Trinity Church Offers Significant Financial Aid for Virtual Ministry Program at the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale
The Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, the Episcopal seminary at Yale, has announced the launch of its Virtual Curacy Program this summer. Funding for the program has been provided by the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and Trinity Church.
This innovative program aims to support newly ordained and soon-to-be ordained priests from any Episcopal diocese by providing necessary training and support. A total of 7 curates will be able to participate at minimal cost, due to the generous funding.
In the first fall, Virtual Curates will focus on leading worship, guided by the Book of Common Prayer. They will also learn to select music for worship, prepare weekly sermons, and practice trauma-informed preaching. In the spring, curates will gain skills in pastoral leadership and church management, including managing resources, collaborating with laity, managing finances, and fundraising.
During the second year's fall, curates will learn adaptive leadership, including conflict resolution and leading through change. In June of the second year, curates will gather at Yale for a closing retreat to worship, celebrate, and receive their certificates.
The program includes a Spiritual Formation for Church Leaders opening retreat each year, where curates gather for modules and prayer rhythms workshops. Each month, the Virtual Curacy Program includes 4 hours of mentoring and 2 hours of synchronous meeting time for curates. Curates meet weekly with their assigned mentor for the two years of the program.
Applications for the Virtual Curacy Program are currently open and the deadline is July 15. A sliding scale of tuition is available to dioceses based on their ability to pay tuition costs. The tuition for the two-year program is $18,000, which includes the opening and closing retreats.
The Virtual Curacy Program is tailored for priests who find themselves in charge immediately after ordination due to the dearth of traditional curacies. By partnering with dioceses across The Episcopal Church, the program ensures that new clergy receive the necessary support and training.
Curates also gather online once per month for two hours of learning in a cohort setting. This provides an opportunity for them to share experiences, learn from each other, and grow together in their ministry.
The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut's funding enables Berkeley Divinity School at Yale to start the Virtual Curacy Program, and the school has partnered with Trinity Church for additional funding. This collaboration will undoubtedly help in providing a strong foundation for the next generation of Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion leaders.
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