TryTank Experimental Lab Expands Dial-A-Priest

Virginia Theological Seminary
Posted Apr 27, 2020

Two weeks ago, TryTank Experimental Lab, a partnership between Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) and General Theological Seminary (GTS), launched Dial-A-Priest, making end of life prayer accessible 24 hours a day to critically ill and dying Covid-19 patients isolated from loved ones. Based on demand, Dial-A-Priest is now expanding service to include pastoral care for families, health professionals, and patients who may be hospitalized for reasons other than Covid-19, in a time when more anxiety and fear than ever surrounds illness and injury.

Besides receiving calls from the medical professionals, volunteers had received a few calls from individuals who were not COVID-19 patients and were in search of someone to listen compassionately in a fearful time. “That too is an opportunity for us to remind them that they are not alone and are indeed loved by God,” the Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, director of TryTank, wrote in a followup e mail to the volunteer clergy announcing the expansion. It’s an opportunity to be God’s peace to others.

DialAPriest is available to health care professionals and families in hospitals and nursing homes around the country through single number that connects callers to an Episcopal clergyperson for prayer, especially before intubations or surgeries, or last rites when needed – no matter a patient’s faith tradition or absence of faith tradition.

The hotline can be reached around the clock at (213) 423-3600. That number, as well as other resources, is online at www.DialAPriest.comOn mobile devices the site functions as one-click dialing.

TryTank Experimental Laboratory for Church Growth and Innovation is a joint project between Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria and the General Theological Seminary in New York CityTryTank offers inventive approaches to the challenges facing the Episcopal Church. Working in partnership across the Episcopal Church, TryTank works to understand the forces threatening the church in order to identify creative ways to equip future leaders to reinvigorate the church. 

***FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dialapriest@vts.edu 


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