Crossings Conversations

Before joining the Episcopal Church, Alyssa Sali ‘26 spent ten years in Jalisco, Mexico, supporting short-term missionaries and raising two children. In her recent chat on Crossings Conversations, she shares about growing up in evangelical traditions, attending Wheaton College, and eventually finding a church that checked the boxes on “a big, long list” of justice and hospitality commitments.

When Aissa Hillebrand ‘27 and Reese Fuller ‘27 sat down with Crossings in fall of 2023, they were fresh off their first CDSP gathered session. They recently reconvened for a chat about how the year went and what it's like being a seminarian today. “If it looked like anything, it'd look like my desk right now,” Fuller said. “Good point … a mess, yet I know where everything is,” Hillebrand added.

In this episode of Crossings Conversations, we spoke with the Rt. Rev. Kym Lucas, bishop of the Episcopal Church in Colorado. The interview was part of our reporting for the upcoming Crossings cover feature "Early Returns: CDSP-funded curates already adding new life in new roles."Bishop Lucas spoke to us about the value of hybrid graduates getting a chance to focus on developing their priestcraft, the importance of stable leadership at curacy sites, and her excitement for curates having the chance to gather and debrief with peers navigating the challenges of early ordained ministry.

In the latest episode of Crossings Conversations, we spoke with the Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker, bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska and recently announced nominee to the slate for 28th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. The interview was part of our reporting for the upcoming Crossings cover feature "Early Returns: CDSP-funded curates already adding new life in new roles."Bishop Barker spoke to us about the clergy shortage in the Episcopal Church, formation models and spiritual priorities for early-career priests, and his excitement about the CDSP curacy program and its potential impact for students from his diocese.

CDSP is in the process of rolling out an exciting new curacy program. We spoke with three participants in the pilot stages of the program about the difference it's making for their new congregations, the value of serving with experienced mentors, and more. The Rev. Mees Tielens (MDiv ‘23), PhD, is curate at St. Anna's Episcopal Church in Antioch, CA; the Rev. Angela Furlong ‘23 is assisting priest and associate for youth and families at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Frederick, MD; and the Rev. Katherine Frederick ‘23 is curate at Grace Episcopal Church in Fairfield, CA. Photos by Larry Canner (left) and Tom Minczeski (center, right).

The Rev. Jessica Frederick '23 is a CDSP alum from the Diocese of Western New York and serves as minister for children, youth, and families at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Jamestown. Her interview with Crossings Conversations is the third and final in a series with students who worked full-time in ministry positions while completing the Hybrid Program. She spoke to us about bringing a community organizing mentality to parish ministry, what it means to grow with a congregation, and the gift of reimagining ministry in a setting where leaders and members alike are flourishing.

The Rev. Katherine Frederick '23 is a CDSP alum from the Diocese of Northern California and serves as hospice chaplain at Providence Hospice of Napa Valley. Her interview with Crossings Conversations is the second in a series with students who worked full-time in ministry positions while completing the Hybrid Program. She spoke to us about meeting people where they are, theologically; serving patients' families, and sometimes her home church community, during the pandemic and 2020 wildfire season; and how her chaplain job benefitted her studies and contextual education experience.

The Rev. Nora Boerner '22 is a CDSP alum from the Diocese of Iowa and serves as associate rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City. Her interview with Crossings Conversations is the first in a series with students who worked full-time in ministry positions while completing the Hybrid Program. She spoke to us about showing up for her classmates, her distinctive internship experience with Beloved Community Initiative, and putting her seminary learning into action "every single day."

Dr. Stephen Fowl is the newly appointed president and dean of Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He spoke to us about his approach to scholarship and teaching, curriculum revision and community formation in CDSP's Hybrid Program, and what he learned as a faculty member and senior administrator in a large Jesuit university.

The Rev. Mees Tielens (MDiv '23), PhD, is a recent alum of CDSP's residential program from the Diocese of California. Tielens spoke to us about the significance of lay leadership, a broad vision of what it means to be bi-vocational in the Church, and what congregations have to offer in a time of increasing religious disaffiliation.

