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Dr. Courtney Cowart, is a scholar in the fields of ascetical theology and American church history whose work has explored the relationship of spiritual practice, community engagement, inner transformation and leadership. She holds both an M.A. and a Th.D. from The General Theological Seminary in New York. Immediately prior to becoming Executive Director of SIM she served as Associate Dean and Director of the Beecken Center at the School of Theology, University of the South, in Sewanee, TN. There Courtney gathered and created cutting-edge formation resources from across the church to create a hub of continuing theological education and training for all the baptized.
From 2001 - 2010, Courtney was deeply engaged in developing the Episcopal Church's responses to 9-11 at Ground Zero in New York, and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana's responses to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Much of her insight into what is possible for church leadership that has fallen in love with its neighbors and opened to imaginative ministry, comes out of these formative experiences.
In her role at SIM, Dr. Cowart is applying her varied background in theological education, program and curricula development, and building leadership capacity for the church, to expand and strengthen The Society for the Increase of the Ministry's mission. She believes through important research on the changing life and practices of our church, artful recruitment of outstanding leaders and funding of scholarships for theological education and training, we can help the leadership of the Episcopal Church become ever more culturally diverse, passionately loving, and profoundly engaged in the lives of our communities
Jim Goodmann, has had a lifelong dedication to vocational discernment with youth, undergraduates and young adults. Goodmann serves as the Associate Director for the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM) in Atlanta. Before joining SIM, Goodmann was Associate Director for program at The Beecken Center of The School of Theology at the University of the South (2013-2018). Previously, he served as director of congregational grants and regional director for the Southwest at The Fund for Theological Education* (FTE) in Atlanta, Ga. (2007–12). Prior to that, he led the Lilly Endowment-funded Theological Exploration of Vocation at Sewanee, with a focus on engaging undergraduates in discernment practices and vocational internships. His additional work in co-designing frameworks for discernment and leadership development have been with three Episcopal dioceses, the leadership council of the Disciples of Christ and with 32 United Methodist conferences. Goodmann has also overseen initiatives for youth and young adult leadership in 73 congregations, across the spectrum of Christian denominations. He is a graduate of the University of St. Michael's College of the University of Toronto and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School.
*currently The Forum for Theological Exploration
Mari Shiukashvili, currently serving as the Missioner for Theological Formation, Leadership and Pastoral Care at SIM, recently graduated from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Her academic focus centered on the intersection of faith-based leadership, theology and Christian ethics.
Originally from Georgia, the country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Mari has dedicated much of her life to providing leadership in diverse and multicultural spaces across corporate, academic, and nonprofit sectors. She earned an MBA in General & International Management jointly from Ilia State University (Tbilisi, Georgia) and IAE Gustave Eiffel School of Management (Paris, France). Prior to moving to the U.S. she worked as a Tax Associate at BDO Georgia for over 5 years.
Mari’s transition from a career in tax advising to theology was driven by her strong desire to work for a meaningful cause. In the Fall of 2020, she began her Master of Theological Studies program at Candler, integrating her corporate experience with her lifelong commitment to the growth of God’s church. During her time at Candler, Mari worked closely with the school’s leadership, student body, and various religious organizations, and served diverse communities through spiritual guidance, fellowship, and pastoral care. She dedicated much of her time to advancing social justice initiatives as well as helping various churches and faith communities in optimizing resources and reimagining their futures.
As a Missioner at SIM, Mari utilizes her rich background in faith-based leadership to support the Episcopal Church in expanding its ministry through scholarships, teaching, and research. Having personally benefitted from a number of life-changing scholarships and fully funded educational programs, Mari views her work at SIM as a blessing, enabling her to contribute to the Church’s transformative journey into the future.
About Us
About the Society for the Increase of the Ministry
SIM is a non-profit Episcopal agency founded in Connecticut in 1857 with offices in Atlanta, GA. For 166 years SIM has been funding people engaged in ministry discernment and seeking theological education in The Episcopal Church, as well as listening to leaders of the church who educate and support them.
About Trinity Church Wall Street
Trinity Church Wall Street is a vibrant and growing Episcopal parish of more than 1,600 members. Over the past 325 years, Trinity has been guided by its mission to share God’s love for all people. Trinity’s programs seek to offer shared encounters with the holy, to cultivate compassion, to deepen knowledge and spiritual practices, to work for justice rooted in essential human dignity, to provide places of solace and healing, and to inspire a desire in all people to be conscientious contributors to the life of New York City and the world. More than 20 worship services are offered every week online and at historic Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel, the cornerstones of the parish’s community life, worship, and mission.