NEW YORK– Miguel Escobar, an Episcopal Church leader experienced in developing educational programs for lay and clergy, has been appointed director of Anglican Studies at Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary (EDS@Union).
“I am delighted that Miguel has accepted my invitation to be part of what we are building at EDS@Union,” said the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, dean. “His ability to develop innovative initiatives with measurable results and his connections across the Episcopal Church make him the ideal person to create rich programming that will complement our strong academic core and foster our communications across the church. Miguel’s gifts will help prepare our students not simply to serve in a church, but to be the church.”
Escobar is currently managing program director for leadership, communications and external affairs at the Episcopal Church Foundation. He earned a master of divinity degree from Union in 2007 and served as communications assistant to then-Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori from 2007 to 2010. Escobar is a member of the board of directors of Forward Movement and serves on the advisory council of Duke Divinity School’s Leadership programs and Episcopal Relief and Development’s church engagement committee.
He grew up in the Texas hill country and attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, where he studied the Roman Catholic social justice tradition, Latin American liberation theologies, and minored in Spanish. He joined the Episcopal Church through St. Mary’s, West Harlem, drawn by the congregation’s diversity and commitment to social justice, and is now a member of Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights.
“I am honored to be joining the EDS@Union community at this critical time, especially as this seminary’s mission of forming social justice leaders and dismantling racism is needed now more than ever,” Escobar said. “None of us can do this work alone, and I look forward to joining with Dr. Douglas, EDS alumni, friends in partnering institutions, as well as many others across the church in carrying out this work, and I’d ask you to keep EDS@Union in your prayers as we begin this exciting new chapter.”
Escobar began work at the Episcopal Church Foundation in 2010. “Miguel has provided seven years of faithful, innovative and transformational work with ECF and exemplifies the type of leader our church and world desperately need,” said Donald Romanik, ECF’s president. “I am so pleased that he will continue to help shape other leaders for the challenges ahead. ECF looks forward to working with Miguel in this new position as we continue to forge collaborations with EDS and our other formation institutions.”
The Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, president of Union, said she is looking forward to Escobar joining the EDS@Union staff. “As a Union graduate who has spent years working with the Episcopal Church, he brings a deep understanding of the church’s commitment to social justice along with personal knowledge of the importance of a theological education in that quest,” she said.
