The Episcopal Development Agency of Thomasville (EDAT) has hired Keith Jenkins as the agency's first Executive Director. EDAT is a joint initiative between our three Thomasville Episcopal Churches which was made possible by funds from the Campaign for Congregational Development. 

Keith Jenkins with his wife, Yolanda

In talking about what brought him to the agency, Jenkins said, "I am very excited about my opportunity to serve as Executive Director of EDAT because in the small town of Boston, GA where I was raised there was a sense of community and everyone had a hand in each other's successes." He went on to explain, "If my neighbor was doing fine, we were doing fine. But when they were not, we had to help get them back to a place of doing fine." This fits with EDAT's mission to improve the lives of the people living around Good Shepherd Church.

All Saints Episcopal Church, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church have combined efforts to address the needs of the impoverished and primarily African-American neighborhood which surrounds Good Shepherd. Members of the parishes and the community are working together to help the residents develop a plan to help themselves-a plan that will initially allow them to address neighborhood hunger, and later, empower them to address many of the other issues that are facing their inner-city community.

Jenkins has earned an associate's degree in business administration and social work from Southwest Georgia Technical College as well as a bachelor's of science degree in social work from Thomas University. Driven by a desire to help empower others, he has worked as a community support activist, career placement coordinator, and a youth intervention coordinator, as well as volunteering for a local youth group that helps to mentor at risk teens.

Jenkins is an ordained Elder at Disciples of Jesus Ministries Inc. in Thomasville where he served as Youth Pastor for 13 years, together with his wife, Yolanda. Keith and Yolanda have been married for 22 years and have three sons Derrick (23), Keith Jr. (21), and Jeremiah (19). 

 

Lauretta Gibbs of Good Shepherd Church said, "He is energetic and can be a voice of the community." She says that Mr. Jenkins is presently working on a needs assessment and adds, "We are so happy to have an Executive Director working in our renovated Vicarage."

The Rev. Dwayne Varas, Rector of St. Thomas Church, said, "Mr. Jenkins is a man of faith committed to the Gospel. In the brief time Keith has been on board with EDAT, he has made building relationships a priority. He is accomplishing this one home at a time by making door-to-door visits."

 

The Rev. Paul Hancock, Rector of All Saints Thomasville said, "The search committee wanted to find an Executive Director whose personality and experience would make him or her a 'natural fit' for the program. We were thrilled to find Keith. He is a great ambassador for the vision of  a community organization that is embedded in the Stevens Street Historic Neighborhood where Good Shepherd is located." 

One of EDAT's first initiatives is the Oak Street Garden located on the Good Shepherd's grounds. EDAT's other initiative currently underway is the Enrichment Program developed in collaboration with the Thomasville Community Resource Center (TCRC). The program, also held on the Good Shepherd grounds, is open to children ages 6 through 12 four days a week. The curriculum, which includes academic enrichment in math, science, and reading, volunteer work in EDAT's community garden, and exposure to the arts, serves children from a variety of Thomasville neighborhoods and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This week Columba House welcomes a third intern, James Rose to begin his year of service.  Columba House is an Episcopal intentional community where young people can explore spirituality through dialogue, prayer, and service to our neighbors.

 

Rose graduated from Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and double minors in Philosophy & Religion and Cultural Studies. While at Bridgewater, Rose was active in the New Community Project, which focused on green projects and education and promoting a sustainable lifestyle on campus. Rose received the Zygmunt Bauman Scholar Award, which is given to a student who demonstrates outstanding scholarship and leadership in the classroom and exemplifies academic citizenship in the Sociology department. He is interested in issues of food and justice. He enjoys art and philosophical discussions. A fun fact: Rose is a juggler.

 

Columba House is excited to welcome Rose, who joins Gabriella Caballero and Zachary Outlaw, who started their internships in August. Both the internship and fellowship programs at Columba House are always accepting applications. More information is available at www.columbahouse.org.

The Common Song: Helping Congregations Sing Together workshop will be held at King of Peace, Kingsland, on Sunday, September 14th at 4:30 p.m. "Common Song" (like "Common Prayer") is what we do when we gather for worship.  As we sing together, we become part of something larger than ourselves.  We enact the Church's liturgy, the work of the people.  The Common Song workshop is crafted to help congregations of all sorts and sizes to sing and make music with confidence and joy.  This way of music-making includes all styles and historic periods of music, and all who are present take part in making music. As an old saying has it: "If you can walk, you can dance; if you can talk, you can sing!" Contact the Rev. Al Crumpton, by phone at (912) 510-8958 or by email at [email protected] if you would like to take part in this workshop.

  

The presenter will be the Rev. Dr. Jason Haddox, who has been making a joyful noise unto God since he was four years old, singing in the Cherub Choir of the First Methodist Church in Liberty, Texas.  He has led group singing in a variety of contexts for large and small gatherings throughout the United States.  He serves the Diocese of Georgia as the chair of the commission on Worship and Music, and is the rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Augusta. 

Board of the Corporation (1 Layperson)

Resolutions are due to the Secretary of Convention, Canon Mary Willoughby, by September 7, 2014, in order to be considered by the convention. As of now, no resolutions have been submitted for consideration by the convention. The rules of convention governing resolutions are found in the Canons of the Diocese of Georgia and are reproduced here for reference:
 

 

Your will can be a testimony to your faith.

The Fall Clergy Conference will offer resources so the parish church may more fully live what it is - an expression of the Body of Christ, the People of God. Our presenters will be Bob Gallagher and Michelle Heyne.

Gallagher brings 40 years of experience in leadership training and parish development. Bob has been a parish priest and served as  a diocesan congregational development officer as well as consulting with hundreds of congregations. He was Director of the Church Development Institute (CDI) at the General Theological Seminary from 1985-2000 and continued as the Director of the CDI in Seattle until in 2011 when that changed to Shaping the Parish. Heyne brings empathy, humor, and a solid grounding in ecclesiology and effective organizational dynamics to her work as a trainer and consultant.  She is committed to helping parish leaders bring about effective change by developing the skills they need to make the most of the gifts they already have.  She has worked as a financial services executive for over 25 years and served as a parish lay leader for 15. Heyne has extensive experience with financial management, interpersonal communications and team dynamics, and developing and implementing organizational change initiatives. More information on the presenters is found online at their website www.congregationaldevelopment.com

  

Cost for the meeting including the conference presentations, room and board are Lodge Room Double for $158, Lodge Room Single for $240, Shared cottage (or Dorm) for $118 and Tent Camping and Commuters for $100.
 

Click here to register for the Clergy Conference online