Welcome to Crossings Conversations.  Recently, we asked for stories about the impact of CDSP's innovative low-residence Hybrid Program. We heard about increased access and flexibility, rigorous theological and spiritual formation, and the power of learning both in the student's local context and connected to a tight-knit community of peers.Today, hear a portion of that conversation with a 2021 graduate, The Rev. Dr. Joél Muñoz, Curate at St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Zionsville, IN. He shared with us his experience, which enabled him to pursue studies while also serving as an educator and principal at a local middle school. We are grateful for his time with us

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Reverend Dr. William Sutherland Stafford.  The Reverend Dr. Stafford has taught church history at CDSP as a visiting professor for the past decade. Prior to his post at CDSP,  he was a professor of church history at the University of the South and Dean of the School of Theology,  David J. Ely, Professor of church history at Virginia Theological Seminary, and served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and vice president. For over five decades, the Reverend Dr. William Sutherland Stafford has been educating and forming scholars, theologians, and leaders in the church. Beyond his significant gifts as a teacher and administrator, the Reverend Dr. Stafford is an accomplished scholar, Pastor, preacher, liturgist, and community leader. We're so grateful to have him here with us today will be reflecting on his career to date and pondering what lies ahead.This interview was conducted by Carly Lane, specialist with Learning Forte and contracted by CDSP. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is The Rev. Amy Newell-Large. A 2022 graduate of the Hybrid Program at CDSP,  Rev. Newell-Large serves as Curate for Parish Life, St. John's Cathedral Denver, CO.  Side note: You will likely have learned by now that beginning in 2025, the Hybrid Program (formerly low-residence program) will be the sole model for all students in the Master of Divinity and Anglican Studies Programs. You can read about the announcement shared this past January and all things Hybrid Education at CDSP here. For now, we hope you enjoy into this interview with the Rev. Newell-Large. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  The Rev. Amy Newell-Large is a 2022 graduate of the Hybrid Program at CDSP and serves as Curate for Parish Life, St. John's Cathedral Denver, CO.  About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Michael Angel Molina, a third year student in CDSP's hybrid M.Div. program. Michael spoke with us about the importance of preachers speaking truth to power, the role that the Church has to play in a growing labor movement, and his experiences using contemporary pop music in the context of worship.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Michael Angel Molina is a third year, low-residence M.Div. student at CDSP from Reading, Pennsylvania in the Diocese of Bethlehem. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Michael Drell, a third year student in CDSP's residential M.Div. program. Michael spoke with us about translating Christian into his immediate context, his work washing and caring for the feet of those in need at the foot clinic as St. John the Evangelist's in San Francisco, and the importance of listening in a life of ministry.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Michael Drell is a third year, residential M.Div. student at CDSP from the Diocese of Cuernavaca of La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico.  He volunteers his time with The Gubbio Project at St. John the Evangelist's in San Francisco, washing and caring for the feet of those in need. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.Editor's note: In the transcript and print version of this interview, we mis-transcribed two phrases. (1) Drell was studying Mozarabic liturgy, not Arabic liturgy. (2) Drell described the experience of receiving foot care as "confronting," not "comforting." We apologize for these errors.

