Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Lifelong Learning’s Roots & Wings initiative is seeking congregations’ feedback and reflections as part of its ongoing research and resource development. By participating in the Five Hallmarks of Intergenerational Worship Survey, your congregation will help shape the wider understanding of intergenerational worship across the church.

The Roots & Wings team’s goal is to gather 500 congregational survey responses in 2026 and then re-assess in 2029 to monitor growth across the wider church.

LEARN MORE/TAKE THE SURVEY: https://buildfaith.org/hallmarks-of-intergenerational-worship-toolkit/

Earlier this month two Lifelong Learning team members, Lindsey and Josh, attended a retreat along the western shore of Lake Michigan on behalf of our Thriving in Ministry grant.

Alongside a diverse group of theological and pastoral leaders from across the country, they intentionally took time to explore the themes of play and rest. While easy to not prioritize, we believe play and rest are essential to avoiding burnout—how are you incorporating both of these elements into your own ministry/life?

In this post for BuildingFaith, Director of Family Ministries Brittany Sky shares how her parish, St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN, realized over time that "Parent Night Out was becoming something much deeper than childcare. It became a ministry of presence."

READ THE POST: https://buildfaith.org/parent-night-out/

Brittany Sky

Associate Director of Lifelong Learning Wallace Benton deep in thought as he considers which Lifelong Learning public programs will be offered Fall 2026.

Stay tuned: we'll announce the slate of programs in July!

Wallace Benton

IMAGE: Lindsey Lewis

During the final gathering of our Mutual Ministry Initiative fellows, the group read children's books like "Stone Soup" that feature themes for intergenerational formation about mutual ministry.

Mutual Ministry Initiative was a multi-year experience led by Lifelong Learning's Rev. Patricia Lyons, D.Min. and designed both to leverage the strengths of a residential, denominational seminary education and address its challenges. Eleven Virginia Theological Seminary students participated.

Mutual Ministry invited the fellows to consider shifting from the model where professional clergy are the sole ministers in a congregation to one in which ordained clergy serve alongside and among a community of ministers: the people of the congregation!

Patricia Lyons

IMAGES: Lifelong Learning

CONGRATULATIONS to the nine Roots & Wings Fellows who recently completed the inaugural Roots & Wings program designed to equip Episcopal congregations to live into the fullness of the body of Christ by equally valuing and actively engaging the gifts and needs of all ages in liturgical worship.

For the past eight months, the Fellows explored intergenerational worship through presentations from expert-practitioners, one-on-one coaching, reflection, and peer collaboration.

Roots & Wings Fellows:

Rev. Martin Elfert
Rector, Grace Memorial, Portland, OR

Rev. Erika Jackson-Essiem
Rector, St. Francis, San Jose, CA

Rev. Marna Franson
Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
Missioner, St. Paul's, Marquette, MI

Rev. Isaac Martinez
Priest in Charge, Trinity Parish, Melrose, MA

Rev. Bryan O'Carroll
Rector, Holy Innocents', Valrico, FL

Rev. Lissie Rhoton
Rector, Christ & Grace, Petersburg, VA

Rev. Alexander Swain
Assistant for Intergenerational Ministry, St. Philip's, Tucson, AZ
Vicar, St. Andrew's, Tucson, AZ

Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas
Founding Vicar, Holy Companion, Sterling Ranch, CO

Rev. Marisa Tabizon Thompson
Rector, Church of the Epiphany, San Carlos, CA

Martin Elfert Erika L Jackson Marna Franson Trinity Parish in Melrose Bryan O'Carroll Lissie Rhoton Saint Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church Lauren Grubaugh Thomas Marisa Tabizon Thompson

In the latest episode of the TryTank Podcast, two Lifelong Learning colleagues, TryTank's Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija and the Rev. Kyle Oliver converse about the power of storytelling.

Kyle is the new director of Hope Exchange, a groundbreaking Lifelong Learning storytelling initiative being funded by Lilly Endowment.

Hope Exchange aims to connect diverse communities through shared narratives, emphasizing the importance of personal stories in understanding God and belonging to a faith community. Kyle reflects on the transformative impact of storytelling, not just for those within the church, but for anyone curious about faith!

LISTEN: https://www.trytank.org/podcast.html

TryTank Kyle Oliver

During their three years earning M.Div. degrees at Virginia Theological Seminary, Emma DiPace and Lauren Breeden also served with excellence and good fun as Lifelong Learning student workers. Both made lasting contributions to our programming and common life; we are forever grateful.

All of us in Lifelong Learning wish Emma and Lauren God's blessings as they embark on the next chapter of their life in ministry. They have been a blessing to ours!

Emma Di Pace Lauren Breeden

Join this workshop that examines how faith-based educators equip justice-seeking disciples for public life. Explore creative approaches to the core practices of listening, storytelling, and embodied presence that build capacity for faithful and courageous action in the way of Jesus!

Live Spanish interpretation available.

REGISTER: https://ww-formation-faithful-action.eventbrite.com

The latest episode of the Faith-filled Families Podcast features Lifelong Learning's Lisa Kimball in a conversation about her personal journey into faith formation.

As she shares, that journey began in college when Lisa was asked, “When did you first accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” Although she had been raised to attend church consistently, that question sparked a determination to go beyond following the habits of church and to seek to understand how being a follower of Christ changes a person.

LISTEN: https://www.faithfilledfamilies.org/app-landing-page

Faith-Filled Families Lisa Kimball