Dean of the Earlham School of Religion
The dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of ESR. The dean’s role and responsibilities will be further specified in a position description prepared by the president of Earlham College in consultation with the faculty and subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. The dean reports to the president and appoints and evaluates other administrative faculty of ESR.
GRETCHEN
CASTLE
About the Dean
Gretchen Castle is the dean of the Earlham School of Religion. A global Quaker leader, she joined ESR in 2021 as the school’s first female dean.
Before coming to Earlham School of Religion, Castle served as the General Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation in the Quaker World Office in London, traveling extensively to bring greater unity to Quakers worldwide.
Over her career, Castle has gained broad experience among Friends globally and across different Quaker traditions. She has served at the Quaker United Nations Offices in New York and Geneva, and participates in the Christian World Communions Annual Meeting of the General Secretaries, where she was appointed the first woman chair and the first Quaker chair. As part of the Christian World Communions, she attended the inauguration of Pope Francis in Rome in 2013.
In the United States, she was the presiding clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Director of Leadership Development for several Quaker retirement communities, and a board development consultant for over 20 years.
Castle is no stranger to Richmond, Indiana. She attended nursery school at Stout Meetinghouse on Earlham’s campus and also earned her undergraduate degree in human development and social relations from the College in 1979. Her father, David Castle, was a former pastor at First Friends Meeting in Richmond.
She later earned her master’s degree in organizational development and adult learning from Temple University in Philadelphia.
“ESR serves a critically important role in the global Quaker community, preparing people for ministry, whatever form it takes, and I am thrilled to be joining ESR as its next dean.”
Gretchen Castle, Dean of ESR
Happening on campus
Rural Ministry Series
Time: 7:00 pmJoin us for this Rural Ministries Series! Register at https://RuralMinistry26.eventbrite.com
arming can be isolating and stressful, and for many farmers and farmworkers, faith communities are woven into their lives as an important place of connection and belonging. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the urgent issue of farm stress in our communities. We will present on the unique stressors that farmers face, and the opportunity that faith communities have in supporting farmers in crisis. Throughout the presentation, there will be time to reflect individually and share as a group on the values and support that faith communities can offer. In addition to deeper reflection, we will provide practical resources for faith communities. This workshop was created by a small and diverse group of folks with backgrounds in farming, mental and public health, and seminary training and who currently work to support farmer mental well being.
The post Rural Ministry Series appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Rural Ministry Series
Time: 7:00 pmJoin us for this Rural Ministries Series! Register at https://RuralMinistry26.eventbrite.com
arming can be isolating and stressful, and for many farmers and farmworkers, faith communities are woven into their lives as an important place of connection and belonging. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the urgent issue of farm stress in our communities. We will present on the unique stressors that farmers face, and the opportunity that faith communities have in supporting farmers in crisis. Throughout the presentation, there will be time to reflect individually and share as a group on the values and support that faith communities can offer. In addition to deeper reflection, we will provide practical resources for faith communities. This workshop was created by a small and diverse group of folks with backgrounds in farming, mental and public health, and seminary training and who currently work to support farmer mental well being.
The post Rural Ministry Series appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Rural Ministry Series
Time: 7:00 pmJoin us for this Rural Ministries Series! Register at https://RuralMinistry26.eventbrite.com
arming can be isolating and stressful, and for many farmers and farmworkers, faith communities are woven into their lives as an important place of connection and belonging. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the urgent issue of farm stress in our communities. We will present on the unique stressors that farmers face, and the opportunity that faith communities have in supporting farmers in crisis. Throughout the presentation, there will be time to reflect individually and share as a group on the values and support that faith communities can offer. In addition to deeper reflection, we will provide practical resources for faith communities. This workshop was created by a small and diverse group of folks with backgrounds in farming, mental and public health, and seminary training and who currently work to support farmer mental well being.
The post Rural Ministry Series appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Rural Ministry Series
Time: 7:00 pmJoin us for this Rural Ministries Series! Register at https://RuralMinistry26.eventbrite.com
arming can be isolating and stressful, and for many farmers and farmworkers, faith communities are woven into their lives as an important place of connection and belonging. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the urgent issue of farm stress in our communities. We will present on the unique stressors that farmers face, and the opportunity that faith communities have in supporting farmers in crisis. Throughout the presentation, there will be time to reflect individually and share as a group on the values and support that faith communities can offer. In addition to deeper reflection, we will provide practical resources for faith communities. This workshop was created by a small and diverse group of folks with backgrounds in farming, mental and public health, and seminary training and who currently work to support farmer mental well being.
The post Rural Ministry Series appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Rural Ministry Series
Time: 7:00 pmJoin us for this Rural Ministries Series! Register at https://RuralMinistry26.eventbrite.com
arming can be isolating and stressful, and for many farmers and farmworkers, faith communities are woven into their lives as an important place of connection and belonging. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the urgent issue of farm stress in our communities. We will present on the unique stressors that farmers face, and the opportunity that faith communities have in supporting farmers in crisis. Throughout the presentation, there will be time to reflect individually and share as a group on the values and support that faith communities can offer. In addition to deeper reflection, we will provide practical resources for faith communities. This workshop was created by a small and diverse group of folks with backgrounds in farming, mental and public health, and seminary training and who currently work to support farmer mental well being.
The post Rural Ministry Series appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Rural Ministry Series
Time: 7:00 pmJoin us for this Rural Ministries Series! Register at https://RuralMinistry26.eventbrite.com
arming can be isolating and stressful, and for many farmers and farmworkers, faith communities are woven into their lives as an important place of connection and belonging. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the urgent issue of farm stress in our communities. We will present on the unique stressors that farmers face, and the opportunity that faith communities have in supporting farmers in crisis. Throughout the presentation, there will be time to reflect individually and share as a group on the values and support that faith communities can offer. In addition to deeper reflection, we will provide practical resources for faith communities. This workshop was created by a small and diverse group of folks with backgrounds in farming, mental and public health, and seminary training and who currently work to support farmer mental well being.
The post Rural Ministry Series appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification (Virtual)
Time: 9:00 amMental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification is taught by Kelly Burk, a certified trainer.
The post Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification (Virtual) appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.
Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification
Time: 9:00 amMental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification is taught by Kelly Burk, a certified trainer. There are only 30 seats available for this in-person opportunity. Fee of $150 includes the interactive workshop, course certification, lunch, and resource materials for each attendee to keep.
Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification is taught by Kelly Burk, a certified trainer.
The post Mental Health First Aid Training & Certification appeared first on Earlham School of Religion.