As the preeminent Quaker seminary in North America, Earlham School of Religion seemed a natural fit to establish a hub for current Quaker leaders to gather, learn and grow. Thanks to a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow program, that vision is becoming a reality.
After receiving the grant in 2021, ESR Dean Gretchen Castle began the search for a leader for the newly established Quaker Leadership Center. She found not one, but two: Della Stanley-Green ’90 and Andy Stanton-Henry ’18, or “team hyphen” as they’re sometimes called, share the role as co-directors. They see their intergenerational collaboration as an example of the types of collaborations needed to move Quaker leadership forward.
“Our experiences differ and complement one another – and in spite of our different backgrounds, we quickly found things we had in common, including two mentors and multiple friends,” says Stanley-Green.
Since coming into their roles in 2022, the QLC co-directors have worked to establish a wide range of programming designed to benefit Quaker leaders, and those leaders could be anyone who takes responsibility in a local meeting, Friends church, yearly meeting or Quaker organization. They also welcome those interested in concepts of Quaker leadership to participate, whether or not they identify as Quaker.
“The thing that’s unique about this initiative over the other seminaries that received grants is that the Quaker notion of leadership and ministry is much more expansive,” says Stanley-Green.
From author interviews, workshops, sandbox conversations, visitations and events that have featured speakers such as writer and activist Parker Palmer and novelist and activist Anne Lamott, team hyphen has kept busy. They’ve hosted two Quaker Leadership Conferences thus far, with the 2024 event drawing more than 70 attendees from 17 yearly and unaffiliated meetings. Stanton-Henry authors regular blog posts on the QLC website, and the pair just wrapped up a five-session series on Quaker trustee training that was so well-attended and well-received, they’re already planning a continuation.
This fall, the QLC will host the annual ESR pastors conference in October, as well as a Heart of Peace lecture in September. Stanton-Henry and public minister Windy Cooler will also co-lead a series on public ministry.
Looking ahead, “team hyphen” hopes to continue to amplify the good things that are already available to Quaker leaders, while also identifying and filling gaps through trainings and events.
By Jen Gose