Trinity Forum: Society for the Increase of the Ministry

Trinity Episcopal Church's Sunday morning Adult Forum meets weekly to hear speakers sharing their experiences on one of six themes — word, worship, wonder, world, witness, work — each being an important aspect connecting faith with everyday life.  Trinity's complete Forum schedule is available at http://trinityconcord.org/forum.shtml.

On Sunday, September 22 at 9 AM we focus on "works" in a presentation by Thomas Moore III on The Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM).  Since its inception in 1857, SIM provides financial, pastoral and advocacy support to those preparing for the ordained parish ministry in the Episcopal Church and awards needs-based scholarships annually to postulants and candidates in seminary.

SIM has provided more than $6 million in assistance to over 5,000 men and women. It has over 2,750 living alumni, including 29% of today’s diocesan bishops and Trinity's own Reverend Becky Gettel. The church’s aspiration for dedicated, well-educated ordained leaders remains the same as it did 155 years ago, but supporting the theological education for those called to serve the Episcopal Church has changed dramatically. Not only have total costs increased substantially, but seminaries and theological education are in a state of flux, and support mechanisms are no longer simply sourced from one or two institutions. SIM is the only organization in the Episcopal Church dedicated to raising funds on a national basis for support available to all
Episcopal seminarians.

Thomas Moore III joined SIM as Executive Director in April 2008. He is the first non-priest Executive Director since its founding at Trinity College in 1857. Tom has served the Episcopal Church in a number of management roles. A graduate of the University of Virginia with an MBA from Emory University, Tom practiced as a CPA before holding financial executive positions in the corporate world and in venture capital. Married to The Reverend Helen Moore, Tom is a dedicated clergy spouse and considers this role his most important calling in his service to the Church.

Trinity's invited Forum speakers come from many walks of life and have addressed all manner of topics -- serious, mysterious, personal and world-focussed. Among our recent topics are pilgrimage, faith lost and found, histories and Biblical persons, death, dying and grieving, parenting, stewardship, education, and much more.

Childcare begins in Trinity's nursery at 9 AM; Trinity's buildings are fully accessible.  For further information on this or other programs at Trinity, please call our Parish Office, 978/369-3715, or visit us online at http://www.trinityconcord.org.