The Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM) announces the appointment of Courtney V. Cowart, Th.D. as its incoming Executive Director effective March 1, 2017. SIM’s current Executive Director, Thomas Moore, will serve with Dr. Cowart until his retirement from that position on SIM’s 160th birthday, October 2, 2017.
Dr. Cowart brings a wealth of experience in theological education and leadership development along with strong working relationships with Episcopal leaders and major foundations investing in formation.
Part of Dr. Cowart’s work at SIM will be focused on long-range and strategic planning; she envisions developing a funding mechanism that equips all Christians to receive the training and formation to live out a baptismal call to ministry.
Dr. Cowart comes to SIM from the School of Theology of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, where she has served as the Director of the Beecken Center and Associate Dean. At the Beecken Center she developed educational resources and networks for delivering resources for vocational discernment, leadership formation, and church renewal.
In this opportunity to lead SIM, the only organization raising funds on a national basis for support available to all Episcopal seminarians, Dr. Cowart sees potential for developing a funding mechanism that equips the baptized to receive the training and formation that can mobilize large numbers to live out their calls to ministry.
The Society for the Increase of the Ministry invests in theological education of Episcopal seminarians and in their formation as leaders to increase the ministry of the Episcopal Church. Since its founding in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1857, SIM has supported over 5000 seminarians with over $6 million in scholarships. In the current academic year, SIM is providing support to 48 students attending nine seminaries.
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