Equipping the Saints Weekend is designed to train parishes across our diocese in areas of ministry that have been identified by diocesan leadership as strategic opportunities for growth.

The Center for Ministry, a Strategic Initiative in the 2023-2028 Diocesan Strategic Plan, is hosting this event in partnership with the Cathedral’s Charles Simeon Institute.

We will be offering 6 Tracks for Training (participants will choose 1 ):

• Training & Certification for Lay Eucharistic Ministers (Facilitator: Deacon Debra Gordon, Christ Church, Vero Beach)
  For the experienced or a newly recruited LEM, this workshop will blend practical knowledge and hands-on instruction to equip men and women to serve the Eucharist and to participate in worship services as effective lay ministers. A discussion component will provide space for individual questions about handling other activities often assigned to LEMs in a local ministry context. Workshop participants will meet thetraining requirements to receive the diocesan two-year license for this ministry.

• Church Musicians: Pastoring through Music and Liturgy (Facilitator: Archdeacon Jessica Jones)
  Lex orandi, lex credendi: the law of prayer is the law of belief. In other words, what we say (or sing!) in worship forms us. Therefore, it is vital that our musical worship leaders understand how the songs they select align with the liturgy, the Word, the liturgical season, and most importantly, how those songs impact the congregation’s theology over time. Because what we sing will impact our faith. This workshop will equip musical worship leaders to serve as pastoral musicians, serving their congregations with liturgical integrity that considers the biblical and historical structure of worship, so as to strengthen and encourage spiritual formation within our communities and ourselves.

• The Bishop, The Rector, and the Vestry (Facilitator: Rev. David Trautman)
  Every Anglican leader needs to understand the different roles of rectors, vestry members, and bishops. When leaders understand these rolesand put them into practice, Anglican churches flourish. When they don’t, they can flounder. This course will practically explain the differentroles, responsibilities, and resources for leading a flourishing Anglican church. This course will also address the needs, challenges, structures, canons, and other important issues facing Anglican churches of any size. We will be using Canon David Roseberry’s book, TheRector, the Vestry and the Bishop: The Essential Guide for Anglican Leaders, as a resource for this class. You will not need to read it in advance.

• The Ministry Of Hospitality: Welcoming Friends & Strangers Into God’s Community (Facilitator: Rev. Canon Bill Krizner)
  Recognizing that both belief and belonging are fundamental to God’s Church, this workshop is designed to help leaders reconsider their approach in helping those exploring the church find an immediate connection to Jesus and His ministry within your particular church context. Taught by the Gulf Atlantic Diocese’s Canon for Congregational Development, the workshop will help participants look at the most common mistakes that churches make when engaging with visitors; consider the most effective ways to introduce such newcomers to not only church programs but to the people of the church; and create individualized plans to pursue when returning home from the workshop. This session will be highly interactive and rely heavily upon scenario-based training, as well as interactive workshop exercises, to best explore God’s desire to grow His Church through the crucial ministries of inviting, welcoming, and connecting.

• Running Alpha in Your Community (Facilitator: Jenny Noyes, Global Mission Initiative & New Wineskins)
  The Alpha Course is still one of the best ways to introduce people to Jesus and make disciples through a local church community. Alpha wasstarted in an Anglican Church in London over 30 years ago, and it’s still going strong all over the world. Though Alpha has been used in theU.S. since the mid-1990s, our post-Christian culture is now more ready than ever for a non-threatening, honest conversation about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit! My life was completely transformed when I attended Alpha in 1991 in London. It has been my pleasure to share with churches around the world for three decades how this model of 1st century Christianity can help your church reach the lost in your community and enfold them into the life and witness of your local church. Come explore how you can use Alpha to expand God’s Kingdom where you live, work and play!

• Youth: Apologetics for the Next Generation (Facilitator: Rev. Canon Christopher Jones)
  You’ve probably heard the term “G.O.A.T.” used to describe the Greatest Of All Time—whether it’s LeBron James or Michael Jordan, TheBeatles or Michael Jackson (or for GenZers, Taylor Swift). But what if there is one person whose greatness goes far beyond the fame of anyathlete, musician, or celebrity?

