Evangelism Matters Pre-Conference
Note: Pre-Conference attendance requires being registered for both the main Rooted in Jesus conference and your selected Pre-Conference.
The Evangelism Matters Pre-Conference is for those who identify as Evangelists to dive deeper into this apostolic ministry and connect with people who share a mutual deep commitment to Episcopal Evangelism. During this pre-conference, participants will explore and share their working understanding of Episcopal Evangelism and its implications. They will practice core habits of evangelism – including what it means to practice holy curiosity; leading with gratitude, and following where we are led. Evangelists will also develop natural networks for continued encouragement, practice, and development of our habits of evangelism, equipping us more fully as leaders of this important ministry in our local communities.
Call for Submissions: Because we desire to learn from each other, there will be 16 slots for 20x20 Presentations from attendees. A 20x20 Presentation includes 20 slides, at 20 seconds per slide – for a maximum of 6 minutes 20 seconds for the presentation. Presentations must pertain to one of the following topics: Seek, Name, Celebrate; Innovative Evangelism; What Does Good News Sound Like? ; Making the Ask; Why Evangelize? ; and Lessons Learned in the Field. To submit please fill out this form: https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/evangelism_matter...
Leaders and speakers for this pre-conference include:
Stephanie Spellers, Jerusalem Greer, David Gortner, Carrie Headington, Grant Mansfield, Lydia Bucklin, Lisa Brown, Bryan Spoon, Elisabeth Sinclair, Billy Boyce, Sandy Milien and more.
Billy Boyce
Billy is a rising leader from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Co-founding a diocesan Evangelism Network and serving as the youngest member of the Standing Committee, Billy believes the Good News of Jesus we have to share is exactly what our church, our world, and we ourselves need.
The Rev. Nancy Frausto
Associate Rector, St. Luke's, Long Beach
The Rev. Nancy Frausto of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Long Beach, CA, a founding member of the Diocese of Los Angeles Sanctuary Task Force and a Dreamer (DACA recipient), is a powerful preacher and teacher and witness to the power of God’s liberating love.
The Rev. Dr. David Gortner
Principal, Thriving in Ministry, Virginia Theological Seminary
David Gortner has been serving the Episcopal Church as priest, psychologist, and professor for the past fifteen years. He has taught evangelism, young adult ministry, congregational leadership, pastoral care, and community organizing at three seminaries from coast to coast. He has co-planted a church, strengthened congregations as both priest and lay leader, and currently serves as rector of St. Luke’s in Coeur d’Alene, ID. He is author of books and articles including Transforming Evangelism, one of the foundations of the Episcopal Church’s current approach to evangelism, and for twenty years he has led conferences on evangelism and leadership across the country. He has a passion for developing evangelists and leaders through intentional practice.
Jerusalem Greer
Jerusalem Greer is the Staff Officer for Evangelism for The Episcopal Church in the Office of the Presiding Bishop, and member of the Way of Love creation and leadership team. Additionally, she serves as a Resource Consultant for Baptized for Life, is on the Council of Advice for Episcopal Relief & Development, and served on the board of Forma: The Network for Christian Formation. She lives with her husband and two teenage sons on a hobby farm in rural Arkansas and is the author of At Home in this Life: Finding Peace at the Crossroads of Unraveled Dreams and Beautiful Surprises, and A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting and Coming Together, as well as several curriculums. You read more about her at jerusalemgreer.com
The Rev. Grant Mansfield
Emboldened by his own redemption through the love of Jesus, Rev. Grant’s ministry focuses on proclaiming the radical love of Christ to a broken world, particularly to the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities. Inviting others to share their faith stories in the world and creating new, passionate, vulnerable Episcopal Evangelists is a cornerstone of his ministry. He currently serves as the Assistant Rector at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Sterling, VA.
The Rev. Alice Sawyer
The Rev. Alice Sawyer received her MDiv at Asbury Theological Seminary and Anglican Studies Diploma at Virginia Theological Seminary. She is a curate at Nativity in Dothan, AL and leads the “Evangelism By the Beach” catalysts, and “Freeport Way of Love” mission project in the diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. She has two sons, Andrew, 24, and Brent, 22.
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers serves as the Presiding Bishop’s Canon for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation, helping Episcopalians to follow Jesus’ Way of Love and to grow loving, life-giving and liberating relationships with God, each other and the earth. The author of Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and the Spirit of Transformation – as well as The Episcopal Way and Companions on the Episcopal Way (with Eric Law) – she has directed mission and evangelism work at General Theological Seminary and as a canon in the Diocese of Long Island; founded The Crossing, a ground-breaking church within St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston; and led numerous church-wide renewal efforts. A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, and a graduate of both Episcopal Divinity School and Harvard Divinity School, she received an honorary Doctor of Theology from General Theological Seminary in 2019. She makes her home today in New York's Harlem neighborhood.
