L E ADE RS H IP
The Grace Residency Program:
Impacting the Kingdom, One Priest at a Time When The Rev. Jonathan French of Grace Episcopal Church, Ocala, envisioned what would become the Grace Residency Program, he had no idea it would grow into what it is today. God has exceeded his expectations and given it a kingdom reach. French, program leader and Grace’s rector, said, “It may sound cheesy, but it’s true. I believe if I can help develop excellent priests, the program can transform churches and communities and inevitably change the world.”
Fr. Daniel, Fr. Jonathan and Rev. Caroline
Now more than ever, the church worldwide has a need to equip strong, dynamic leaders, and with its residency program, which took almost four years to develop, Grace is leading the way. Just as fledgling doctors complete residencies for hands-on experience after medical school, new priests attend the church’s residency program to extend their leadership skills. They participate for two to three years before Grace sends them out to lead and serve the church and the kingdom.
increasing responsibility designed to empower them and help them grow into true kingdom servants.
Residents in the program receive robust training that involves thorough mentorship, book studies and debriefing. In addition, they have the opportunity to observe and participate in decision-making – a vital leadership skill.
THAT PERSONAL TOUCH Since launching the residency in 2019, French has worked with two residents. The first, The Rev. Caroline Osborne, completed the program earlier this year, and The Rev. Daniel Pinell is a current resident. “It’s been a genuine privilege to get to do life with the future of our church,” French said. “It brings me great joy to see folks so hungry to see the kingdom of God grow. It’s been a blast!”
NOT YOUR FATHER’S CURACY French created the residency program at Grace because he recognized key elements most curacy programs lack. Unlike a residency, a curacy is considered a position for a “junior priest.” Often, the curate receives trivial tasks to perform. Although some learning occurs, most aspiring clergy view a curacy as a steppingstone to future ministry. In contrast, Grace’s residency program focuses on the learning of the resident rather than the convenience of the clergy. Residents receive 8 CFE
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The residency program also aims for a more handson approach than a curacy, in which a curate receives mentorship through a course and regular meetings. Most of the responsibility for learning falls on the curate. But Grace’s residency program invests in participants in a more practical way.
As program leader, French witnessed each resident’s growth firsthand. “The way Caroline has grown the most is through her confidence,” he said. “It’s not that she didn’t have confidence coming into the program. I was just able to see her truly live it out in a healthy and fun way as she took on greater responsibilities at the church. I’m so proud of her.” French also loved seeing how Osborne interacted with the parishioners, he said. His most memorable moment with her came when a
