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Diocese of North Carolina Selected to Take Part in New "The Preaching Congregation" Pilot Program

The Diocese of North Carolina has been invited to participate in a new program by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF) : “The Preaching Congregation.” This pilot program, funded in part by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, offers a rich formation experience for both preachers and members of the church, as you spend time together in lectionary bible study in preparation for a sermon, and group reflection on the sermon afterwards. The diocese is looking for a group of churches to participate in this project.

"We are very excited to be working with the Episcopal Preaching Foundation on another pilot program," said Jenny Beaumont, diocesan missioner for adult and lifelong formation. "Participants and churches will gain rich formation, study and reflection resources. Preachers will gain pivotal preparation and feedback while inviting laity to connect worship and liturgy. Churches will engage the laity in formation and ministry, deepening their connection to the parish and their faith. There are so many opportunities to deepen relationships in this program - not only between members of congregations, but between participants and God."

To participate in this program, churches will identify a group of parishioners who will work with their clergy on a weekly basis to engage in exegesis discussions and provide caring, supportive sermon feedback. To make the discussions truly helpful, the parishioners will first participate in a six-week training program tol give them the tools they need for this work. This includes:
  • an introduction to preaching by the Rev. Dr. Micah Jackson, president of Bexley-Seabury Seminary
  • "Introduction to Exegesis" by the Rev. Dr Shauna Hannan, professor of homiletics, Pacific Lutheran Theologal Seminary
  • "Preaching from the Old Testament" by Dr. Kay Apigo, assistant professor of OT at Bexley-Seabury Seminary
  • "Preaching from the New Testament" by Dr Peter Ajer, assistant professor of NT at Bexley-Seabury Seminary
  • Additional exegesis techniques by the Rev. Dr Shauna Hannan
  • "Preaching to Feedback" by the Rev. Dr Stephen Smith, coordinator of EPF’s Lay Preaching Training

The training sessions are followed by ten weeks of gathering as small group “Lectionary Teams” with the preacher (or preachers) to reflect on the prior week’s sermon and discuss the readings for the coming week. The weeks do not need to be consecutive, depending on the needs of the preacher(s) and congregation. Program leaders can work with each participating congregation on a schedule for the sessions. As participants in this pilot project, EPF will conduct interviews and surveys to get a picture of how this is working in the congregations.

For more information on this program, you are invited to attend an informational session on Thursday, August 24, from 6:30-7 p.m. via Zoom. To request the Zoom link, or if you have additional questions about the program, contact Jenny Beaumont, diocesan missioner for adult and lifelong formation, or the Rev. Earnest Graham, diocesan canon missioner.

Applications are now being accepted; the deadline to apply is September 8.

Apply to The Preaching Congregation Program


The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson
Assistant Bishop
Jenny Beaumont
Missioner for Adult and Life-long Formation
919-600-5299 
Lisa Aycock
Lead Youth Missioner
919-600-5308 
Leah Dail
Assistant Youth Missioner
919-600-5309 

The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson

Assistant Bishop

A native of Texas and a graduate of Yale, the University of Texas School of Law and Fuller Theological Seminary, the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson’s early career was spent in the practice of commercial financial law. She was ordained in 2009. Following her ordination, she served first for two years as assistant rector at St. Stephen’s in Wimberley, Texas, and then as vicar of Saint Elizabeth in Buda, Texas, until her consecration as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas in 2017. Throughout her ordained career, Brooke-Davidson’s focus has been on congregational development, evangelism and formation, with a particular passion for developing adaptive leadership capacity in ordained and lay leaders.

Immediately prior to joining the Diocese of North Carolina as the assistant bishop on November 1, 2022, Brooke-Davidson served as the assistant bishop in the Diocese of Virginia, a position she held from 2019 until 2022. She is no stranger to transition, as part of her role there was working alongside the Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, bishop suffragan and the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of Virginia until the consecration of the Rt. Rev. E. Mark Stevenson, who was elected the 14th bishop diocesan ion June 2022. As assistant bishop, Brooke-Davidson served in a full range of capacities, including Sunday and other visitations; oversight of the diocesan regional structures, including the deans; oversight of the Committee for Congregational Mission; support of persons in the ordination process; congregational development; conflict transformation; and work with other diocesan committees and commissions.

In her role as assistant bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, Brooke-Davidson focuses on Christian formation, church redevelopment and leadership training.

Brooke-Davidson is joined in North Carolina by her husband, Carrick, an environmental attorney and sports enthusiast. They have two grown daughters, Emma and Kate.

Follow Bishop Jennifer on Facebook.

Jenny Beaumont

Missioner for Adult and Life-long Formation
919-600-5299 |

Jenny Beaumont is a cradle-born Episcopalian who has lived in the Diocese of North Carolina for most of her adult life.

Jenny is a race and reconciliation leader and a national trainer for Education on Ministry through University of the South. She was the lead author of These Are Our Bodies: Talking Faith at Church and Home and co-author of These Are Our Bodies: Talking Faith at Church and Home: Foundation Book, all while running a learning center created to meet the needs of families and students with specific and expert support in learning.

Reimagining Christian formation for a 21st-century context is a focus and passion for Jenny. She uses both traditional in-person gatherings as well as online models to expand offerings and networks across our diverse diocese. Jenny collaborates in efforts, strategies and approaches in adult learning, emphasizing our mission priorities.

Jenny works closely with the diocesan youth missioners and other diocesan staff, the Chartered Commission for Lifelong Christian Formation, the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee, the Commission for the Diaconate and the Diocesan Council department for Christian formation, all of whom work together to continue to build relationships and cooperative efforts with formation leaders across the diocese and the wider Church.

Jenny is a Deep Living Spiritual Life Coach, certified in the Enneagram and is currently working towards her a Masters in Religious Studies from UNC-Charlotte. She lives in Charlotte with her spouse, Michael, and her three grown children. Jenny loves to read just about anything and to have her hands in the dirt—weeding, planting and sowing seeds.

Lisa Aycock

Lead Youth Missioner
919-600-5308 |

As of January 1, 2019, Lisa Aycock is the lead youth missioner in the Diocese of North Carolina.

She and her husbad, Ricky, have four kids, three granddaughters, two dogs and a flock of chickens. In her free time, Lisa enjoys gardening, photography, and spending time outdoors and at the beach.

Leah Dail

Assistant Youth Missioner
919-600-5309 |

Leah Dail is a native North Carolinian, born and raised in Raleigh. She majored in English and American Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and stayed there to work at the NC Jaycee Burn Center. She is married to Rick Schertz and they have four children and two dogs. After a 15-year career at home with her kids, she was the youth minister at St. Paul’s, Cary, for the past six years. She enjoys reading, gardening, and playing games with her family.

Leah is based out of the Raleigh office.

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200 West Morgan St, Suite 300
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