Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) is announcing the selection of nine visionary leaders for its inaugural Innovating Beloved Communities Cohort led by the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers ’04. This transformative year-long program is designed to equip a circle of faithful innovators to discern, incubate, and launch ministries that advance a just, compassionate, and multicultural Beloved Community.
The cohort, which runs from May 2026 to June 2027, brings together a diverse group of lay and clergy leaders from across the country. Participants will engage in expert mentorship, learning intensives, and community building retreats. Every other month, portions of these virtual learning intensives will be open for public participation on the topics of community organizing and mobilization, missional innovation, facilitative leadership, evangelism, and fundraising - all through an anti-racist, social justice lens.
"These leaders are already doing the hard work of ministry on the ground," said Canon Spellers. "We hope to encourage their deep thinking and experimentation to bring forth 'God’s new thing'—something the Church and the world desperately need, but have not yet seen."
The Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, President and Dean of EDS, said,
“With this new cohort opportunity, we’re leaning into EDS’s history of creative pedagogy and our legacy of nurturing what’s next for the Church. The cohort is a forward-thinking investment in leaders who are ready to shape their ministries in response to how God is moving in our world today.”
Meet the Inaugural Innovating Beloved Communities Cohort
- Vinh Do (Seattle, WA): Government mediator and organizational consultant, founder of Brave Change Works
- Project: Applying an organizational development lens at St. Peter's, Seattle and reimagining church as a space for holy skeptics and people of every kind who long to be free
- The Rev. Sarah Dodds Odderstol (Silver Spring, MD): Rector of Grace Church, Silver Spring with over 20 years of clergy experience
- Project: Developing a comprehensive Racial Equity framework to guide Grace’s strategic plan and deepen its commitment to reparations
- The Rev. Olivia Hamilton (Cincinnati, OH): Vicar of Grace, Cincinnati and board-certified chaplain focused on post-traumatic growth
- Project: Reimagining church as a sanctuary of rest to counter modern productivity culture
- The Rev. Dr. Charles Lattimore Howard (Philadelphia, PA): University Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity & Community at the University of Pennsylvania
- Project: "The Cause," a monthly gathering aimed at alleviating local suffering through community-based resource sharing on issues including poverty, gun violence, climate change, and more
- Michael Looney (Columbia, MD): Seminarian at General Theological Seminary and founder of the Center for Spiritual Nourishment at Christ Church, Columbia
- Project: Developing a localized, scalable model for reconciliation between The Episcopal Church and Indigenous communities
- The Rev. Dr. Grey Maggiano (Raleigh, NC): Rector of Church of the Nativity, Raleigh and long-time advocate for justice
- Project: Organizing to transform isolating, historically segregated suburban spaces into connected "third space" communities
- The Rev. Colleen Schiefelbein (Alexandria, VA): Priest-in-Charge at St. Martin de Porres, Alexandria and co-chair of the Truth and Reparations Task Force for the Diocese of Virginia
- Project: Growing the community of St. Martin de Porres, a diverse community formed by the merger of three parishes, through relationships with Jesus, each other, and their community
- Canon Mariann Scott (Indianapolis, IN): Canon for the Circle and Director of Community Relations for Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis
- Project: Establishing an city-wide Advocacy & Policy Hub to center “least-heard” neighbors in advocacy conversations and policy-making
- The Rev. Marisa Sifontes (New York, NY): Associate Rector at St. James’, Manhattan and Chair of the Moses Commission in the Diocese of New York
- Project: Implementing the Moses Commission’s goals around reparations, honoring Black stories, and healing the historic harms of White domination within and beyond the church
The cohort will commence with an in-person retreat in Cambridge, Massachusetts during EDS’ annual Kellogg Lecture and Alum Weekend. This retreat will be co-led by Canon Spellers and Dr. Courtney Cowart, Executive Director of the Society for the Increase of Ministry, a scholar and leader known for her work at the intersection of spiritual practice, innovation and leadership development
About the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers ’04
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers is one of The Episcopal Church’s leading thinkers around 21st-century ministry and mission. The author of several books, she recently wrapped nearly a decade as canon to The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. She currently serves as Canon in Residence at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.