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The Episcopal Evangelism Society Board of Directors is pleased to announce the recipients of the Morgan Directors’ Award for 2023. Mr. David Patiño, a recent graduate of Bexley Seabury, is honored for his organizing campaign in the Latino/Hispanic neighborhood of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Harlem. Ms. Kaitlin Reece, a student at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, is honored for her work developing faithful witnesses to criminal justice reform in Nebraska through Balancing the Scales of Justice. Recipients of this award are selected for the scope, quality and particularly for the evangelical impact of their EES grant-supported evangelism projects.

Evangelism in Collaboration

Inspired by community organizing models, David Eli Patiño dreamed of an evangelism campaign for the Latino/Hispanic neighborhood around St. Mary’s, Harlem. He worked diligently, despite pandemic restrictions, to develop a leadership team. Together they held many 1:1 meetings with community members, from within and beyond the church, to discern community needs and how the church might respond. They implemented neighborhood walks, worship services, and seasonal activities. Patiño used grant funding for the community activities, and for coaching through New Episcopal Communities and through Root, Thrive, Soar.

Read more about Patiño’s grant work here . Watch Patiño’s #HarlemPresente video here.

Embodied Evangelism

Kaitlin Reece is an experienced lobbyist, political speechwriter and legislative assistant. She used grant funding to bring Balancing the Scales of Justice to life, offering two major events. The first was a public witness event, Sacred Rights, in which participants at Diocesan Convention marched to the Nebraska State House. Carrying signs and singing Amazing Grace, they assembled on the State House steps and held vigil for the restoration of voting rights. The second event was an advocacy day for diocesan participants, during which they held a prayer vigil, toured the Capitol, met with state senators and observed floor debate. Reece’s work also included book studies, video series, and presentations to churches, diocesan gatherings, and her seminary. She reflects that, through her grant work, she has learned to articulate why advocacy matters to people of faith and has discerned that her vocation is to be a priest of public witness.

Read more about Reece’s grant work here. View a video of her reflection on embodied evangelism here.

About the Morgan Directors’ Award

Each year, the EES Board of Directors selects the grant recipient(s) whose completed work best exemplifies the objectives of the Society. The award was named in November, 2007 for retiring Board Chair the Rev. Dr. Michael Morgan. Mike received support from the Society as a seminarian and served on the Board for many years. As Chair, he established the Director’s Award in 2002.

About the Episcopal Evangelism Society

EES supports innovative evangelism by awarding  grants for projects that will share the Gospel in new and exciting ways, and support the formation of grantees as innovative evangelists. Any Episcopalian in any accredited seminary community or local formation program (ie. diocesan school, Iona Collaborative) is eligible. This includes students, faculty or staff or the Episcopalian spouse or partner of a student, faculty or staff member. Contact the Executive Director or the Multi-Cultural Missioner for coaching with your application. Get contact information, read about the grant work others have done, and download the application at www.ees1862.org.