Thriving in Ministry

An Initiative from Virginia Theological Seminary

Experienced Clergy as Mentors

Thriving Mentors are recruited for their experience in experiential learning and their experience in several different ministry contexts.  All mentors are trained by Thriving in Ministry and serve a specific Peer Learning Community throughout the two-year cohort. Mentors facilitate group conversation and work on with individual priests in their group. In addition to the robust training they receive, Thriving mentors are compensated for their time.

Mentor Profile

For thirty-five years, the Rev. Brian Fidler has served as a school chaplain. He is currently retired in the Diocese of San Diego. Brian is a vital contributor to peer learning as a trained Thriving Mentor. His wide-ranging experience with every aspect of Episcopal Schools and his experience as a school chaplain led Thriving to interview Brian. Here is a portion of that interview that captures Brian’s perspective about how we learn as peers:

There really is a chemistry to this group that Preston (co-facilitator) and I could not manufacture. I expected some congeniality, since many of chaplains knew each other, and Preston and I, through the National Association of Episcopal Schools. And because due to the nature of academic communities, school chaplains are accustomed to embracing community in unique ways and to reaching out to incorporate people who are new into the community. Still, their openness to each other—and the Thriving process—surprised me.

They’re incredibly supportive of each other. For instance, Mary Ellen presented her case study at the most recent meeting, and it was spirit-spilled. Mary Ellen did a good job of asking focusing questions so that people would come prepared. In the weeks leading up to the meeting, she discussed the case with Preston and I and sent us multiple drafts to review. And her work paid off: the case study was well-designed and well-orchestrated with very specific instructions and questions. Her thoughtfulness opened the space for people to emerge in lovely and surprising ways.

Our Current Thriving Mentors
2021-2022 Cohort

Leslie Stewart – Church Planters

John and Rachel Gardner –  Clergy Couples

Norman Hull and Kristin Sullivan- Episcopal School Chaplains

Carol Pinkham Oak and Mary Stanley – Women Expanding Leadership I

Carol Pinkham Oak and Laura Gettys – Women Seeking Senior Leadership

Kammy Young, David Gortner, and Audrey Miskelley — Church Planters/Public Missioners

Debrah Bennet and Milton Williams – Diaspora Congregations

Jocelyn Irving and John Harmon – Historic Black Churches

Rachel Nyback – Women Expanding Leadership II