Formation JumpStart - New to Ministry Training and Mentoring
Calling a new Formation minister is an exciting and overwhelming time for a church. This is compounded when that person is brand new to Christian Formation.
Forma is excited to offer our vast resources to help churches working through this process. Our Certificate Faculty and Forma members who are well grounded in their ministry will work with new formation professionals to provide the training, theological concepts, and network support needed to thrive.
Currently, we offer a 3-month training program lead by Dr. Julie Lytle and Emily Kenniston. During the First three months, Julie and Emily meet once a week with the new hire. The focus is on identifying the unique features of the ministry environment and on practical matters of ministry. Each week you will cover topics designed to meet the individual needs of the new formation professional. Beyond the initial three months, the focus is on continued mentorship and connection to local ministry groups for support.
Forma is passionate about helping new Formation professionals. Anything we can do to ensure that children, youth, and adult formation ministers feel equipped, connected, and empowered is good for the Church.
For more information, please contact Bill Campbell.
Julie Lytle
Julie Lytle, MDiv, PhD is the Executive Director of Province I developing ministry in the seven Episcopal dioceses in New England and is the Digital Evangelist at M3: Message, Method, then Media bringing distributive learning to theological education. She has been exploring the intersection of theology, education, and technology since her 8th grade religion teacher asked her to help run the filmstrip and movie projectors for the Sunday religious education program. Interested in how environments form and fashion individuals and communities, she has over 30 years experience integrating ministry and media in parish, diocesan, church-wide, academic, and health care contexts. When she's not trying to connect folks via web conferencing, you'll find her kayaking or capturing sunsets with her Canon on Cape Cod.
Emily Keniston
Emily Ainsworth Keniston is a christian formation director with more than ten years of experience working in the Episcopal Church. She holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning and is excited by the myriad ways that God stirs us to learn more. Emily and her husband, four children, three cats and tortoise are currently living in Tunisia and serving in the Anglican Diocese of North Africa.