  
  

  In this workshop, we’ll be talking about the real GOAT — Jesus Christ. His greatness isn’t measured by scoring or platinum records, but by Hisunique role in human history and the way He changed everything for us. But more than just recognizing His greatness, we’ll also equip youwith the rudimentary tools to build the game plan you need to defend your faith with confidence in a world that often asks tough questions.”How can you believe in something you can’t see?” “Does science disprove God?” “Isn’t the Bible just a book of myths?” These are the kinds of questions you’ll face in school, with your friends, and even online.

  While we can’t cover every apologetics topic or question in a short workshop, by the end of it, you’ll learn how to respond with reason and evidence, while doing so in a thought-provoking and winsome approach.

• Children’s Ministry: Discover the Art of Engaging Young Hearts – A Godly Play Workshop (Facilitator: Ruth Seawell, Church of the Apostles, Fairhope, AL)
  Are you passionate about sharing faith with children in a meaningful and impactful way? Join us for an inspiring workshop where you’ll observe a licensed Godly Play instructor lead a live session with children, demonstrating this creative and wonder-filled approach to spiritua formation. This workshop is perfect for Sunday school teachers, Christian educators, clergy, and anyone who desires to nurture children’s faith journeys in an authentic and imaginative way.

  
  

  What You’ll Experience:
  ✨ Live Demonstration: Watch an expert storyteller guide children through the Godly Play curriculum, fostering curiosity and deep engagement.
  ✨ Interactive Debrief: Reflect on the session with the instructor and fellow participants to understand the techniques, theology, and principles behind Godly Play.
  ✨ Hands-On Learning: Gain practical tips for incorporating storytelling, creative response, and sacred play into your teaching.

Class registration for the Lay School of Theology’s 2024 Advent semester is now open!
Classes will be December 4th, 11th, and 18th from 6:15pm to 8pm.
There are two classes to choose from:

“Reengaged Liturgy: Exploring Our Worship,” with Fr. Marcus Kaiser. Ever wonder why we do the things we do during Sunday worship? Or maybe you knew once but can’t quite remember! Worship in the Anglican tradition is rich in meaning and rooted in a millennia of tradition, but it can be easy to miss the depth and feel a bit lost. Come and learn the ‘what’ and ‘why’ in this deep dive into our Anglican liturgy. Whether you're a new or seasoned Anglican, this class will enrich your understanding of worship and help you worship more fully in spirit and in truth.

“Rethinking Heaven: Our Hope in This Life and the Next,” with Fr. Jeff Trostle. This three-part series focuses on the hope we have in Christ for the future and how that perspective impacts the way we live today. It will challenge preconceived ideas about the resurrection, life after death, Christ’s second coming and more. We will use N.T. Wright’s book Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church as our guide through the fog surrounding this future hope in Christ.

When: Wednesdays, 6:15–8:00 pm | December 4, 11, & 18

Location: St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral

Spots are limited, so please click below to register your spot! All are welcome, and the classes are free.

Childcare will be provided, and they can bring their dinner with them (no nuts, please).

Our instructors:

“Facing Death: A Christian’s Journey to Life Everlasting,” is a 6-week course taught by a panel of experts covering a range of essential topics that every Christian would benefit from. This class is for everyone – whether you are nearing the end of life, have a loved one in that stage, or are just seeking discipleship in this aspect of life. Fr. Michael will lay the foundation by providing a theological and biblical understanding of death. Then, a team of professionals from hospice will provide essential insights into medical care, support roles, and critical decisions to make. Fr. Pucik will then unpack the liturgical treasures found in the Book of Common Prayer and lead a workshop on funeral planning. The class will conclude with a panel discussion with all the instructors to answer (anonymously) questions. This class certainly covers a challenging subject matter, but it will be an enriching experience for Christian community to participate in together. 

When: Wednesdays, 6:15–7:45pm | April 10, 17, 24 & May 1, 8, 15

Location: St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral

Spots are limited, so please click below to register your spot! All are welcome, and the classes are free.

Week 1: Living and Dying with a Truly Christian Understanding of Death

Week 2: Planning in Advance for End of Life

Week 3: Demystifying Medical Management Decisions

Week 4: Finding Hope and Assurance on the Journey

Week 5: Grieving with God and the Church

Week 6: Expert Panel Discussion

Childcare will be provided, and they can bring their dinner with them (no nuts, please).

