Episcopal Church Foundation
| Abbreviation | ECF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founder | Henry Knox Sherrill |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Website | ecf.org |
Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) is an independent, lay-led, and inclusive organization that helps build, vitalize and transform Episcopal faith communities focusing on formation, finance, and resources. ECF believes in Inclusive Leadership, Expansive Community, Racial Justice and Creation Care. It was founded in 1949 by the Presiding Bishop at the time, the Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill, and is headquartered in New York, NY. ECF's programs inspire and nurture church leaders, help raise and manage financial assets and provide high-quality and innovative resources and ideas to implement throughout the church.[1][2][3][4]
ECF's purpose is to offer contemporary solutions to a Resurrection-focused Episcopal Church through collaboration, convening, problem solving and experimentation; its mission, to lead Episcopal faith communities into the future as a partner for transforming ministries. ECF looks to future of the church as being composed of vital, inclusive, and sustainable faith communities that create steadfast followers of Jesus.
History
The Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill founded the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) in 1949, and with the exception of the Presiding Bishop, the board of directors was composed of laypersons of national prominence in the church business and state.[5]
Initially, the resources from ECF were used to build up the Episcopal Church's infrastructure and ECF supported students in doctoral programs who planned to teach in seminaries of the Episcopal Church through its Fellowship Program.[6]
In the late 1980s, ECF changed its method of operations and turned over its responsibilities for church building loans to the Episcopal Church Building Fund and focused on new areas of work, including clergy health and wholeness, which later became the CREDO program, now administered and funded by the Church Pension Group (CPG).[7]
Later in 1995, ECF inherited primary responsibility for planned giving throughout the Episcopal Church and began a new commitment to stewardship and philanthropy, including consultation, support for endowment management and general fundraising.[2][8] At the same time, ECF developed educational and training events, published Vestry Papers, conducted Church-wide research and enhanced its growing role in the broad area of leadership development.Now, ECF is focused on new, innovative and mission-based ways to be the Episcopal Church of the future, and equips and empowers lay and clergy leaders, partnering to bring about transformation, renewal and positive change in the church and world.
Initiatives
- Established the Revolving (Church Building) Loan Fund.
- Helped establish the Alban Institute,[8] supported the creation of the Church Deployment Office, the College for Bishops,[9] developed the Clergy Leadership Project, which transitioned to Trinity Parish (Wall Street).[10]
- Started the Doctoral Fellows Program (now the Fellowship Partners Program), Began the Emmaus Project to explore new patterns of Episcopal leadership.[6]
- Helped sponsor the Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS),[11] helped support the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes (CEEP).[12]
- Sponsored and managed the Fresh Start Program,[13] and sponsored the Zacchaeus Project on Episcopal identity and vocation.[14]
- Served as Secretariat for the Global Anglicanism Project (GAP).[15]
References
- ^ "Henry Knox Sherrill Family Papers".
- ^ "Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) : Forward Movement". www.forwardmovement.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "The Episcopal Church Foundation". www.idealist.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ Division, Columbia University Libraries Digital Program (2010). "Columbia University Libraries: Oral Histories Portal: Search Results". oralhistoryportal.library.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Henry Knox Sherrill, 89, Episcopal Bishop, Dies".
- ^ a b Shilling, Gary. "Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices - Vestry Papers - Why Give? - Rethinking Clergy Education". www.ecfvp.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ admin (2012-07-02). "Fresh Start finds new home at Episcopal Church Foundation". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Episcopal Church Foundation - Golden". Golden Volunteering. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "College of Bishops". The Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ mmacdonald (2021-11-18). "Gathering of Leaders Receives $200,000 Leadership Grant". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship | The Episcopal Diocese of Newark". dioceseofnewark.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices". www.ecfvp.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ McCaughan, Pat (2016-11-22). "Achieving a 'Fresh Start': helping congregations thrive during transitions". Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Episcopal News Service: Press Release # 99-068". episcopalarchives.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "History of the Episcopal Church Foundation and the Philanthropic Roles it has Played Since Inception – IHUB Partner Press Releases". internationalhubnews.com. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
External links
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