The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers Preaches in Chapel

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School members were honored to host the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, assistant to the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church for evangelism, reconciliation and stewardship of creation, on our campus, Jan. 12-13.
 
“Spellers is regarded as one of the most powerful preachers in the Episcopal Church and a dynamic leader in justice initiatives for schools and churches across the nation,” explained the Rev. Todd FitzGerald, school chaplain. “As a radical follower of Jesus, she is solidly in the Bishop John E. Hines tradition of loving those on the margins and inspiring others to do so as well.”
 
One of three assistants to the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Spellers strives to transform the church from an institution to a movement through the power of listening and love. She oversees the church’s work related to racial justice and social healing, as well as evangelism, church planting, ethnic ministries, domestic poverty and care of creation.

During her visit, Spellers enjoyed Sunday dinner with the school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team, which used their time with her to reflect on our DEI initiatives. She also met with the Green Goblins environmental club to discuss sustainability initiatives at St. Stephen’s, as well as with a number of other students and faculty. She preached in both Middle School and Upper School Chapel on Monday, during which she quoted Jesus and singer-songwriter Lizzo and focused on the message that we are all the beloved children of God.

Spellers, who holds a master’s in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, became an advocate for social justice during her undergraduate years at Wake Forest University. She is well known for her 2016 TEDx talk, “The Revolutionary Art of Listening,” in which she calls upon people of differing backgrounds and beliefs to put their political and religious differences aside, listen to one another and find common ground.
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Address: 6500 St. Stephen's Dr., Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 327-1213