Disciple: New, Notable & Newsworthy

Fall 2020 Cycle of Mission Endowment Grants Awarded

Earlier this year, the Mission Endowment Grant Committee announced the following grant awards for the Fall 2020 Mission Endowment Grant cycle:

• All Saints’, Concord: Scholarships for racial equity workshops. In particular, this grant covers both full and partial scholarships for trainings for people the church wants to serve on a fair housing committee in the community.
• St. Mark’s, Huntersville: Two-year grant for the Flyin’ Lion job training program. This program will teach culinary skills to people looking to enter that labor market.
• Calvary, Wadesboro: For renovations for an affordable housing unit as a part of the Anson County Homes of Hope.
• La Guadalupana, Wilson: Two-year grant supporting a vicar to serve that congregation and wider Latino ministry in the region.

• strategic partnerships between diocesan and outside entities, including interfaith and secular entities,
• companion relationships, and
• partnership ministries of congregations, institutions and organizations of the Diocese.

For more information or to apply for a Mission Endowment Grant, visit episdionc.org and look for “Grants and Scholarships” in “Administration and Finances” under the “Resources” tab.

Diocese Partners with Community Purchasing Alliance

In January 2021, the Diocese entered a partnership with the Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA), a cooperative network that focuses on working with companies owned by women and people of color. Among the many services available through this organization is the purchasing of PPE supplies at higher quantities and lower costs than might be found elsewhere. The cooperative works on the premise that the more is purchased, the lower the cost per unit.

• April 21-30
• May 19-28
• June 16-25

For more information, product availability and ordering information, visit episdionc.org/community-purchasing-alliance/.

April Book Club Read: The Green Collar Economy

If you haven’t yet checked out the new Diocese of NC Book Club Facebook group, now’s a great time to do so! (Join at bit.ly/DioNCBookClub.) Every month, we discuss a title that focuses on a diocesan priority in our journey toward Becoming Beloved Community. The reading and discussion helps us go deeper with each priority, but as our time together progresses, we are gaining even greater clarity about just how intertwined our priorities are and how it takes making all of them, together, a part of our lives to build an everlasting beloved community.

To date, the book club has read and enjoyed Love is the Way by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby and Wearing God by the Diocese’s own the Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner. In April, we’ll honor the month of Earth Day by reading The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones.

The Green Collar Economy looks at how both environmental and socioeconomic issues might be addressed in tandem to the benefit of all. As follows our usual pattern, the first half of the month will be dedicated to reading, and discussion questions, one per day, will begin on April 15.

We invite you to join us!

2021 Dismantling Racism Dates Announced

In 2020, the diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee updated, redesigned and renamed “Seeing the Face of God,” the previous diocesan anti-racism training program. A partnership among diocesan staff, the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee and notable consultants such as Dr. Catherine Meeks of the Absalom Jones Center in Atlanta, the new “Dismantling Racism: Reclaiming Our Baptismal Promise” is an interactive workshop designed to deepen spiritual commitment to dismantling racism as participants in the Jesus Movement. Through presentations, prayer, story sharing, videos and small group discussion, participants explore how the sin of racism impacts all lives.

There is no cost to register for the Zoom workshops. There is a $15 charge for in-person workshops to cover the cost of lunch. Available registration links can be found on the individual event calendar listing.

Upcoming training dates include:

• March 26, 5-8p.m., and March 27, 9a.m.-1p.m., via Zoom
• May 21, 9a.m.-5p.m. via Zoom
• July 31, 9a.m.-5p.m., location TBD
• September 24, 9a.m.-5p.m., location TBD
• November 12, 9a.m.-5p.m., location TBD
• January 29, 2022, 9a.m.-5p.m. location TBD

New from the Diocese: Adult Confirmation Classes

For more information or to express interest in future dates, contact Jenny Beaumont, missioner for adult and lifelong formation.

Jenny Beaumont Named Missioner for Adult and Lifelong Formation

The Diocese welcomes Jenny Beaumont as the new missioner for adult and lifelong formation for the Diocese of North Carolina.

This is a new position created to affirm the diocesan commitment to our mission priority of lifelong formation. The missioner is envisioned to be a key leader in increasing the vitality and impact of Christian formation at the local, regional and diocesan levels with a focused intentionality to “make disciples who make a difference.” This position was first proposed for the 2020 budget year but postponed at the onset of the pandemic to allow the Diocese to review its priorities and make necessary adaptations to ensure long-term diocesan stability.

“Jenny Beaumont is already a highly experienced and greatly respected visionary in our diocesan leadership network for Christian formation,” said the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, bishop suffragan for the Diocese of North Carolina. “Not only does she come with an impressive resume of accomplishments in adult formation at the local level, she is familiar with what it takes to adapt proven materials to various contexts across our diocese.”

Beaumont’s responsibilities include reimagining Christian formation for a 21st-century context. She will draw upon and strengthen traditional platforms for in-person gatherings as well as create and utilize online models designed to expand offerings and networks across our diverse diocese. Beaumont will help coordinate efforts, strategies and approaches in adult learning, emphasizing our mission priorities.

This is not work Beaumont will do alone. She works closely with the diocesan youth missioners and other diocesan staff, the Chartered Commission for Lifelong Christian Formation, the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee, the Commission for the Diaconate and the Diocesan Council department for Christian formation, all of whom plan to work together to continue to build relationships and cooperative efforts with formation leaders across the diocese and the wider Church.

