THE DOVE | LENT | FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL 2022
Theologian in Residence
The Rev. Jenifer Gamber Friday, March 25—Sunday, March 27 Director of Communications Natalee Hill sat down and talked with The Rev. Jenifer Gamber, this year’s theologian in residence at St. David’s. The Rev. Gamber serves as the director of the School for Christian Faith and Leadership and the director of the Tending Our Soil Thriving Congregations Initiative in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. They discussed Jenifer’s work, her journey to ordination, how she became an author, and what we can expect from her visit in March. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Natalee Hill: Thank you for joining me today for a conversation. We’re expecting to have you as our theologian in residence here towards the end of March and we’re definitely looking forward to that. Before we go too much further I’m curious about your work in the Diocese of Washington, can you tell us a little bit about what the school for Christian faith and leadership is and the initiative that you lead? The Rev. Jenifer Gamber: Of course, the school for Christian faith and leadership is a school, not in the brick and mortar sense of a school but a new institution that was launched with my hiring in 2020 to equip both lay people and clergy to lead toward greater vitality in their congregations, so that they can be stronger together and be vital bearers of God’s love in the world. Then the Tending Our Soil Thriving Congregations Initiative is a five-year Lilly endowment funded initiative. We’re working with up to 36 congregations to reimagine Christian practices for a rapily-changing context.
NH: The theme for our session when you’re with us in March is Faith Matters, and we’ll be talking about the idea of living discipleship practices. Can you tell me a little bit about the five core practices of faith? JG: The Episcopal Diocese of Washington gathered a group of leaders two years ago to talk about what helps them grow in their faith. We gathered around and shared stories about pivotal events in our lives, pivotal people, then practices along the way, that help us to grow in faith. Through those conversations, which involved more than 30 people, we discerned five core practices: pray, learn, serve, give, and share. Those are practices that we believe that, when engaging faithfully, not just on Sunday, but during the week as well, that we will grow as followers of Jesus. We see those same five practices in the life of Christ. NH: I know that the sessions we have planned for March are intended to be not just for adults, but for all ages. Can you tell me a little bit about how you integrate all ages in in this kind of discipleship session? JG: We all grow in faith when we learn from one another in an intergenerational 3
environment. This move towards segmenting our children into one segment, adults in another, and then even within that age grouping people is really a modern idea. We’ve gotten away from the sense that our children to have something to bring our elders, everyone has a gift and a calling that makes that community whole. I’m committed to the idea that we are stronger when we are together and we when we draw out the callings and gifts of one another.
...continues page 10.