The Common Call is an eight-week program created for Episcopal seminary alumni who are seeking peer support and spiritual nourishment.
Leadership in the Church can be deeply meaningful—but it can also be isolating, with few spaces where leaders can be candid, find support, develop skills, and be spiritually replenished. This program is designed to change that. It gathers a small group of Episcopal leaders into circles of trust where you can speak honestly about the realities of ministry, listen to the experiences of others who understand your vocation, and rediscover the strength that comes from not carrying the work alone.
Through guided conversations, shared readings, and reflective practices, participants will hear how others are navigating similar challenges—parish dynamics, leadership decisions, personal faith, and the demands of ministry.
Leadership is not meant to be carried alone. The Common Call invites you into community so that your leadership can be sustained, renewed, and strengthened.
Running from the week of September 21st through November 12th, 2026.
The 8-week program takes place as a series of 60-minute Zoom calls, during which you’ll walk through exercises that have been developed by experts in psychology, secular spirituality, and family rituals.
A discussion and activity guide helps you and your fellow parents take turns leading the group, keeping time so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
Each weekly Nearness gathering follows a five-part structure:
This eight-week program, running from the week of September 21st through November 12th, matches you into small groups for a series of uniquely nourishing weekly Zoom calls. Each gathering lasts for an hour and takes you through conversation starters, readings, and exercises that have been developed by experts in faith leadership.
Take a deep breath and get present.
Read aloud the community agreements, which emphasize confidentiality and other shared values.
Engage with short, inspiring readings, energizing practices, and centering reflection prompts.
Share appreciation for feeling connected, supported, and refreshed as your return to your work.
Share strategies and learnings with peers.
Get settled into the program with an introductory overview and share key challenges with groupmates.
Dive deep into your faith journey with a powerful exercise to get you connected.
Reflect on the reaities of digital ministry.
Draw on your small group’s wisdom to work on a specific challenge in your leadership.
Explore the role of attention in spiritual life.
Find solidarity and support in a discussion about a difficult conversation you may be facing in your ministry.
Share and reflect on what sustains your sense of hope in faith and leadership.
Celebrate the eight weeks and plan how you'll put what you've learned into practice.
Get settled into the program with an introductory overview and share key challenges with groupmates.
Dive deep into your faith journey with a powerful exercise to get you connected.
Reflect on the reaities of digital ministry.
Draw on your small group’s wisdom to work on a specific challenge in your leadership.
Explore the role of attention in spiritual life.
Find solidarity and support in a discussion about a difficult conversation you may be facing in your ministry.
Share and reflect on what sustains your sense of hope in faith and leadership.
Celebrate the eight weeks and plan how you'll put what you've learned into practice.
Each ten-week Nearness program takes place as a series of Zoom calls, during which you’ll walk through exercises to navigate retirement that have been developed by experts in psychology, connection, and personal growth. A discussion and activity guide helps you and your fellow participants take turns hosting the conversation, keeping time so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
This 10-week program is the first of a three-part experience. The following two courses will be offered later in 2024. You can take one, two, or all three programs.
This project is led by Nearness, in collaboration with Trinity Wall Street, Virginia Theological Seminary, and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.
After the conclusion of the eight-week program, you'll be given a structure of ongoing connection with your small group, which you and your group can use as you like.
No, you do not! This program is free for participants.
Our goal is that, through participating in this program, you will feel a greater sense of wellbeing, spiritual nourishment, and resilinence in your work as a faith leader, while connecting with others who share your experiences.
We know you're on a lot of Zoom calls, but trust us -- Nearness video calls feel different! As one past participant shared, "I was skeptical about signing up for more Zoom meetings, but Nearness exceeded my wildest expectations.”
We get creative with our exercises to make the time feel special and embodied. We promise this won't feel like your other Zoom meetings!
This program is open to any Episcopal seminary graduate.
Small groups will meet from the week of September 7th through November 8th at two different meeting times. When you sign up for the program, you can pick the time that is best for you:
- Tuesdays from 5:00pm ET - 6:00pm ET / 2:00pm PT - 3:00pm PT
- Sundays from 3:00pm ET - 4:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT - 1:00pm PT
Nearness pledges to keep participant data (e.g. collected from our intake form) safe and secure, and for our own use only. We will never share this information.
Nearness uses Mighty Networks as our community platform. You can read their robust privacy policy here.
Great. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions at hello@nearness.coop!