The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya

School for Formation Registration is Now Open

From the Bishop

Beloved in Christ,

One on a long list of gifts of ECMN is the School for Formation (SFF). As I was learning more about ECMN during the discernment process, I was impressed by just how robust the SFF is, how thoughtful, deep, and engaging the content is, the calibre of instructors, and the accessibility of the platform and resources. It is unique, and something to be celebrated, that we have this resource here in ECMN.

Yesterday, we launched registration for fall courses on topics ranging from missional leadership to the prayer book to intercultural work. 

We also announced two major changes for this fall’s courses:

  1. All our courses will be entirely digital
  2. All our courses are offered without required tuition

We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow through these incredible courses.

I would commend to you this reflection that your Missioner for Formation, Susan Daughtry, wrote on why this might be a good moment to engage in this way:

“I'm finding the experience of this pandemic to be paradoxical. I feel deeply restricted. Restricted in the sense that I'm now working mostly from home while parenting, unable to travel to see beloved family, having to change or step away from the ways we used to work, worship, play, recharge. Our family finances have become a lot tighter thanks to the economic impact of the pandemic. There's a massive amount of fear and grief that comes with all of that.

And yet the paradox comes in the fact that in some ways, we have some freedom and spaciousness that we didn't perceive before. In that space, I sometimes wonder why it used to feel hard to be fully present to family members. We've found some spaciousness to reimagine how we are called to live as a family. Without wanting it, we've found the strength or courage or vision to make some changes in how we work, worship, play, recharge. In the midst of the grief and fear there is some silence and some spaciousness in which I'm finding myself able to sit still, meditate, and pray . . .” Keep reading . . .

I encourage you to register today for a course through the SFF - find links to all of them in the latest SFF email blast!‌

The Right Reverend Craig Loya
X Bishop
Episcopal Church in Minnesota