Clergy Formation in Maine is led by our Clergy Formation Committee. This is a group of presbyters and deacons working to offer opportunities to enrich the ongoing formation, education, collegiality, and spirituality of the Diocese of Maine’s clergy community.
The committee plans and executes four annual events:
- A clergy retreat of 1-2 days, often in the Spring, to sustain and enrich our prayer life and spirituality.
- One or two clergy days to worship, learn, pray, and nourish our collegiality.
- A third clergy day, often led by the bishop, designed to integrate continuing education and spiritual formation with the ministry and strategic mission of the Diocese of Maine and The Episcopal Church.
Annual Events
- Winter/Spring Clergy Retreat — 2026 March 5 This event is usually held during Lent. In 2026, we will be led by Brother James Dowd on Thursday, March 5 from approx. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location TBD.
- Chrism Mass Tuesday — 2026 March 24 Chrism Mass is usually the Tuesday or Thursday in the 5th Week of Lent and occurs at one of our churches for the renewal of ordination vows for clergy, baptismal promises for laity, the blessing and distribution of Chrism, and lunch. This liturgy is planned by diocesan leaders, in consultation with Bishop Brown. In 2026, it will be held on Tuesday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran in Augusta.
- Clergy Conference — 2026 May 3-5 Usually the first week of May, this event is planned by the Clergy Formation Committee. Attendance at clergy conference for those with Letters of Agreement is expected. The guest speaker in 2025 was Brian McLaren at the Cathedral of St. Luke in Portland. In 2026, we will gather from May 3-May 5 at the Schoodic Institute. Details TBD.
- Fall Clergy Day — 2025 October 7 This Clergy Day is organized by Bishop Brown to kick-off the program year and re-energize us for ministry.This will be an opportunity to explore community organizing with Jake Fahey, regional coordinator for Anti-Racist Organizing in Maine (AROM), hear from Bishop Brown, and spend time with colleagues. We will meet at St. Andrew’s in Newcastle from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please register here.
- Late Autumn Formation Event— From time-to-time, the Clergy Formation Committee holds a day-long formation event in the fall, either in-person or online. Sometimes the focus will be explicitly spiritual and centered on our prayer lives, other times the focus will center on learning and developing practical skills for the practice of ordained ministry. In 2024, we joined clergy in the dioceses of NH and VT at an overnight (with the option of single day attendance) retreat to sing, learn paperless worship skills, and have fellowship together with the leadership of Music That Makes Community in Moultonborough, NH.
Clergy Formation Committee
- The Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson, Co-Chair (2026)
- The Rev. Heather Sylvester, Co-Chair (2025)
- The Rev. Andree Appell (2026)
- The Rev. George Cooper (2027)
- The Rev. Annette Joseph (2027)
- The Rev. H. Roy Partridge (2026)
- The Rev. Peter Swarr (2026)
*date indicates when term ends
All committee members serve for three (3) years. The committee meets once a month (currently via Zoom), with subcommittees meeting at other times when needed. Please consider joining the Diocesan Clergy Formation Committee in 2026! Successful committee members are those committed to actively sharing and following through on responsibilities and are equally skilled at working together and individually.