“We are very excited to welcome Jenny to our team and benefit from her extensive experience as an educator with a heart for mission,” said the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. “She brings a depth of leadership in formation, building programs that inspire and strengthen beloved community. Her work at Christ Church, Charlotte, was grounded in the Episcopal tradition and also embraced the wider ecumenical connections she brings to her work.”

Beaumont is well-suited to lead the deepening of diocesan Christian formation, as she has spent 25 years as a skilled Christian formation leader. In her last position, she served as the director of adult spiritual formation at Christ Church, Charlotte, a position she held for 13 years after serving for 10 years as the church’s director of Christian education. In her time as the director of adult spiritual formation, she led initiatives as a digital and online facilitator/trainer, a Sacred Ground group facilitator, a race and reconciliation leader, and a national trainer for Education for Ministry (EfM) through Sewanee. She has presented at FORMA and was the lead author of These Are Our Bodies: Talking Faith at Church and Home and co-author of These Are Our Bodies: Talking Faith at Church and Home: Foundation Book, all while running a learning center created to “meet the needs of families and students [via] specific and expert support in learning.” She shared her considerable gifts with the Diocese in 2020, when she was instrumental in bringing Christian Essentials, a multi-session offering that invites participants to explore, grow and deepen their faith and life with God, to a diocesan-wide audience.

“The Christian Essentials program is an excellent example of how Jenny has already been part of our diocesan strategy as we move into a ‘new normal’ for Christian formation,” said Hodges-Copple.

Beaumont began her tenure with the Diocese on January 26.

New Roles and New Faces in Finance

The Department of Finance and Administration saw a few changes during the last couple months, with two department members taking on new titles and roles while welcoming two new specialists.

Maria Gillespie, formerly the director of finance and administration, has the new title of chief financial officer of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Gillespie joined the staff of the Diocese in 2013. A certified public accountant with a master’s degree in business administration, she has been working closely with the bishops, council, trustees, investment committee and staff to support the work of furthering the missional strategies of the Diocese while maintaining its financial oversight. Her title has changed, but her goal of making sure the churches and missions of the diocese have the support they need in furthering their ministry has not. Her prior professional experience working in public accounting, coupled with her many years working in the finance department at the Diocese, is making for a wonderfully smooth transition to her new role.

Erin Sweeney has also taken on a new role, now serving as the full-time finance and benefits coordinator. She is responsible for benefits enrollments and changes, managing pension and Health Savings Account (HSA) records, and helping members with benefits questions or problems. Also responsible for overseeing the tasks related to both accounts payable and account receivable, Sweeney develops and maintains internal controls, plus oversight of accounts receivable, accounts payable and staff payroll, all while helping to maintain general ledgers, providing assistance with the annual external audit and tending to daily office management.

Two new faces to get to know are Cathy Shearin, accounts payable specialist, and Susan Steel, accounts receivable specialist. Both are part-time staff members, working Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Shearin oversees the disbursements for the Diocese and some of its missions. She reconciles and maintains company disbursement posts and completes accounts payable-related reconciliations and audit work papers while assisting with data entry and office supply levels.

Steel was born and raised in England, moving to the United States in 1989. In addition to her role of accounts receivable specialist at the Diocese, she also works part time at St. Ambrose, Raleigh, as their business manager. She has served churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Carolina as a bookkeeper and stewardship director. Steel oversees deposits for the Diocese and some of its missions. She reconciles and maintains company credit card receipts, posts assigned journal entries and completes accounts receivable-related reconciliations and audit work papers, all while assisting with data entry and maintaining office supply levels. Steel is an active member of Trinity, Fuquay-Varina, where she also serves as bookkeeper and supports the stewardship ministry.

The finance and administration department has always been invaluable to the Diocese, but never more so than during the last year as the team helped staff and churches alike navigate the maze of COVID-related financial matters. The team has only gotten stronger, and they look forward to continuing the diocesan mission of Becoming Beloved Community.

Prayers for the Sick and Faithful Departed

During this time of uncertainty and grief, we gather in prayer to intercede for the sick and to remember the faithful departed. To add an ill or recently deceased loved one to our diocesan prayer list, or to request prayers for yourself, please fill out the form at bit.ly/DioNCPrayerList. (Prayers offered during services will be first name only.)

Connect with the Diocese

The Disciple
Keep the Disciple coming in a couple of new ways! Download the new app (search “NC Disciple”) on Apple, Google Play or Amazon Kindle for your digital subscription, or subscribe for your ongoing print subscription at bit.ly/Disciple2Q2021.

Please Note
The weekly diocesan newsletter is a great way to stay connected with everything happening throughout the Diocese of North Carolina.

To have Please Note delivered to your inbox every Wednesday, subscribe at bit.ly/PleaseNote.

CAMINANDO WITH JESUS
“CAMINANDO WITH JESUS” (“Walking with Jesus”) is a weekly reflection series featuring voices from around the Diocese. Delivered to inboxes every Sunday morning, each reflection focuses on the Gospel readings for that Sunday, and the text is shared in both English and Spanish.

Subscribe at bit.ly/CaminandoWithJesus.

NEW: Adult Formation Newsletter
Want more news on adult formation opportunities? Sign up for the newsletter in development—first issue coming soon!

Subscribe at bit.ly/AdultFormationNewsletter.