional structures support—or fail to support—these efforts.
We invite you to tune in starting in late January. Make sure you are subscribed to the EDS podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Dr. Kwok Pui Lan to Join Episcopal Divinity School as Distinguished Scholar for 2025-2026
Dr. Kwok Pui Lan, an internationally recognized theologian in postcolonial theology and Asian and Asian American feminist theology, will rejoin EDS as a Distinguished Scholar starting in January 2025 and concluding in December 2026. In this role, Dr. Kwok will lead a variety of initiatives that support further scholarship, education, and collaborative partnerships around postcolonial theology in the Anglican Communion and beyond. Offerings will include an online course on postcolonial Anglicanism, a mini-conference, and mentorship for a cohort of emerging theologians from the Global South.
With Gratitude and Blessings: Honoring Miguel Escobar’s Leadership and New Call to Ministry
With deep gratitude, we announce that Miguel Escobar will be leaving his role as Director of Operations at Episcopal Divinity School, effective January 3. Over the past seven years, Miguel has been an extraordinary leader, guiding EDS through significant transitions with grace, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to our mission. His kindness, empathy, and dedication to justice have profoundly enriched our community. As he prepares for ordination to the transitional diaconate on January 25, we celebrate his journey and look forward to the impact he will continue to make in ministry.
Save the date an in-person alum gathering and celebration in the Boston area the weekend of May 2-4, 2025. Further details will be announced soon - we look forward to seeing you there!
The Rev. Keith Patterson is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester where he serves as the Rector of The Episcopal Church of St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene, aka Two Saints.
“EDS exposed me to a church that was okay with the messiness of being in community and expressing as Dr. Christopher Duraisingh would say, ‘God’s multicolored wisdom,’” shares the Rev. Patterson. “Now more than ever, in our increasingly divided world and church, the values EDS instilled in me are needed.”
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 January 16, 2025, featuring Keith Patterson.
- Associate Rector - Christ Church, Greenwich
If you have an open position that you’d like folks in the EDS community to consider applying for, please share that with us at edsinfo@eds.edu.
EDS extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the following alums:
- The Rev. William E. Maddox, II I ’70
- The Rev. Cn. Lorentho Wooden ’60
- The Rev. Everett H. Greene ’65
Rest eternal grant to your servant(s), O God:
And let light perpetual shine upon her/him/them.
May his soul, and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
If you wish to notify EDS of the passing of an alum, please reach out to edsinfo@eds.edu.