View as Webpage

COMMISSION ON MINISTRY

An Updated Discernment Structure

By: The Rev. Richard Hogue, COM Chair

Discernment is prayerful and intentional listening someone does to better understand what God might be calling them to do. It can lead to someone becoming a teacher, a healthcare worker, or in the case of ordained ministry, a deacon or priest. Because of how important sacramental leadership is in our context, we require those who may be called to ordained ministry to discern their call within the context of their church community, leaders at the local and diocesan level, and through formal ministerial education.  

Ultimately, we must test, not just trust, that God is calling someone into this aspect of the church’s life. Formal discernment is about making sure someone is called, adequately trained, and spiritually, emotionally, and mentally capable of leading and providing for those in their care. There is joy in discernment, and there are also appropriate challenges that hone the skills one needs to excel in these specific roles. Read More 

Congratulations to the Rev. Nancy Burnett, the Rev. Katherine Gordon, the Rev. Lilia Mendoza, and the Rev. Brian Petersen on their ordination to the priesthood on Saturday. Enjoy these photos by Cynde Durnford-Branecki, Diocesan Photographer.

Last chance to register for this offering. Learn how planned giving differs from annual stewardship and capital campaigns in easy-to-understand terms on June 25.

This afternoon, enjoy an incredible reception and panel discussion about the development and well-being of children with an esteemed group of experts at the ECS Annual Meeting.

Grab some popcorn and join the Environmental Summer Film Festival starting this Wednesday, June 22.

Join the people of St. Mary's-in-the-Valley in Ramona for a Pride Celebration on Saturday, June 25 at noon. 

Get your EDSD Pride Gear today, and celebrate that LOVE is LOVE as an Episcopalian this year! 

In partnership with Christ Church Coronado, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is pleased to offer a Godly Play Core Training Retreat on August 19-21.

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY

Fertile Ground to Grow Your Faith

By: Mark Patzman, Diocesan EfM Coordinator

Every baptized Christian is called to ministry. What is yours? Education for Ministry (EfM) is a program of the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee) that provides the foundational education to assist you in discerning and carrying out your ministry. Like the mustard seed (Luke 13:18-19), we need fertile soil to grow. EfM is that fertile soil, and we are the mustard seeds. Learning scriptures, church history, and theology is the light shining on the soil, warming it so the seed will sprout.

The EfM program develops an informed and knowledgeable laity through a series of four one-year seminars. A small group seminar is the nucleus of the EfM program (maximum of 12 participants plus one or two mentors). Likened to the original house churches of the first century, our groups conduct all four years concurrently in the same seminar. In year one, participants' academic study focuses on the Hebrew Bible; year two on the New Testament; year three is church history; year four wraps it all together with theology. Read More

Across the Church

Agape - Congratulations to the Chili Cookoff Winners

ENS - Three Killed at Episcopal Potluck in Alabama

VBS - Spark Studios Vacation Bible School in Bonita

ENS - Poor People's Campaign at DC Rally

TENS - Stewardship Training Recap

EDSD.ORG EMAIL NOTIFICATION

You have probably experienced this a number of times, an important email is quarantined to the Junk folder, and several hours or days go by until you remember to check if the email arrived at all. EDSD.org emails have recently been landing in people’s junk folders. If you are expecting an email from someone on the diocesan staff, please check your junk folder, for it may have landed there. And please add @edsd.org email accounts to your safe senders list—instructions on how to add @edsd.org to your safe senders list here.