Episcopal Life Online Daybook -- Today is Tuesday, October 30, 2007.
* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On this day in 1807, Christopher Wordsworth, priest, scholar and hymnist, was born at Lambeth, England.
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TEACHING
Sudanese clergy to benefit from theological education program
By Daphne Mack
[ENS] The Rev. Anderia Arok's vision of establishing continued theological education for Sudanese clergy in the Episcopal Church has expanded to include others as it comes into focus.
"There are more than 30 Sudanese Episcopal priests here in the United States," said Arok, a Sudanese priest in the Diocese of Colorado. "Since we have come here, there has been no [formal] program that has brought us together for continued training."
Arok shared his concern for the lack of education, empowerment, and support for Sudanese clergy with the Rev. Carmen Guerrero of the Diocese of Arizona, and their conversation soon expanded to include, among others, the Rev. Melford Holland, coordinator of the Episcopal Church's Office for Ministry Development, and the Rev. Canon Angela S. Ifill, missioner for the church's Office of Black Ministries. It culminated with 11 Sudanese and American clergy gathering July 29-31, at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, to listen and brainstorm.
"These clergy defined themselves and their theological education experiences as being in need of better preparation for leadership in their particular ministries and the wider church," said Ifill. "They shared that most of the Sudanese clergy have not been formally educated and that they come from diverse ordination processes; therefore confirming a need for continuing education."
During the three-day gathering, Ifill said they designed a plan which included organizational as well as programmatic objectives and developed a strategy for moving forward.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91426_ENG_HTM.htm
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Catalyst: "Pillars of Flame: Power, Priesthood, and Spiritual Maturity" from Church Publishing, Inc., by Maggie Ross, foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 214 pages, paperback, c. 1988 & 2007, $25
[Source: Church Publishing, Inc.] Is the priesthood a power to be exercised, or a call to share in the broken Christ? Ross sets modern questions about ordained ministry in the Church within a much wider context, encouraging us to reflect anew on the relationship between administrative power and spiritual authority within the Church, and to redefine the priesthood.
"A passionate and searching book, which unsparingly sets the Gospel in judgment over the popular Christian idolatries of our time." -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at http://www.episcopalbookstore.org or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org