Our Stories Speak of God: Beloved Community StorySharing Campaign
Storytelling is used to persuade, to convince, to shape understanding. Storytelling is generally one way and thus can be transactional. StorySharing is relational. It is about engagement and creating connections. In the course of StorySharing we are forging the Beloved Community. We hear a story; it touches our soul and resonates in our hearts. We share our story and trust the other person will hold and honor what is true, holy and perhaps painful to us.
StorySharing opens the way for authentic conversation and deep-rooted relationships. StorySharing is making an offering of your experiences, doing the brave work of listening to others’ experiences, and practicing the way of love. Participants in this workshop can expect not only learn about the importance of story in community but also practice creative ways of helping people in their congregation, school, and/or community tell their stories in a meaningful way.
Audience: Formation Ministries of All Ages
Presenter:
Hershey Mallette Stephens
The Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens serves in the Diocese of Maryland.
Hershey has worked in the Presiding Bishop’s Office of Evangelism, where she was Project Lead for the Beloved Community Storysharing Campaign. This work afforded her the joy and opportunity to hear stories of faith, grace, and discovery from Episcopalians of all ages and backgrounds from around the country.
Hershey enjoys listening and learning from children and young people, and dreaming up new and fresh ways to tell the story of God in Christ. She has served as chaplain intern at New York University, and as a chaplain at several international youth events and Episcopal Church young adult conferences. She is an avid learner with a curious spirit, and, among other things, enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and traveling and meeting Episcopalians and Anglicans from all over the world.
