ADULT MINISTRIES
Formation doesn’t stop once a Christian ages out of Sunday school, vacation Bible school or youth group. A wealth of resources are available for adults looking to deepen their biblical knowledge, learn a new spiritual discipline, or find some comfort and inspiration. We’ve collected a handful of our favorites below.
CONTACT
The Rev. Kelly Ryan
Missioner for Discipleship
The Rev. Kelly Ryan
Missioner for Discipleship
984-263-5423
EMAIL
Kelly serves diocesan congregations as the missioner for discipleship. The position was created as part of, and is made possible by, the $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. the diocese received in October 2024 to reconceive the way it supports congregations as they seek to form disciples of all ages. Instead of traditional programming, the project is designed to spark congregational imagination around intergenerational worship and its connection to holistic Christian formation, to support connections among congregations, and to equip and empower congregational leaders to design and lead inclusive, sensory-rich worship rooted in The Episcopal Church’s liturgical traditions.
Kelly previously served at Duke Divinity School as director of the Thriving Congregations Coordination Program and as senior director of Communications and executive editor for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, as well as a communications coach for Lilly Endowment grantees. For more than two decades, she has served children and their families as a catechist, tutor, mentor and hospital volunteer.
Kelly was ordained a vocational deacon in 2024. For two years, she served as deacon and children’s minister at St. Joseph’s, Durham. In early 2026, she began serving as chaplain to Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson. She holds a Master of Divinity, a certificate in Christian Education, and an MA in Christian Practice from Duke Divinity School, as well as a BA in journalism and political science from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
Related Organizations
FORMA
Forma is an association and dynamic community of Christian educators, formation professionals, and their institutional partners that celebrates and upholds the diverse ministries of Christian formation across the Episcopal Church. You can join and participate in this network for idea-sharing with Episcopal Christian educators and formation personnel across all ministries of the Church, including children, youth, young adults, adults, chaplaincies, camp and conference centers, resources centers, seminaries, publishers, and more. Contact Jenny Beaumont for assistance with the membership fee.
Mental health programs
The diocese regularly offers Mental Health First Aid from the National Council of Mental Well Being. Learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge in its various stages and how to do the 5-step Action Plan to help someone experiencing a mental health challenge. A certification is offered for completion of the course.
BUILDING FAITH
Building Faith is a free website that offers practical resources for ministry with children, youth, and adults. You’ll find articles, advice, reviews, features, and resources for Christian formation with people of all ages. They are here to serve you, as you make and form disciples of Jesus Christ.
Building Faith is a resource of the Center for the Ministry of Teaching (CMT) at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Cursillo
Cursillo in the Diocese of NC is an Episcopal movement under the direction of our bishop. The goal of Cursillo is “to change the world, to remake the world in Christ and to restore all things to Christ, beginning with our own environments. The Three-Day Weekend introduces the strategy of Cursillo – a structure or a backbone for Christian life in every environment. The Fourth Day represents the ways that we continue to support each other in living that Christian life and it consists of Group Reunion (small group), Ultreya (an area wide gathering), Spiritual Direction, and Communities in Action.
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