ECF Fellows Gather at AAR–SBL to Reconnect and Expand a Growing Network
During the November 2025 Joint Annual Meetings of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature in Boston, the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) hosted a special Fellows Dinner Reception that brought together current ECF Fellows and alumni for an evening of fellowship and discussion about the future of theological education and ministry in The Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Canon C. K. Robertson, Ph.D., Canon and Senior Advisor to the Presiding Bishop and an ECF Fellow alum (1998), joined the gathering and offered brief words of welcome and encouragement. Fellows reconnected with colleagues from various program decades, shared updates on their work, and reflected on the evolving needs and opportunities facing the Church today.
Jacob Sierra, ECF’s Senior Program Director for Digital Resources, reflects on the gathering: “It was a real privilege to take these first steps in renewing and strengthening our Fellows community. The evening offered an encouraging reminder of the extraordinary range of gifts within this network, and a glimpse of the meaningful connections we hope to foster in the year ahead and beyond.”
Strengthening a Lifelong Network
This dinner marks the first step in the Foundation’s renewed effort to strengthen and re-engage the Fellows network as a vibrant, intergenerational community of support, learning, and shared ministry. Fellows expressed enthusiasm for future opportunities to gather, connect, and collaborate in service to the Church’s mission.
A New Chapter: Pilot Lay Leader Development Track Launching in 2026
Looking ahead, the Episcopal Church Foundation is preparing to pilot a new track in the ECF Fellowship Partners Program to develop lay leaders. This expansion reflects the Foundation’s mission to support the laity’s ministry and equip laypeople as essential partners in the Church’s vitality. This new track will complement the longstanding academic and ministry-focused tracks of the Fellows Program.
The Episcopal Church Foundation looks forward to creating more opportunities in the upcoming year for Fellows to connect, strengthen relationships, and help shape the future of the Fellowship Partners Program. Click here to learn more about the Pilot Lay Leader Development Track.
Since 1964, the ECF Fellowship Partners Program has supported emerging clergy and lay Episcopal leaders who foster innovation in theological formation and ministerial leadership across the Church.
The Episcopal Church Foundation invites emerging Episcopal leaders to apply to be a 2026 ECF Fellow. Click below to explore the three Fellowship tracks available in 2026 and learn about eligibility, benefits, and the application process.
For more information, visit our website. If you have questions, contact Jacob Sierra at [email protected].