Forma is a ministry of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. Forma’s initiatives are administered by the staff of Lifelong Learning in collaboration with the Forma Leadership Council.

Samantha Clare

Coordinator of Forma Evangelism / Coordinadora de Forma evangelización

​Emily Gowdy Canady

​Emily Gowdy Canady

Chair of the Forma Leadership Council | Presidente del Consejo de Liderazgo Forma

Forma Leadership Council

Pattie Ames

Pattie Ames

Vice Chair of the Forma Leadership Council, Nominations and Awards Committees | Vicepresidente del Consejo de Liderazgo Forma y Comité de Nombramientos y Premios

Chad Brinkman

Chad Brinkman

Treasurer and Finance Committee | Tesorera y Comité de Finanzas

Marvin McLennon

Marvin McLennon

Secretary, Programs Committee, and Certificate Design Team | Secretario, Comité de Programas, y Equipo de Diseño de Certificados

Christine Fentress-Gannon

Christine Fentress-Gannon

Past Chair and Membership Committee | Expresidente y Comité de Membresía

Carmen Piggins

Carmen Piggins

Resource Library Design Team | Equipo de diseño de la biblioteca de recursos

Estela Lopez

Estela Lopez

Coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Ministry Evangelism and Strategic Partnership Committee | Coordinadora de Evangelización del Ministerio Hispano/Latino y Comité de Asociación Estratégica

MacKenzie Teal

MacKenzie Teal

Resource Library Design Team | Equipo de diseño de la biblioteca de recursos

Missy Morain

Missy Morain

Advocacy Committee and Certificate Design Team | Equipo de Diseño de Certificados

Teresa Phares

Conference Liaison | Enlace con la Conferencia

Myra Garnes

Myra Garnes

Ex Officio Representative from The Episcopal Church | Representante ex officio de la Iglesia Episcopal

Forma Committees

Forma Committees support the Forma Leadership Council and the Coordinator of Forma Evangelism in carrying out the work of Forma in four key areas: Formation, Networking, Advocacy, and Governance. Committees are led by members of the Forma Leadership council and consist of 4-8 members-at-large. Unless otherwise noted, committees meet year-round either monthly or every other month.

Interested in joining a committee? Please fill out this interest form! Have a question? Contact Coordinator of Forma Evangelism Samantha Clare, [email protected]

Advocacy Committee

The Forma Advocacy Committee supports the work of Forma in two main areas: General Convention and professional development, both of which include serving as an advisor to those seeking information and support. This year we will be focusing on implementing a survey of membership and updating our compensation guidelines. 

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee determines and creates awards and celebrates members of the Forma community for service. This committee meets as needed in the fall of each year. Award recipients are honored during the Annual Forma Conference.

Certificate Design Team

The Certificate Design Team works to envision continued development and implementation of the Certificate in Lifelong Christian Formation. This year we will be focusing on

  1. solidifying the current model after our pilot year wraps up and
  2. creating a framework for Diocesan or regional implementation of the program.

This committee meets on a monthly basis. 

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee designs a strategic plan for email, social media, and print communication and helps to produce materials and copy for use by Forma to promote the work of the organization and other committees.

Conference Design Team

The Conference Design Team is a year-round working group that plans and implements the Forma Annual Conference. The core Conference Design Team is recruited by the Coordinator of Forma Evangelism and the Conference Chair based on conference planning needs and priorities. The core design team seeks additional members to help support their area of focus in planning.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee works with the treasurer to plan a yearly budget, track expenses, and make financial recommendations to the Forma Leadership Council.

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee helps to connect members to the resources and benefits of Forma membership. In addition, the Membership Committee seeks to form relationships with Forma members and help Forma leadership be attentive to the needs and gifts of members. This year we will be focusing on member recruitment and relationship building between members.

Programs Committee

The Monthly Program Committee plans and implements Forma member programming such as meetups and book studies, which connect members with each other. This year we will be focusing on assessing our program effectiveness and creating throughlines across programs.

Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee develops the slate and/or names for elections/appointment to the Leadership Council. The Nominations Committee comprises the Forma Vice Chair, members of the Leadership Council who are finalizing their terms, and at least two at-large Forma members. This committee meets as needed in the fall of each year.

Resource Library Design Team

The Resource Library Design Team thinks strategically about the resources shared through the Forma Network and envisions ways that they might be collected and curated to make a usable and accessible Resource Library. This year we will be putting concerted effort towards catalogueing and curating resources.

Strategic Partnerships Committee

The Strategic Partnerships Committee identifies organizations with a common mission to Forma and works to establish and deepen partnerships through relationship building, shared projects and initiatives. This year we will be focusing on creating spaces for Episcopal organizations to come together and learn from each other.