Our guests on this episode of Crossings Conversations are the Rev.  Stephen Hassett and the Rev. Michael Barham, two former parish priests who have recently joined the staff of CDSP.  The Revs. Hassett and Barham spoke with us about their calls to ordained ministry, their new roles at CDSP, and the challenges and questions facing new clergy in discernment. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  The Rev.  Stephen Hassett is CDSP's director of chapel and campus chaplain. He formerly served at various parishes in California, most recently 8 years as rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Orinda. He graduated from CDSP with an MDiv in 2006 and a DMin in 2016.The Rev. Michael Barham is CDSP's director of student services and recruitment. He formerly served at various parishes in California and Hawaii. He graduated from CDSP with an Certificate in Anglican Studies in 2007, and a DMin in 2012.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guests on this episode of Crossings Conversations are the Rev. Dr, Randall Gardner and the Rev. Richard Schaper from Church Divinity School of the Pacific's Advancement Department. They spoke to us about planned giving, the ways and reasons people give, and the sometimes surprising opportunities to build relationships that come from such gifts. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bios: The Rev.  Richard Schaper is an Episcopal priest and Certified Financial Planner.  After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, he completed his graduate studies in financial planning and the management of nonprofit organizations at Golden Gate University and the University of San Francisco. He graduated magna laude from Colgate University with a major in Philosophy and Religion and earned a Master of Theology degree from The Divinity School of the University of Chicago. A former Rhodes Scholar, Benedictine monk, hospital chaplain and parish pastor, he  continues to serve as a consultant and gift planning officer for the Episcopal Diocese of California and CDSP. The Rev. Dr. Randall Gardner works for donor and alumni relationships with CDSP. He graduated from CDSP with an M.Div. in 1984 and has since served as rector for various parishes in Washington and California, adjunct faculty at Virginia Theological Seminary, and Canon for Congregational Life in the Diocese as California before returning to CDSP as Director of Chapel in 2016. He retired as Director of Chapel in 2021, but continue to work with CDSP' advancement department on donor an alumni relations.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev.  Kirk Smith, Church Divinity School of the Pacific's interim Dean and President, and former Bishop of the Diocese of Arizona. Bishop Smith spoke with us about about deepening the churches understanding of its history while adapting to the need of a changing world to spread the Gospel in the 21st century. He also shared about his own call and his hopes for serving the CDSP community. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Bishop Kirk Smith is the interim Dean and President of Church Divinity School of the Pacific.  He formerly served as bishop of the Diocese of Arizona from 2004 to 2019. Before and after his retirement in 2019, he taught church history courses at the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, General Theological Seminary, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and Virginia Theological Seminary. He served as Bishop in Residence at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale for the Spring term 2021.Prior to serving as bishop for the Diocese of Arizona from 2004-2019, Bishop Smith led parishes in Connecticut and California, including St James', Wilshire Boulevard, a large urban multi-cultural and multi-racial congregation which also operates a day school, nursery school, senior housing project and food program. He received his bachelor's degree from Lewis and Clark College, MDiv from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and PhD from Cornell University.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Weston Morris, a first year student in CDSP's residential M.Div. program. Weston spoke with us about his work for greater inclusivity of LGBTQ and disabled people in the Episcopal Church, Welcoming Every Body, the organization he helped found for that purpose, and the opportunities and challenged he has faced in that work at CDSP. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Weston Morris is a first year student in Church Divinity School of the Pacific's residential M.Div. program. He is a postulant from the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and founding member of Welcoming Every Body, an organization dedicated to greater inclusivity of LGBTQ and disabled people in the Episcopal Church. Find out more at https://www.welcomingeverybody.com.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Kaitlin Reece, a second year student in CDSP's low residence M.Div. program. Kaitlyn spoke with us about some formative experiences of her time studying with CDSP  and their connections to her work on criminal justice reform in Nebraska.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: Kaitlin Reece is a second year student in Church Divinity School of the Pacific's low residence M.Div. program. Originally from Pasadena, she is a postulant from the Diocese of Nebraska, mother of one, and a lobbyist in the Nebraska legislature working with nonprofits on issues including refugee settlement, juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Angela Furlong, a second year student in CDSP's residential M.Div. program. Angela spoke with us about some difficult lessons learned starting seminary during the pandemic and the power of artwork to heal our brokenness. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: Angela Furlong is a second year student in Church Divinity School of the Pacific's residential M.Div. program. She is a postulant from the Diocese of Maryland, a mothers of two, an iconographer, and formerly served as an Arabic translator for the US military. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rev. Christie Fleming ‘17, Missioner for Community Care and Reconciliation in the Episcopal Church in Western Louisiana, and director of the Lighthouse, a homeless ministry in Bastrop, LA supported by the diocese. The Rev. Fleming spoke with us about her work starting the Lighthouse, learning to lead on the job, and the formation opportunities she experienced during her time at CDSP.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Rev. Christie Fleming graduated from CDSP in 2017. Before becoming Missioner for Community Care and Reconciliation and starting the Lighthouse, the Rev. Fleming served as chaplain to homeless communities in San Francisco and San Diego, and then as rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Covington, LA.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rev. Edwin Johnson '10,  an Episcopal priest, rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and member of the Presiding Officer's Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation in the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Johnson spoke with us about Episcopal efforts toward racial justice and racial reconciliation, and how his time at CDSP affected his particular involvement in this ministry.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Rev. Edwin Johnson is an Episcopal priest,  rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Dorchester, MA, and member of the Presiding Officer's Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation in the Episcopal Church. A native of Dorchester, the Rev. Johnson graduated from CDSP in 2010.