What does it mean to belong not only to a parish, but to a diocese, a province, and a global church? This session explores how our Episcopal identity in Connecticut connects us beyond our local congregations; shaping our governance, our shared ministry, and our common life. Together, we’ll rediscover the gifts of being part of something larger than ourselves, and we’ll take a closer look at how our Regions and Ministry Networks serve as vital sources of collaboration, leadership, and support across the diocese. Whether you are new to diocesan life or have served for years, this session will deepen your understanding of how we belong — and why that belonging matters.

FACILITATOR: The Reverend Jill Morrison hails originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Katy, Texas, and has long encountered God through the arts and through the Episcopal Church, where beloved community and storytelling continue to shape her ministry. She holds a B.F.A. in Theatre with a Minor in Religion from Texas Christian University and an M.A. in Art and Religion from the Graduate Theological Union. She earned my M.Div. at Yale Divinity School and a Diploma in Anglican Theology from Berkeley Divinity School. In 2023, she was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. She now serves as Director for Congregational Development and Networking in ECCT, partnering with Regions, Ministry Networks, and congregational leaders to strengthen connection, cultivate collaboration, and imagine new possibilities for growth. Her work focuses on helping communities clarify their identity in Christ, discern emerging opportunities, and build relationships that sustain vibrant ministry across the diocese.

At a time when many congregations from different denominations are struggling with sustainability, this presentation shares the journey of Peace of Prince Lutheran Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Augusta, Maine.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, the two congregations became a federated congregation, known as Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church, fully Lutheran, fully Episcopal. Led by Betty Balderston, lay leader at Emmanuel and the Rev. Suzanne Colburn, Episcopal Priest, formerly the Priest in Charge at Emmanuel.  This presentation is intended to provide attendees with hope and guidance to discover where the Holy Spirit may be leading congregations for the future. 

FACILITATORS: Betty Balderston currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Care in Maine for the New England Lutheran Synod.  As a lay leader with Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church in Augusta, Maine, Betty has served in a variety of leadership positions within the congregation for more than 30 years, which included helping to lead the federation process of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in 2017. Betty resides in Leeds, Maine with her husband, Lloyd, who also serves as a lay leader at Emmanuel Church.  They both enjoy the beauty of Maine by hiking, kayaking and visiting coastal areas throughout the state.

The Reverend Suzanne Colburn is a part-time Priest-in-Charge at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Wiscasset, Maine and a part-time Mentor Priest at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, Maine. Suzanne specializes in interim and transitional ministry as well as what she refers to as “blended ministry”- working with leadership and congregations exploring partnerships across the denominations. Suzanne served as Priest-in-Charge during the federation process that brought St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church together in 2017. Originally ordained and served in The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts with The Right Reverend M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Suzanne now lives and serves in Maine.

Who says Camp is just for kids? Can you name four programs Camp offers that don’t involve youth? You may be surprised to learn that there are programs for every age. In this interactive workshop we will explore opportunities to experience rest, renewal, learning, and hope at your diocesan Camp and Retreat Center. Radical hospitality is at the core of everything we do at Camp Washington- providing a welcoming, affirming, inclusive, safe space for ALL God’s people to come away from the demands and pressures of the world. Our table is big enough for everyone, and there is a seat waiting for you! Whether you are from a big or small parish, you will come away from this workshop with concrete examples of programming that works, and an invitation to consider how you and your parish might make better use of the wonderful resource of Camp Washington.

FACILITATOR: Bart Geissinger is the Executive Director at Camp Washington, the Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center of the ECCT (Episcopal Church in CT). Bart experienced the magic of Camp and community at a very young age and attributes his deep faith to the seeds planted at Camp Washington. After a career in fundraising and development for non-profit schools and organizations, he found his way “back home” to Camp Washington to lead this organization into its second century. “As leaders in camp and retreat ministry, we are called to share by example- radical hospitality to all God’s people whoever they are, wherever they are in their journey, and it is a privilege to provide places of rest, renewal, and action.” A cradle Episcopalian, Bart has served in every capacity of lay leadership in numerous parishes, currently worshipping at St. Paul’s Woodbury with his partner David, and their son Dylan.

Stewardship Realty is a mission-driven real estate firm providing advisory, asset management and property development services exclusively to faith-based organizations. This workshop presentation will introduce congregational leaders to options that create financial sustainability for ministry through the creative redevelopment of church real estate assets. We will review topics such as the various types of real estate transactions, strategies to create value for church space and land, assessing property challenges and opportunities.

FACILITATORS: Dan Panitz, Principal, brings over 20 years of experience in community and faith‑based real estate projects, including joint ventures, leasing, and acquisitions involving religious institutions and private investors. As Senior Asset Manager for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, he worked closely with clergy, trustees, and parish leaders, managing 20+ development projects across more than 130 churches. Dan has also supported property development in dioceses nationwide. He founded Knight Properties, LLC, specializing in acquisitions, development, and brokerage, participating in over one million square feet oftransactions in the NYC area. He also volunteers as a Board member of Bricks & Mortals.

