Stephanie Spellers on Being an Episcopal Evangelist

9 snips

May 2, 2024

Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, a leader in evangelism and racial reconciliation within the Episcopal Church, shares her spiritual journey from Southern roots to embracing Anglicanism. She discusses redefining Episcopal evangelism as a humble witness to the divine in everyday stories. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of inviting others without coercion and imagines a mission that respects indigenous spiritualities. She also highlights the integral link between social justice and faith, encouraging a nuanced, inclusive approach for diverse Episcopalians.

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ANECDOTE

Journey Into Belonging

Stephanie describes wandering through many Christian traditions before finding a welcoming Lutheran congregation in Boston where she was baptized at 28.
That congregational experience led her into Anglican/Episcopal life and eventual ordination co-sponsored by Lutherans and Episcopalians.

ANECDOTE

Meeting Bishop Curry

Stephanie recounts meeting Michael Curry while serving as chaplain to the House of Bishops and as a church planter in Boston.
Bishop Curry later invited her to serve on his team, recognizing their shared call to share faith and heal the world.

INSIGHT

Evangelism As Seeing God At Work

Episcopal evangelism reframes evangelism as a spiritual practice of seeing and celebrating Jesus already at work in others.
The posture is humble invitation to 'more' rather than convincing or selling the church.

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Episcopalians have a love-hate relationship with evangelism. Everyone is welcome into an Episcopal church, but how do they get there? Is it true that "everyone who should be an Episcopalian, is"? Isn't evangelism what other Christians do who have lots of enthusiasm but less natural restraint and good taste? Is there an Episcopal, or even an Anglican, way to be an evangelist?

According to the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, you bet. There is very much a way for Episcopalians to be active evangelists. It's not about being selling vacuum cleaners, and it's not about building it and they will come. You don't even have to leave your Episcopal hat behind. But you may need to be willing to lay aside some preconceptions.

Today we'll pop in on a conversation with Canon Stephanie, who is basically the current evangelist in residence and evagelism teacher for the whole Episcopal Church. We talk about how she came to the Episcopal Church, and how she came to have the heart she does for wanderers and seekers, and how discovering Jesus in every step of every person's spiritual journey is part and parcel of the Anglican way.

Stephanie serves as Canon to Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and spearheads Episcopal efforts around evangelism, racial reconciliation and creation care. Her newest books are The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline and New Hope for Beloved Community and an updated 15th anniversary edition Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and the Spirit of Transformation. She has served as Chaplain to the Episcopal House of Bishops, taught mission and evangelism at General Theological Seminary, and served as a canon in the Diocese of Long Island. We'll talk about more of her story in the episode today and include a link in the show notes to learn more about her recent work.

Now shod those feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, tie the laces tight. But stay loose. Today we're going to drop the E Word, then pick it up and run with it. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

See more of Canon Stephanie's recent work.

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