Brian Ponder The Rev. J. Brian Ponder joined the staff of Church of the Resurrection on July 1, 2004, assuming duties as chaplain to the Episcopal Canterbury Fellowship at MSU and assistant rector of the parish. Born and raised in Jackson, he was baptized in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) before joining the Episcopal Church in 1985. A pupil of the Jackson Public School District, Brian graduated from Murrah High School. He holds a B.A. in religious studies from Millsaps College, Jackson. Before going to seminary in the fall of 2001, Brian worked for five years in the offices of the Diocese of Mississippi as assistant and support staff to the Canon to the Ordinary and the Canon for Finance and Administration. In addition to being nurtured within a loving and caring community of faith in his home parish while growing up, ministries offered on the diocesan level played a particular role in his formation over the years. As a camper, counselor and cabin dad at Camp Bratton-Green, Brian came to know more fully the love of Christ and became rooted in just what we mean when we say that with God's help we will "respect the dignity of every human being". His past involvement with Happening, Vocaré, acolyting and EYC, as well as the guidance and leadership of several key spiritual mentors, has facilitated the process of his faith formation and energized his current ministry to and with young people. Brian's other interests include pastoral theology, homiletics and liturgics. In May of 2004, Brian graduated with an M.Div. from The General Theological Seminary in New York City. In addition to his coursework while there, Brian participated in a year-long internship with Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of New York, for two years was a field placement seminarian with The Congregation of St. Saviour at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and he received Clinical Pastoral Education training as a chaplain in the Department of Pastoral Care at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. Brian was ordained to the transitional diaconate in 2004 and to the priesthood in 2005. Students, parents and others interested in Canterbury, young adult and/or EYC programming are invited to contact Brian for additional information. To contact Brian: Church of the Resurrection Post Office Box 1566 Starkville, MS 39760 (662) 323-3483 Email to Brian