Almost 40 alumni, seminarians, friends and board members of SIM gathered for a reception at the Cosmopolitan Club in New York City to launch SIMnet, an online community of SIM alumni and seminarians.  Through SIMnet, members communicate with each other to discuss opportunities, share resources, get advice, and enjoy friendship. SIMnet also offers various avenues for alumni to support the organization that provided support to them in their seminary years.

The event was hosted by SIM board member, Joyce Phillips Austin, and sponsored by SIM alumnus and board member, Reverend Canon Chuck Robertson, Canon to the Presiding Bishop.  In his comments Robertson acknowledged his SIM grant while at seminary.  "In my ministry as Canon to the Presiding Bishop, I would like to have just a portion of the positive impact on the future of the Church that SIM has every year in its support of seminarians."

Thomas Moore III, SIM's Executive Director, commented on the many SIM alumni who have expressed their desire to give back and pay forward to today's seminarians.  "SIMnet offers creative ways for alumni to express their gratitude by sharing time, talents and treasures such as delivering grant checks to seminarians, pastoring them during their time at seminary and mentoring SIM graduates in the early years of their priesthood.  I feel certain SIMnet members will organize and initiate other ways of support unimaginable to me at this time.  It will be exciting to see what means will develop on SIMnet."

By investing in future ordained leadership to serve The Episcopal Church, SIM has played a meaningful role in shaping the future of The Episcopal Church. SIMnet can expand SIM's ministry of financial, pastoral and advocacy support.  By faithfully carrying out its mission SIM benefits a multitude of stakeholders in the future of The Episcopal Church --- first and foremost our seminarians, but also parishes and parishioners, dioceses and bishops, the Church Pension Fund and our seminaries.
 
If you haven't done so, please join SIMnet by logging on to www.simministry.org and click on the SIMnet button.