About Us
Serving the faith community since 1968!
Founded in 1968, the Interfaith Resource Center is a multimedia library dedicated to providing ministry support to regional faith communities. Our collection includes over 7000 resources for all ages, over a third of which are audiovisual resources. To accommodate those who are unable to visit us in person, we offer our on-line catalog with reservations made by e-mail or phone toll-free and routine resource mailing via US Postal Service. Our staff is available to assist you weekdays: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Our summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Our Director
Sister Barbara Jean Brown (aka Sister BJ) has just begun as the Director of the Center. She brings to this position over 30 years of experience as a Christian educator and a commitment to Faith Formation. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Marian College in Fond du Lac Wisconsin, where she was a member of an Episcopal Religious Order for women. More recently she received her graduate diploma from the University of Wales, Lampeter in Celtic Christianity.
Sister BJ is the Founder of Anamchara Fellowship, a new expression of the monastic life in the Episcopal Church. She established the Fellowship in Wilmington, DE in 2003. Sister BJ has spent most of her ministry as a retreat conductor, conference leader, educator of all ages, and has experience on the parish, diocesan and national church levels. Her passion is Scotland and all things Celtic.
Besides the office work of the Center, Sister BJ will focus on making herself a resource for congregations and groups who would like to learn about aspects of Spirituality, Christian History or Celtic Christianity. She will also be available to bring resources from the center and to speak on Spiritual Formation. 
To send Sister BJ an email, click here.
Our Regular Volunteers
The Reverend Mary Browne (Charlestown UM Charge)
Gerry Crock (Concord Presbyterian Church)
Dorothy (Dot) Cutting (St Albans Episcopal Church)
The Reverend Dr Tom Davis (Retired, New Castle Presbytery)
Anthony Grillo (Immanuel Episcopal Church, Highlands)
Don Hobson (Immanuel Episcopal Church, Highlands)
Alan Jewett (Concord Prebyterian Church)
Joanne Thiebault (St Paul's United Methodist Church)
Volunteers are always needed! Volunteer today!
History
The IRC began in 1968 as an audio-visual library of the Wilmington and New Castle County Council of Churches. In 1971 the Council of Churches formed the Delmarva Ecumenical Agency (DEA), composed of fourteen Protestant denominations and the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. The territory was enlarged to include all of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The audio-visual library continued to grow under the new DEA.
Elaine Stout, who retired in 2003, began her tenure in 1976. Under her tenure the library began the Interfaith Lay Academy in 1981, a yearly offering of adult continuing education courses on faith related topics. The 24th Interfaith Lay Academy will begin on September 28, 2004. During Ms. Stout's tenure, the Resource Center expanded it services to ensure that every congregation could conveniently use the Center. In 1988, toll-free telephone number was instituted for easy access to its Wilmington home. IRC staff mail resources free-of-charge to those who cannot come in person. In 1997, the IRC launched a website with on-line catalog feature that allows patrons who do not live close to the Center the freedom to browse our stacks electronically.
When the Christian Council closed its doors in 1994, the Resource Center began the process of becoming incorporated as a non-profit corporation. With the support of the major denominations, the DEA Resource Center became the Interfaith Resource Center. In June 2003, the IRC moved to larger, handicapped-accessible spaces in St. Alban's Episcopal Church on Wilson Road in North Wilmington. At that time, Paula Hartzell became the new director.
In 2004, the IRC Board authorized the establishment of the Elaine Stout Fund, a fund designated entirely for the purchase of new resources for the IRC. The Elaine Stout has raised over $7000 since its inception.The fund is vital in ensuring our pledge to honor all reasonable requests for special resource purchases. And since many of you have asked, Elaine still keeps in touch from her home in central Delaware.
For decades, the Interfaith Resource Center has provided educational and worship resources and opportunities to hundreds of local congregations. This ministry has continued to grow, thanks to denominational vision and endorsement, congregational participation and support, and the dedicated volunteers who have served unselfishly for so many years.
HOME | WHAT'S NEW | PROGRAMS
EVENTS | SCHEDULE | MISCELLANEOUS
CARD CATALOG | WEB RESOURCES | RATES | LINKS
----------------
913 Wilson Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
302 477-0910
fax 302 477-0911