Haiko Cornelissen, Principal, has extensive experience in spiritual and community‑focused real estate. As Director of Real Estate for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, he led the Asset and Construction Management divisions, overseeing dozens of renovations and more than 20 church development projects, including affordable and senior housing, schools, offices, new churches, and parish halls. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of Episcopal Real Estate Long Island. Haiko worships at St. Mark’s Church in Jackson Heights and has long served on the Vestry. His background reflects a family legacy of community building, spanning three generations of architects and designers.

This presentation is designed to equip participants with essential knowledge and innovative ideas for managing church properties effectively. The session is divided into three key parts:

1. Being New to Church Property Management: This section will guide newcomers through the basics of church property management, including how to get started and what is expected of them in this role.
2. Navigating alienations & Encumbrances: We will delve into the process through ECCT (Episcopal Church in Connecticut) for handling Alienations & Encumbrances, along with an overview of other valuable resources and grant opportunities available through ECCT.
3. Thinking Outside the Box for Property Use: In this segment, we will explore innovative and creative ideas for utilizing church land and building assets. Attendees will be encouraged to think beyond traditional uses and consider unique ways to make the most of their property.

FACILITATORS: The Reverend Derek Stefanovsky serves as rector of St. Peter’s Grace, Monroe. A native of Michigan, he received his Master of Divinity and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale/Yale Divinity School. He was ordained deacon and priest in 2019. Prior to serving St. Peter’s Grace, Derek served for three years as associate rector of St. Luke’s in Darien, Connecticut. Before that, Derek served as interim chaplain of St. Thomas’s Day School in New Haven, Connecticut. Apart from his ministry at St. Peter’s Grace, Fr. Derek is active in diocesan leadership. He has served on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut since 2022, and as president of the Committee since 2023. Derek also serves on the board of directors of our diocesan camp and retreat center, Camp Washington. It is Derek’s joy and privilege to function in all aspects of priestly ministry in both parish and diocesan contexts. He believes in the importance of faith formation and development for all ages as they seek to grow as disciples of Jesus and is committed to walking with parishes of all sizes as they seek to flourish in their own contexts.

Jon Heflin serves as ECCT’s Property Manager. Jon has a background in commercial and residential development for over 30 years. He is certified in solar electric systems and home energy assessments. When not working, Jon enjoys skiing, photography, cooking, being outdoors and above all, spending time with his wife.photography, cooking, being outdoors and above all, spending time with his wife. 

For the past four and a half years, Grace and St John’s Episcopal Church and Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located about a mile from each other in Hamden, have been collaborating in a wide variety of ways—sharing, to one extent or another, worship, prayer, study, outreach, hospitality, music and garden projects.  In this workshop, we will discuss how the two parishes initiated and have nurtured their relationship. As well, we will help attendees consider how their communities might move in a similar direction.

Facilitators: The Reverend Bob Bergner is the Rector of Grace and St John’s Church in Hamden, home of the Dinner for a Dollar and Swords to Plowshares ministries among other innovative church programs. Bob is also a lecturer at Yale Divinity School where he leads a practicum seminar for second year MDiv students fulfilling their parish internship requirements. As a musician, dancer and educator, he is an active member of the Greater New Haven performing arts community, working with dance and theater students at Educational Center for the Arts, New Haven Ballet, Choate Rosemary Hall and Neighborhood Music School.  Bob is a relentless cyclist and a general outdoor athletics enthusiast.

Born in 1985, The Reverend Joshua N. Sullivan grew up in small towns along the Connecticut River valley. Formed first as an artist and musician living in New York City, through these he discerned God’s call to the ministry of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was trained at the Rhode Island School of Design and has earned theological degrees from Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music as well as United Lutheran Seminary. Pastor Josh has been serving at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hamden, CT since 2021.

Why is this the time to launch a Capital Campaign? When do you announce your Campaign? What are the resources needed for a Capital Campaign? Who will work on your Campaign? How do you move the Campaign from idea to action? These are some of the topics that come up when a parish considers a Capital Campaign.  The Rev. Ryan Fleenor, Rector of St. Luke’s, Darien, and Barbara Roos, Program Administrator to the Canon to the Ordinary at ECCT, will share their Capital Campaign experiences leaving time for questions and discussion.

Facilitators: The Reverend Ryan Fleenor became Rector of Saint Luke’s Parish in July 2020. Originally from Durham, North Carolina, Ryan came to Saint Luke’s after ten years as a priest at St. James’ Church, Madison Avenue, in New York City. He studied history at the University of Virginia, taught English literature at a Roman Catholic high school in New Orleans, and prepared for the priesthood at Yale Divinity School. As Rector, Ryan gets to be involved in nearly every aspect of life at Saint Luke’s, from preaching, teaching, pastoral care and leadership development, to budgets, administration and financial stewardship. As Rector, his focus is on creating a culture in which people of all ages can grow in faith and be equipped as disciples who will know, love, and follow Jesus. 

Barbara Roos is the primary support person to the Canon to the Ordinary (C2O), Canon Ranjit Mathews, at ECCT. Along with managing the C2O’s calendar, she holds processes particularly related to Alienations and Encumbrances. She has spent 14 years serving parishes in Rhode Island and Connecticut as a parish administrator and capital campaign administrator and joined the staff of ECCT in 2024. Prior to her move to church administration, Barbara worked for financial institutions in NYC and Rhode Island.   Barbara and her husband, Pieter, have two grown daughters. In her free time, she enjoys hand-writing long letters to friends and family and traveling.