Bishop Scott Barker on Curacy Programs Past & Present

04/19/24 • 29 min

In the latest episode of Crossings Conversations, we spoke with the Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker, bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska and recently announced nominee to the slate for 28th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. The interview was part of our reporting for the upcoming Crossings cover feature "Early Returns: CDSP-funded curates already adding new life in new roles."
Bishop Barker spoke to us about the clergy shortage in the Episcopal Church, formation models and spiritual priorities for early-career priests, and his excitement about the CDSP curacy program and its potential impact for students from his diocese.

Previous Episode

Alongside, Not Alone: A Curacy Program Roundtable

CDSP is in the process of rolling out an exciting new curacy program. We spoke with three participants in the pilot stages of the program about the difference it's making for their new congregations, the value of serving with experienced mentors, and more.
The Rev. Mees Tielens (MDiv ‘23), PhD, is curate at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in Antioch, CA; the Rev. Angela Furlong ‘23 is assisting priest and associate for youth and families at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Frederick, MD; and the Rev. Katherine Frederick ‘23 is curate at Grace Episcopal Church in Fairfield, CA.
Photos by Larry Canner (left) and Tom Minczeski (center, right).

Next Episode

Bishop Kym Lucas on Priestcraft & Deployment

In this episode of Crossings Conversations, we spoke with the Rt. Rev. Kym Lucas, bishop of the Episcopal Church in Colorado. The interview was part of our reporting for the upcoming Crossings cover feature "Early Returns: CDSP-funded curates already adding new life in new roles."
Bishop Lucas spoke to us about the value of hybrid graduates getting a chance to focus on developing their priestcraft, the importance of stable leadership at curacy sites, and her excitement for curates having the chance to gather and debrief with peers navigating the challenges of early ordained ministry.

Crossings Conversations - Bishop Scott Barker on Curacy Programs Past & Present

Transcript

Kyle: This is Kyle Oliver at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and I am here with Bishop Scott Barker, who is in his 13th year of service as the Diocesan Bishop of Nebraska. He is a native Nebraskan, and has worked in the Episcopal Church his whole adult life, and so really excited to have this conversation about the CDSP Curacy Program and thinking more broadly about just some of the trends for Episcopal Church leadership that we're seeing right now. Bishop Barker, welcome to the show. <