At a Glance:
- EDS’ legacy and continued work speaking truth to power
- A powerful public conversation on faith and climate justice with Indigenous leaders and the authors of So We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis
- Just launched: new EDS merch!
- Final call to register for the 2025 Kellogg Lecture, delivered by renowned womanist ethicist Dr. Emilie Townes
Dear friends of EDS,
Last month, I was honored to deliver the Payne-Harvey Lecture at Seminary of the Southwest. In my preparation, I had the opportunity to deeply consider a vital question for us: What does faithful leadership look like today?
Under an administration that detains dissenters, dictates what educational institutions are permitted to teach, and literally deletes stories of historic gay, Black, trans, Indigenous - the list goes on - people from government websites — what does it mean to form leaders for the world today?
In my lecture, I heeded the warning that Dutch theologian Hendrik Kraemer penned in A Theology of the Laity (1958): “self-regard is the root of all corruption.” I offered the students the following:
“This is what leadership in the church requires of us today: mutual love, a deep remembrance of who we are and whose we are, and a commitment to the creative tension of mutual respect across difference… We are called to be better listeners—more curious, less certain. We are called to humility, to admit that we do not have all the answers. We need to seek more insight, more wisdom, and to be willing to work with those whom we may have misunderstood, ignored, or feared.”
EDS is embracing the political moment we find ourselves in - one that often requires an immediate response to new threats to the dignity of our beloved siblings in Christ - immigrants, students speaking truth to power, civil servants who have spent decades building trusted humanitarian relationships to have them torn down in a week, the people of Palestine who feel abandoned by the Western church, trans folks having their identities erased by our government, and so many others.
Part of EDS’s proud legacy is creating space for students—and now the greater public—to engage theological reflection from the perspective of those historically pushed to the margins. For centuries, the dominant voices in our media, education, and religious institutions have belonged to those in power, often at the expense of the communities they silence. Marginalization is not accidental; it is an intentional act—enforced through violence, intimidation, and, more subtly, through the insistence that all perspectives must be weighed equally, even when one is rooted in oppression. More than one panelist in our recent webinar voiced frustration with church leadership’s reluctance to speak out—whether out of fear of being perceived as anti-Semitic, uninformed, or divisive. Silence, too, is a choice. Jesus modeled moral courage, standing with the oppressed and speaking truth in the face of power. As a theological institution committed to justice, EDS must continue to do the same.
Thank you for standing with us in this kairos moment.
With hope,
The Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin
President & Dean
Programs
Join us for a powerful public conversation on faith and climate justice. Throughout Lent, some members of the EDS community have been reading So We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis by Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler ’90, reflecting on the urgent call to resist environmental destruction and build a just future for all.
Whether or not you’ve had the chance to read along with us, you’re invited to join us for a public conversation on April 30 from 3-4 PM ET / 12-1 PM PT, where the authors and special guests will discuss how we can live out our faith in response to the climate crisis.
Featured Speakers:
- Sarah Augustine (Pueblo [Tewa] descendant) – Author, advocate, and co-founder of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery
- Sheri Hostetler ’90 – Author, pastor, and co-founder of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery
- Mark Charles (Navajo/Dutch) – Speaker, activist, and co-author of Unsettling Truths
- Patty Krawec (Anishinaabe/Ukrainian) – Author of Becoming Kin and founder of the Nii’kinaaganaa Foundation
Together, we’ll explore what it means to choose life for our children and the planet and how faith communities can take meaningful action for ecological justice.
Register today to be part of this essential conversation.
Past Program - Across the U.S. and globally, funding cuts to humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and social programs are weakening essential infrastructure, increasing suffering, and forcing communities to navigate crises without adequate support. As people of faith, we are called to respond—not just with our witness, but with advocacy, solidarity, and strategic action. Due to the sensitive nature of this conversation, the meeting operated under Chatham House Rules and was not recorded, but resources are now available on our website.
Past Program - This online event, hosted by EDS Distinguished Scholar Dr. Kwok Pui Lan, analyzed the war on Gaza and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts from an Anglican perspective, examining Anglican mission and colonial legacy in the Middle East, and responses of Anglican churches from different parts of the Anglican Communion to the current crisis.
Watch Recording & View Resources
News
In Spring 2022, EDS and Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City partnered on a civil rights pilgrimage that included Atlanta, Selma, and Montgomery. Footage from the pilgrimage premiered in the PBS documentary, Religion, Racism & Reconciliation: A Documentary on America’s Original Sin on February 24th, 2025.
The film explores how racism has intertwined with American religion, focusing on individuals and communities of faith working to address issues such as voting rights, income inequality, and mass incarceration. Through interviews with academic and religious leaders, the documentary examines the contradiction of an American society that values freedom and equality while grappling with its history of slavery, segregation, and racism. It also highlights the role of religion in both fueling racial division and promoting healing and reconciliation.
Learn more & watch documentary
In her March 3rd lecture at Seminary of the Southwest, President Bucklin reflected on what it would mean to form leaders for our church today. The full recording is available on our website.
Watch President Bucklin's Lecture
Alum Corner
Registration is still open for our 2025 Kellogg Lecture and Alum Weekend. This year’s gathering holds special significance as we return to Cambridge, MA, our beloved former campus.
Event Highlights:
- May 2: Alum & EDS Community Reception (Lesley University - 99 Brattle Street) Open to the EDS community, alums, and friends
- May 3: The 2025 Kellogg Lecture by Renowned Womanist Ethicist Dr. Emilie Townes (Sheraton Commander Hotel) Open to the public and available via livestream
- May 3: EDS Community Town Hall (Sheraton Commander Hotel) Open to the EDS community, alums, friends, and guests interested in the future of our work together
On our website, you’ll find registration for the in-person Alum & EDS Community Reception at Lesley University on Friday, May 2; the in-person lecture and EDS Town Hall at the nearby Sheraton Commander Hotel on Saturday, May 3; and registration to join us virtually. Hotel blocks are now closed. Should you have questions, email our team at edsinfo@eds.edu.
Just Launched: EDS Online Merch Store
We are pleased to announce that you can now purchase EDS merch online. Place your order today to ensure it arrives before the 2025 Kellogg Lecture!
*** EDS is not profiting from the sales of this merch. We are charging the lowest amount possible via the direct-to-consumer platform we're using.
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This month, we will not be hosting our regular monthly alum “Connect” gathering due to Holy Week and Easter. We wish you all a very blessed Easter and pray that all our clergy friends take time for rest and renewal in this busy season.
In Memoriam
EDS extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the following alums:
Rest eternal grant to your servants, O God:
And let light perpetual shine upon them.
May their souls, 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.