Frequently Asked Questions

What is Episcopal Village?

Episcopal Village' is a wholistic, grassroots initiative, supporting Episcopal dioceses, parishes and leaders in 'mission shaped' and 'fresh expression' outreach, church planting, ministry starts and leadership development, drawing on the giftings of the Anglican ethos and using a 'village' (diocesan approach).

* At a future date EpV hopes to curate a grants program for start up and seed funding some emerging/fresh expressions missions across the Episcopal Church.

EpV was visioned by Jon Myers (a postulant and emerging mission planter in the Diocese of Olympia) planting Beacon Hill Church Plant in the Beacon Hll district in south Seattle, and Karen Ward ( Episcopal priest and church planter of Church of the Apostles, in the Fremont district of north Seattle, Diocese of Olympia).

The village is 'populated' by Episcopalians and ecumenical friends who partner to identify, resource and support emerging/fresh expression leaders and communities within the Episcopal Church. It takes a village to raise a child; it takes a church village to raise new churches and missions. The village is one way for mission shaped dioceses to be cultivated and emerging/fresh expression Episcopal communities and collectives to be conceived, develop and receive leadership training resources support, to help them germinate, grow and develop during their first years of life. 

Who are the leaders of EpV?

The Rev. Karen M. Ward is the missioner / director of Episcopal Village. A grants board and advisory group are in formation. Those who have indicated willingness to serve so far are:

Advisory Group: (in formation)

Grants Board: (in formation) * The grants board will not convene until if and when EpV receives a mission funding allocation from the Mission Funding Initiative of the Episcopal Church.

  • The Rev. Kurt Neilson, Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Episcopal Church, Portland, Oregon and author of the book 'Urban Iona.'
  • The Rev. Stephanie Spellers, founder of The Crossing Community in Boston, MA and the author of the book 'Radical Welcome.'
  • The Rev. Karen M. Ward, EpV missioner is Abbess and founding Vicar of Church of the Apostles (COTA) in Seattle, WA). Karen is also the founder of Anglimergent.org, 'a network of diverse Anglicans engaging emerging church and mission.'

How does it work?  

Currently, donations given to EpV will be used to fund a few annual learning events and scholarships for emerging/fresh expressions pioneer missioners, interns and seminarians to receive training via pioneer placements, residencies and internships.

Is it safe?

Yes.  You can feel comfortable donating any amount.  The ideal way to donate currently is via check sent and payable to 'Church of the Apostles' or 'COTA' 4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 and noted bottom left 'Episcopal Village.'

We are also using Paypal but we will move away from this to a more robust credit card system that does not take any fees from the donation amount in the near future.

Who is the fiscal agent?

Church of the Apostles, Seattle WA, which uses a well administered fund accounting system to track all donations and provide year end statments for donations $10 and over.

Can I write this off on my taxes?

Yes, If you give $10 or more, we will send you a statement at the end of the year.

What is 'new' or innovative about Episcopal Village?

EpV Innovation P2P

EpV is unique is that it is grassroots conceived, developed and administered by experienced, entreprenurial, emerging/fresh expressions missional leaders and practitioners in the Episcopal Church.

A similar initiative has been established in the Church of England, much prior to work in North Americain called 'Fresh Expressions' of church. The term 'fresh expressions' comes from the UK. In North America the term emerging church is employed more frequently, but the aims are similar. In EpV will refer to 'emerging/fresh expressions' of church and mission.

Within 2-5 years, EpV aims to be able to administer a seed grants program to help fund emerging/fresh expressions of church in our diocese. It is our belief that sound determinations can be made for start up funding of entreprenurial and generative Episcopal mission projects, by having a grants board primarily comprised of other generative, Episcopal mission entrepreneurs. Thus, EpV aims to be an authentic, wholistic, and 'peer2peer' ecosystem for emerging mission leadership training, support, development and resourcing for the Episcopal Church.