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rev. Dr. Lisa Cressman,  an Episcopal priest and founding steward of Backstory Peaching, an online ministry dedicated to the initial and continual education and formation of lay and ordained preachers. The Rev. Dr. Cressman spoke with us about her work helping to cultivate effective, authentic, and joyful preachers to proclaim the Good News of Christ.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Rev. Dr. Lisa Cressman is an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, retreat leader, author, and founding steward of Backstory Peaching, an online ministry dedicated to the initial and continual education and formation of lay and ordained preachers. More info is available at www.backstorypreaching.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/backstorypreaching/.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev.  Diane Bruce, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Bruce spoke with us about the importance of listening, forming leaders for multicultural competency, and building beloved commity.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Bishop Diane Bruce is currently Bishop Provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri. At the time of this interview she was Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Before serving as Bishop of Los Angeles, she served at various churches in California. Before her ordination to the priesthood she worked in as vice president specializing in compensation management and analysis at Fells Fargo. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev.  Susan Brown Snook, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. Bishop Brown Snook spoke with us about forming leaders for new models of evangelism and adapting to diverse contexts.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Bishop Susan Brown Snook was consecrated bishop of San Diego in 2019. She was ordained ot the priesthood in 2003 after graduating from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She subsequently served at several parishes in the Diocese of Arizona, including Church of the Nativity in Scottsdale, which she planted. Before entering seminary, she worked as a certified public accountant, and as a director of Christian education and a director of lay ministries at an Episcopal church in Arizona.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev.  Katherine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Jefferts Schori spoke with us about creative responses to leadership formation in response to the ever evolving ministerial contexts of the Church. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori served as the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 2006 to 2015. She pursued a career in oceanography, earning a Ph.D. from Oregon State University, before her eventual ordination to the priesthood in 1994. She was consecrated Bishop of Nevada 2001, where she served until being elected presiding Bishop in 2006. Her ministerial concerns have been broad and far reaching, including issues of domestic poverty, climate change and care for the earth, and the ongoing need to contextualize the gospel.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rev. David Beckmann, a Lutheran Pastor and former president of Bread for the World, a non-profit, Christian advocacy organization dedicated to alleviating world hunger and poverty. The Rev. Beckmann spoke with us about the the Christian call to serve the needy and how we might live into that obligation. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Rev. David Beckmann is a Lutheran pastor and economist. He worked as a World Bank economist before beginning a 30 year tenure as president of Bread for the World. During his time as president, Bread for the World was instrumental in lobbying congress to help alleviate hunger worldwide. After retiring from Bread for the World, the Rev. Beckmann launched a digitally based learning initiative on poverty, God, and politics. More info on this initiative is available at DavidBeckmann.net/blog or at the CDSP website at CDSP.edu/poverty-god-politics.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev.  Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. Bishop Baskerville-Burrows spoke with us about the importance of making space for various models of ministry and forming leaders capable of ministering across boundaries in places they might be uncomfortable.  Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: Bishop Baskerville-Burrows was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis in 2017. She was ordained to the priesthood in 1997 after graduating from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Before being elected bishop in 2016, she served in the Dioceses of Newark, Central New York and Chicago. She is the first black woman to be elected a diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church. Her expertise includes historic preservation of religious buildings, stewardship and development, race and class reconciliation, and spiritual direction.  About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rev. Shannon Kelly, director of the Department of Faith Formation and officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministries for the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Kelly spoke with us about leadership formation in the Church, making room for the Holy Spirit to work, and the importance of elevating diverse voices in the Church.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  The Rev. Shannon Kelly serves as the Missioner for Young Adult and Campus Ministries for The Episcopal Church. She wrote and edited God of My Heart a book of prayers written by youth, for youth. She lives in on Cape Cod with her husband, The Rev. Dr. Thomas Ferguson, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, their son, and dog. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev. Thomas Brown, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine. Bishop Brown spoke with us about the role of technology in the Church, the importance of inclusion and racial justice, educating for a life of prayer, and the value of speaking in terms of relationship to Jesus Christ.Full transcript now available here.Guest Bio: Bishop Brown was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Maine in 2019. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1998 after graduating from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He then served  as associate priest at the Church of St John the Evangelist in San Francisco and director of alumni and church relations at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He served as rector of St Michael's Church in Brattleboro, Vermont between 2000 and 2009, and rector of the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, Massachusetts from 2009 until his election as Bishop of Maine in 2019. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guests on this episode of Crossings Conversations are the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, and Dr. Scott MacDougall, associate professor of theology at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. They spoke to us about Dr. MacDougall's new role as theologian to the House of Deputies, the importance of lay theologizing, and the prophetic witness of the Church. Full transcript now available here.Guest Bios: The Reverend Gay Clark Jennings was elected president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church in 2012, and was reelected in 2015.  As president, Jennings is committed to fostering a new generation of leaders in the Episcopal Church and encouraging the church's work for justice through the actions of General Convention and the work of Episcopalians throughout the church.  She was ordained in 1979 and is a nine-time deputy from the Diocese of Ohio. She is also the Episcopal Church's clergy representative to the Anglican Consultative Council.  