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Mitchell Felton Spends January on Campus as Episcopal's Seminarian Intern

For over a decade, Episcopal has welcomed students from Virginia Theological Seminary to fulfill their field education requirements and learn the ins and outs of working at an Episcopalian boarding school. This year, Episcopal was excited to welcome third year student Mitchell Felton to campus for the month of January.
 
As a future youth minister, Felton first heard the call to ministry when he was six-years-old and began taking his faith more seriously when he was a senior in high school. He grew up in a Baptist church, but he only encountered the Episcopalian faith when he needed a job while studying for his undergraduate degree. He credits that time of his life with teaching him the importance of the sacraments and how they allow him to grasp an intimate part of Christ’s life.
 
During his month at Episcopal, Felton lectured in various classes, preached a homily during Chapel, and joined the community to celebrate the seventh annual MLK Symposium. Throughout his four weeks, he quickly became a valued member of our community, working alongside Head Chaplain Betsy Carmody and Assistant Chaplain Richmond Jones, whom he described as authentic, transparent, and reliable.

“Everyone was so kind and really interested in who I am,” Felton said as he described the community on the Hill. “Rev. C and Rev. Jones have taught me so much, and they really catered to my understanding of the faith and who I want to be as a priest one day.”
 
He praised his interactions with the students that turned four chilly weeks on the Hill into a warm, memorable experience. “I have to add that Episcopal students are just so awesome,” he said. “They are curious, willing to learn, and so loyal to this place.”
 
He also shared campus for a short time with Episcopal’s 2022-23 Theologian in Residence, Rev. Dr. Esau McCaulley. McCaulley is the author of three books, and currently serves as the Theologian in Residence at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Felton described his time with Rev. McCaulley as a true gift. “It was such an amazing opportunity to be around him,” he expressed. “As someone who has read his book, I was excited to spend time with him and learn from his wisdom.”
 
After graduating from VTS this May, Felton will serve as the director of youth ministries at St. Columbus in northwest Washington, D.C. He has a busy year ahead, as he becomes an ordained deacon this summer and receives his priesthood ordination in December. “When people reflect on my time here, I hope they’ll say he knew my name and he loved me,” he said of his memorable time on The Holy Hill.
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