Bishop Duncan-Probe announces new Canon for Mission and Formation

My dear friends,

I am delighted to announce that the Rev. Dr. Tom Ferguson has accepted a call to serve as Canon for Mission and Formation on the diocesan staff beginning June 1, 2022.

The Rev. Dr. Tom Ferguson will join the Diocese of Central New York to serve as Canon for Formation and Mission beginning June 1, 2022.

The challenges of these past two years have strengthened this Diocese: renewing our relationships, deepening our prayer life, and spurring our creativity in faithfully responding to God’s call. Today we have reason to hope for new life beyond the pandemic, and we hear God’s call to the Church more clearly than ever, especially as we witness the grievous harms of war, poverty, racism, and the degradation of God’s creation. This is the right time for Fr. Tom, a gifted and faithful minister, to partner with me, Canon Carrie, and all the faithful staff, clergy, and parish leaders of this Diocese in realizing together our dream of “a world healed by love.”

As Canon for Mission and Formation, the Rev. Dr. Tom Ferguson will deepen lay ministries, help parishes live into their unique missions, and develop new ministry networks across the Diocese. His ministry with us will support parishes in forming disciples and connecting faithful people to meaningful opportunities to make a difference in our communities. Tom writes, “​​I am excited to begin this position as Canon for Mission and Formation! I look forward to working with clergy, lay leaders, congregations, and other partners to strengthen existing ministries and collaborate on new networks and opportunities as we continue to ‘learn to love God, one another, and all God’s creation.’”

About the Rev. Dr. Tom Ferguson:

Since 2016, the Rev. Dr. Tom Ferguson has served as Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sandwich, MA.  Prior to that, he was Academic Dean and Professor of Church History at Bexley Hall Seabury Western Seminary from 2011-2016, and from 2001-2011 served on the staff of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church as Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations. In the Diocese of Massachusetts, Tom has been co-chair of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission and served on the Racial Justice Task Force, and was a founding member of the Faith Communities Environmental Network of Cape Cod and Sandwich For All, a community-based organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Tom has a BA in Russian Language and Literature from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a PhD in the History of Christian Life and Thought from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific/Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. He is married to the Rev. Shannon Kelly, who currently serves as Director of Faith Formation on the staff of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. They have a son who is a junior in high school, and have family connections to Ithaca, New York.

It is a gift to share in ministry with the faithful people of the Diocese of Central New York in this challenging, exciting time. Please join me in welcoming Tom to our diocese and in praying for continued faithfulness, creativity, and integrity in our shared ministry:

God of vision and grace, you meet us where we are and invite us into new life:
give us ears to hear and courageous hearts to respond to your call,
that in our shared diocesan ministry we may walk your way of love,
bringing healing and hope to the world.
We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
(Prayer for CNY’s Way of Love, cnyepiscopal.org/cny-way-of-love)

Blessings of peace for the journey,