Before her tenure as president, she served on the Executive Council from 2006-2012, and has held many elected and appointed leadership positions, including chairing the General Convention legislative committees on Structure, World Mission, Communications, and Canons. She is a founding member of the Chicago Consultation, which supports the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians.Dr. Scott MacDougall was appointed theologian of the House of Deputies in 2020. He also serves as associate professor of theology at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Prior to undertaking the formal study of theology, he worked in the non-profit sector. He received his MA in theology from General Theological Seminary in 2007, and his PhD in systematic theology from Fordham University in 2014.  His research centers on ecclesiology and eschatology and is interested in the difference a robust theological imagination of the future makes in how Christian community is lived out, both in the church itself and in the wider world.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev. Carlye Hughes, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Bishop Hughes  spoke with us about the importance of creativity and teamwork in leadership formation. Full transcript now available here.Guest Bio: Bishop Hughes was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Newark in 2018. Before her call to ordained ministry, Hughes worked in human resources in New York. She then attended Virginia Thological Seminary before being ordained and going on to serve churches in New York and Texas. Hughes describes her goal as to help people "discover the ways they are called to serve God and God's people… supporting, encouraging, and empowering them to go and do what God created them to do." At the national level, she has served the General Convention on the Task for the Study of Marriage and the Racial Justice & Reconciliation. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, managing director of the College for Bishops and bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, resigned. Bishop Gray-Reeves talks about her work with the College for Bishops and the church as a learning organization. She also discusses the relationship between vulnerability and resilience in church leadership.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Right Reverend Mary Gray-Reeves is the Managing Director of the College for Bishops of The Episcopal Church. She was Formerly Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. Before her consecration as Bishop, she serve as  archdeacon for deployment for the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, rector of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Miami Lakes, and assistant rector of two churches in the Diocese of Los Angeles, where she was ordained. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev. Gretchen Rehberg,  PhD, DMin, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Bishop Rehberg spoke with us about the importance of lay-clergy partnership and the difference between leadership and authority.Full transcript now available here.Guest Bio: Bishop  Rehberg was ordained March 18, 2017 as ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.  She served as rector of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Lewiston, ID, from 2006 to 2017. She has served as the chair of the Commission on Ministry, a canon for regional mission, and a trainer for the College for Congregational Development. In these ministries, she combined her passion for equipping people for ministry and assisting congregations in becoming more faithful, healthy, and effective communities of faith. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rev. Isaiah Shaneequa Brokenleg '18, staff officer for racial reconciliation for the Episcopal Church. Rev. Brokenleg spoke with us about collectivist models of leadership formation and forms of pedagogy that challenge white supremacy.  Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Rev. Isaiah Shaneequa Brokenleg '18 is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Nation) and a priest of the Diocese of South Dakota. Before attending seminary at CDSP, she served as a clinical epidemiologist. As a winktè (Lakota two-spirit), her calling is facilitating healing, positive change, and reconciliation.  About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Bishop Jennifer Reddall of the Diocese of Arizona. Bishop Reddall talks about new models of leadership formation for rural parishes in the Diocese of Arizona. She also discusses the importance of laughter and flexibility in church leadership. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Right Reverend Jennifer Reddall is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. She formerly served as Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in New York City, proclaiming a message of joy, love, and justice. She grew up in California and graduated from Yale University with a degree in Theater Studies before pursuing her vocation in the Church and graduating from General Theological Seminary in 2002. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington. Bishop Budde talks about her functional understanding of leadership formation and the traits she looks for in candidates for ordination. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Prior to her election, she served for 18 years as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. Her sermons have been published in several books and journals and she is the author of two books, Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love (2019) and Gathering Up the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice (2007).Resource Links:ChurchPulse Weekly – A Podcast from Barna GroupAbout the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri. Bishop Johnson talks about some new models for regional church leadership beginning to take root in Missouri. He also discusses the role of joy in proclaiming the gospel.Download full episode transcript here.Guest Bio: The Right Reverend Deon Kevin Johnson is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. A veteran Episcopal priest with deep experience in social justice issues and ministry to gay and lesbian communities, he has served in many positions in the wider church and the community. He continues to serve on the Taskforce for Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision and as a consultant with the Office of Black Ministries.Resource Links:Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama & Desmond TutuAbout the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

For this first episode of Crossings Conversations, our guest is Bishop Megan Traquair of the Diocese of Northern California. Bishop Megan speaks about her experience launching a non-profit management course for church leaders in the Diocese of Arizona. She also shares her passion for the catechumenate: a robust, accessible, and ancient approach to Christian initiation and formation.Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Right Reverend Megan M. Traquair is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California. Ordained in 1992 in the Diocese of Los Angeles, she has led congregations in Tucson, towns near South Bend and Indianapolis, and Los Angeles. When she was Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, she ran all aspects of clergy transition (deployment), coaching clergy and congregations in conflict resolution and leading strategic planning. Resource Links:Best Skills/Best Churches: What Seminary Didn't Teach YouNorth American Association for the CatechumenateCatechumenate Training Videos (Baptized for Life)About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.