Effective January 2020, The Network for Christian Formation (Forma) will become part of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), as a collaborative ministry of ECF.

In 2018, ECF and Forma decided to formalize a partnership in order to enhance the scope and capacity of each organization and create a greater impact on lay leadership development, and the encouragement and nurture of Christian discipleship throughout the wider Church.

ECF seeks to be a comprehensive and holistic resource to the wider Church. It helps build and sustain transformational faith communities by providing leadership, financial, and strategic solutions to Episcopal congregations, dioceses and other organizations. The mission of Forma is to celebrate, equip, support, and connect leaders who form followers of Jesus. Through this new partnership, both organizations will live into their respective missions in new and creative ways.

After a working test period, ECF and Forma determined that maintaining Forma as a separate corporation was not a viable or sustainable model, and that promoting and maintaining the underlying mission of Forma was more important than organizational structure.

ECF President Donald Romanik said, “We are thrilled to welcome Forma into the ECF family. This new partnership will help us live into our core value of discipleship more intentionally as well as directly connect us with an effective and committed grassroots network.”

Effective January 1, 2020, the ministries of Forma shall be incorporated into the core programs of ECF, but the current network of Forma members and constituents shall continue to provide church wide advocacy and other support for people engaged in Christian formation and discipleship.

Press Release here.