Sharon Pearson, Christian Education and Children's Ministries Coordinator for the Diocese of Connecticut, has resigned her position effective November 15 to accept the newly created position of Christian Formation Specialist with Church Publishing, Inc.

Her primary role will be to take the presence of Church Publishing, Inc. to The Episcopal Church (in congregations, dioceses, provinces and the seminaries) through building relationships and communication. She will also provide oversight in the development of resources and curriculum for Christian education and formation for all ages, as part of the CPI management team.

Sharon Ely Pearson, of Norwalk, has worked for the Diocese of Connecticut since 1997, initially as a three-hour-a- week consultant for Bishop Coleridge, working at the Ministry Resource Center at Yale Divinity School in New Haven. Her current full time staff position was created in 2004.

"Sharon Pearson has served the Diocese of Connecticut brilliantly over the past years," said the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, diocesan bishop. "When our diocese embraced ministry to children and youth as one of three central focuses for ministry, Sharon took that opportunity to encourage, teach and sustain our parishes' outreach to children in Connecticut. Her creativity and devotion in this ministry have inspired so many both here and in the larger church. I am eager to see how she will develop that focus for children's nurture among us all through her work with Church Publishing Incorporated."

Sharon earned an M.A. in Christian Education from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2003. She is a certified Godly Play teacher, EFM mentor, board advisor to NAECED, the National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors, and serves on the PEALL (Proclaiming Education for All) task force of The Episcopal Church, which is studying lifelong theological formation and will report to General Convention 2009.

She is known and respected throughout the Diocese, Province and The Episcopal Church for her energetic and supportive approach to providing Christian Education resources as well as her continuing advocacy for lifelong Christian Formation. Her lists of resources, and accompanying letters, are posted on websites across the church, and more than 1000 people subscribe to her monthly eNewsletter, Connecticut IN-formation.

Sharon will be based in CPI's New York office but most of her work will be from home, as the position includes abundant travel to conferences, workshops and focus groups.

"I'm basically taking what I've done in Connecticut and bringing that to the whole Church," she explained. "I'll also have the opportunity to do some writing . . . so who knows . . . a book or two may be in the future! It's exciting and scary but I think a chance to make a difference in the Church for formation for all ages - children, youth and adults.

"I'm most grateful for the support I've received throughout the years from our bishops and staff in the various configurations of responsibilities I've had over the years, overseeing Children's Ministries and Christian Education. I'll miss the collaborative nature of working for the Diocese of Connecticut and the many relationships I've been fortunate to develop. My hopes are that these will continue and expand."

Bishop Smith has said that he intends to fill Sharon's position on the staff; further details will be provided at a later date.