2021 Highlights
As we settle into a new normal, the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) has been hard at work to adapt our programs and services in order to lead Episcopal faith communities into the future as a partner for transforming ministries. Read our highlights from the year below.
New branding and website: Over the summer, ECF launched a new brand and a new website: ecf.org. This new brand was the result of a thoughtful, prayerful, and strategic process of assessing our past contributions and accomplishments, and more importantly discerning the future needs of the church. Make sure to check out the new website.
ECF360: ECF launched a new, low-cost self-service subscription site: www.ecf360.org. The website contains a variety of new templated and downloadable resources for annual giving/stewardship, capital campaigns and planned giving. Learn more on our website.
Pivot 2021: In July, ECF received a grant from Trinity Church Wall Street entitled Pivot 2021: Addressing the Needs of Underserved Episcopal Faith Communities in a Digital World. The purpose of the grant is to create a digital version of ECF’s successful Congregational Leadership Initiative (CLI) to be available online to the entire church. Read more about the grant on our website.
Gathering of Leaders: Our partnership with the Gathering of Leaders (GOL) has continued to grow. GOL resumed in-person gatherings this year. GOL’s partnership with ECF sees participants sharing articles, resources, and strategies with the wider church through ECF’s Vestry Papers and other publications. GOL participants also currently serve on curriculum design teams for ECF’s Congregational Leadership Initiative and Diocesan Leadership Initiative. Looking forward, ECF and GOL are jointly planning the first Lay Gathering and Bi-Vocational Clergy Gathering for 2022. Learn more about GOL on their website.
Endowment Management: The endowment management program continued to see growth this year. In addition to adding two new team members to serve clients, effective October 1, 2021 ECF announced a significant reduction in fees for its endowment management program. Contact ECF to learn more. The endowment management team also launched a new, quarterly newsletter.
Forma: Forma, a ministry of ECF, held its 2021 conference from January 26-28. For the first time, it was a wholly digital gathering and had its highest number of attendees ever. The theme, Embodying Spiritual Practices, charted a course through The Way of Love practices. Presenters included lay and ordained formation professionals and volunteers. Forma looks forward to its 2022 conference being held virtually from January 18-20, 2022. Learn more and register today!
ECF Vital Practices: It is a goal of the Vital Practices team to provide relevant resources for the wider church throughout the year. In service to that goal, the team gathered and shared resources and articles in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October. Other topics covered this year included The Power of Small Churches, Music Ministry, Formation for the Missionary Church, Being Church in a Pandemic and Joy and Gratitude. Subscribe to ECFVP here.
Congregational Vitality Assessment: ECF, in partnership with FaithX, launched the new Congregational Vitality Assessment Tool in September 2020. This year, the CVA launched both a judicatory version and version 2.0. Learn more here.
Fellowship Partners Program: Since 1964 ECF has awarded 233 Fellowships to individuals pursuing advanced academic studies and special ministries with the aim of educating and equipping future lay and clergy leaders. In 2021 we named two Fellows – Cate Anthony and Indon Paul Joo. Learn more about them and their work here.
ECF’s mission and strategy continue to adapt as we focus on the future of the Church. We hope to help encourage the Church at all levels to look at new ways of being and doing. What hasn’t changed is our core calling to walk with fellow Christians on the path to transformational ministry. We are so grateful for the community, support and encouragement we have received this year. Find more information about ECF and ways to support and partner with us on our website.