Brosend Trims EPF Duties

Adapted from a University of the South release

The Rev. Dr. William F. Brosend II has announced his decision to step down as executive director of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation, effective June 30, 2015. Brosend, who has served as executive director since 2010, will continue as professor of homiletics at the University of the South’s School of Theology and director of the school’s doctor of ministry in preaching program.

“I told the board of directors when I accepted their invitation that my goal was to grow the position into an important and interesting full time job. It happened, to be honest, more quickly than I expected.”

Founded by layman A. Gary Shilling in 1988, the Episcopal Preaching Foundation has sponsored the annual “Preaching Excellence Program,” a week-long preaching intensive for rising senior Episcopal seminarians, for 27 years. Since Brosend moved from board member to executive director the work of the foundation has expanded, holding annual national Episcopal Preaching Conferences since 2010 and providing programs for more than 20 diocesan clergy conferences.

This year EPF, with support from a grant from the Robertson Foundation, launched a new conference for the recently ordained, and has begun supporting peer groups for sermon preparation and evaluation. It also plans a one-on-one mentoring program for preachers.

“Bill Brosend led the expansion of the EPF’s work from its original annual preaching conference for seminarians to diocesan conferences co-sponsored by bishops, national preaching conferences, and preaching conferences for Episcopal and Lutheran military chaplains,” Shilling said. “He has achieved my long-held hope for the expansion of our efforts and the formation of career-long relationships with preachers.”

Brosend confirms the need for a full time executive director, and he intends to remain involved in the work of the foundation. “We have taken significant strides in the last few years, but it is time for the Foundation to identify new leadership to take us even further. If asked, I will do everything I can to support my successor in those steps.”

“Bill Brosend has brought the Episcopal Preaching Foundation to new levels of effectiveness as it has reached out to established preachers as well as emerging ones,” PresidingBishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said. “His creative initiatives have yielded a harvest so large that it now demands more hours and hands. I can only say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ and at the same time offer deep thanks for his insightful, visionary, and productive leadership. Bill has helped the Episcopal Church respond to changing contexts and realities so that the Word might grow in new fields.”

The Foundation hopes to have a new executive director in place in time for next May’s Preaching Excellence Program at Roslyn Conference Center.

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