I was appointed Interim Rector of St. Paul’s beginning December 2010. The multiple interim times between clergy leadership that I lived through ‘in the pews’ and as a parish leader have especially informed my ordained ministry.  I sought specialized training from the Interim Ministry Network to work with congregations living such change.  I hold a Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, in 2008.  There, I served Trinity Church in Concord as seminarian-in-residence.  Ordained in 2008, I first served St. Mark’s in Riverside, Ohio as Assistant to the Rector.  Most recently, I’ve served Christ Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio as Assistant to the Rector and still serve there in a very limited capacity.  This is a part-time appointment; I commute weekly to New Albany from our long-time home in Beavercreek, Ohio.  Have no doubt, St. Paul’s is my first congregation during this appointment. 

A cradle Episcopalian, I was born in Detroit but grew up in Florida.  At the University of Florida, I met my husband, George, a native Floridian who came with me when I was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB as a brand-new Air Force Lieutenant.  I left active duty to make our family my first priority and eventually retired from the AF Reserve.  Our daughters are now young adults who live far (California) and far, far (overseas) away.  Over those parenting years, I served on several non-profit boards, completed an MBA at Wright State University, had a micro-business as a dressmaker, and was actively involved in parish ministry.  I love needlework of many types.  Mostly, I quilt nowadays.

I’m a practical theologian.  That means I’m interested in how faith and life interrelate.  How does what we do, speak who we believe God to be?  If we can actively live the gospel in our life together as a parish community, I have hope that we can take it into the world outside our doors.  The pattern of our worship then becomes the pattern for daily life.   I have a developing passion for the power of story whether it’s our Biblical story or encouraging others to explore their own stories.  Then, how do they connect?  I’m always asking questions. 

People often ask how I like to be addressed.  My name given at baptism, Mary, is fine with me if it’s fine with you.  There are other options such as Rev/Mother/Amma Mary for children or anyone uncomfortable with first name familiarity.