Our instructors:

This Advent semester we are offering one class: "God’s Design for Wholeness: Developmental Psychology and Our Christian Formation.” It will be co-taught by Bishop Jim Hobby and Nate Webster, LMHC.

When: Wednesdays, 6:15–7:45pm | November 29 and December 6, 13 & 20

Location: St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral

From birth to adulthood, everyone experiences psychological development (cognitive, emotional, moral, social, etc.) Psychologists have studied human development and found tools that help us develop well. This four- week course will study God's plan for our healthy psychological development and how we can apply these tools to our christian formation.

This course will be especially helpful to parents and those who are working with others in the process of Christian formation. It will also give insight regarding the stuck places that we all experience in our own formation journeys as well.

Spots are limited so please click below to register your spot! All are welcome and the classes are free.

Childcare will be provided and they can bring their dinner with them (no nuts please).

Led by: The Rev'd Canon Dr. Michael Petty

When: Wednesdays, 6:15–7:45pm | April 19, 26 & May 3, 10

Apart from the Resurrection, it is highly unlikely that the Gospels would have ever been written and that we would know anything about Jesus of Nazareth.  As Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 15, apart from the Resurrection there is no Gospel to announce.  This class will attempt to explore why the Resurrection was so important to the early church and why it remains vitally important for us today.  Beginning with Gospels and then moving on to Acts, the Pauline Epistles, and concluding with Revelation, the class will consider the importance of the Resurrection for the Christian life and the mission of the Church.  The resource book for this class is Resurrection: The Origin and Goal of the Christian Life by Frank Matera.

Led by: Jennifer Webster

When: Wednesdays, 6:15–7:45pm | April 19, 26 & May 3, 10

In this course we will explore key moments of communal formation, doctrinal development, political enmeshment, and missional outreach across the centuries of church history, with the primary aim of deepening our faith in Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, and gaining a deeper understanding of our past and how it has shaped where we find ourselves today.  The class will be centered around Mark Noll’s Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, 4th edition.  Most of class time will be devoted to discussion.  We will attempt to avoid the pitfalls of moralism and voyeurism as we look at the highs, lows, and everything in between of how Christians chose to live out their faith.  We will also steer clear of memorizing names and dates and will, rather, seek out the rich theological treasures we can source from history, and how it may inform and develop our relationship with God, with each other, and with the world.  The resource book for this class is Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, 4th edition by Mark Noll. 

Led by: The Rev'd Canon Dr. Michael Petty
Pathway 2: Scripture and Christian Doctrine
Pathway 4: Living Out Our baptism as public witnesses for Christ
When: Wednesdays, 6:15–7:45pm | 30 November–21 December

This class is designed to give participants an introduction to the faith taught by the New Testament writings.  It begins with an overview of Jesus’s teaching and ministry and then moves to an investigation of the faith presented in Paul’s letters.  After this, the unique emphases of each of the four Gospels are surveyed.  The class concludes with an overview of the theological themes of 1 and 2 Peter, Hebrews, and The Revelation to John.  The aim of the class is to provide a coherent portrait of the New Testament teaching on God, the Gospel, and the mission of the Church. 

Led by: The Rev'd Wesley Owens
Pathway 2: Scripture and Christian Doctrine
Pathway 4: Living Out Our baptism as public witnesses for Christ
When: Wednesdays, 6:15–7:45pm | 30 November–21 December

For 1500 years, few Christians have shaped the trajectory of communal discipleship as pervasively as St. Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western Monasticism.  His compendium of instructions, the Rule of Saint Benedict, offers one of the most tested and most compelling practical visions for ordering the spiritual life.  Indeed, throughout the Middle Ages, it was the second most widely read text in the world after the Bible – and for good reason.  Its guidelines are challenging but humane. 

Though originally intended for monks, the Rule continues to inspire Christian disciples of all vocations and backgrounds.  In this class, we will examine it together, attending to its historical context as well as its modern application.  As followers of Jesus, we face many distractions and obstacles on the road of salvation, causing us to neglect intimacy with God and our neighbor.  But, St. Benedict taught that the integration of prayer and work in a stable community of Christ-followers fertilizes the soil of our hearts, helping us listen to the voice of God and respond in loving obedience.  This harmony of our wills with the will of God yields forth its fruit: “the inexpressible delight of love.”