Granting Rest: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals

This event is brought to you by the department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

This webinar will occur via Zoom, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. eastern May 23, 2024. Registrants will receive access to the recording afterward, even if they missed it live.

Join us for an enlightening panel discussion on sabbaticals featuring esteemed guests Bishop Mariann Budde, Rev. Randy Callender, and Jason Franklin, hosted by Wallace Benton, the Associate Director of Lifelong Learning. Delving into the essence of sabbaticals, the panel will clarify what they are and are not, exploring the myriad of resources available such as grants to facilitate these vital periods of rest and renewal. Additionally, they will shed light on how sabbaticals serve as transformative opportunities for both individuals and the communities they serve, fostering growth and rejuvenation. The discussion will also contemplate the inclusion of lay ministers and associate rectors in the sabbatical process, ensuring equitable access to this enriching experience within the broader ministry landscape. 

If the cost is a barrier for you, please reach out to our team.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde serves as spiritual leader for 86 Episcopal congregations and ten Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. The first woman elected to this position, she also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which oversees the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools.  A passionate believer in the gospel of Jesus and the Episcopal Church’s particular witness, Bishop Budde is committed to the spiritual and numerical growth of congregations and developing new expressions of Christian community. She believes that Jesus calls all who follow him to strive for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human being. To that end, Bishop Budde is an advocate and organizer in support of justice concerns, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation. Bishop Budde was consecrated as the ninth bishop of Washington in November 2011. Prior to her election, she served for 18 years as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. She earned a B.A. in history at the University of Rochester, graduating magna cum laude. She earned both a Masters in Divinity (1989) and Doctor of Ministry (2008) from Virginia Theological Seminary. 

Her sermons have been published in several books and journals and she is the author of three books, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith (2023); Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love (2019) and Gathering Up the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice (2007). When not working, you’ll often find her riding her bicycle, spending time with family, or cooking dinner for friends. Bishop Budde and her husband, Paul, have two adult sons, Amos, married to Erika, and Patrick. They are proud and doting grandparents. 

The Rev. Randy Kyle Callender, born in Philadelphia to a close-knit Barbadian family, has been deeply rooted in the Episcopal Church from a young age. Inspired by his experiences in diocesan events and organizations like the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE), he has been an active leader in youth and young adult ministries. Randy earned his Bachelor's degree in Communications from Cheyney University before pursuing his Masters of Divinity at The Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) in 2010. 

Ordained as a transitional deacon in 2010 and later becoming the first African American male priest ordained in the Diocese of Pennsylvania in twenty-five years, Randy's journey led him to serve as Rector at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, MD, starting in 2012. In 2024, he began serving as the Canon for Mission in the Diocese of Maryland. 

Throughout his ministry, Randy has been deeply involved in various committees and initiatives focused on youth, racial reconciliation, and bridge-building within and beyond the church. He has also lent his expertise to the One America Movement's Faith Over Division program, addressing societal divides in congregations and communities. Randy's passion for building relationships and fostering inclusivity in God's Beloved Community guides his teaching and preaching. 

Randy is married to Katya and is a proud father to Jaivyn and Soraya. 

Jason Franklin is the Director of Communications at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, NC and has worked in church communications for over a decade. Additionally, Jason is a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church and preaches in the Diocese of North Carolina. Jason is also vice-chair on the board of the non-profit organization, the Episcopal Communicators. 

Event Venue

Online