Missouri Episcopal Church’s first female senior rector brings a fresh perspective

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Robinson brings unique experiences as an Irish priest and educator to her role at Calvary. Until her late 30s, she served as an educator in England and this experience informs her role as priest.

She brings to her role a love of teaching and learning as well as an understanding that those things are mutual. She wants to be actively involved in teaching and learning with both adults and children.

Calvary member Alison Martin, the mother of two school-aged children, speaks enthusiastically about how Robinson’s gift of education is obvious. “Watching her interact with children is amazing to me. The way she talks to them about God and Jesus makes me feel so wonderful,” she said.

Throughout her childhood and adult life, Robinson was active in the church. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, she calls herself a “cradle Episcopalian.” However, she did not decide to become a priest until her late 30s. It was about this time that the church allowed the ordination of women.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Parishes • * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry

5 Comments
Posted October 27, 2008 at 4:22 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Christopher Johnson wrote:

Slight headline correction, Kendall.  She’s not the first female senior rector in Missouri, not by a long shot.  One ran my old parish back in the 1990’s and I’m certain there have been others.

October 27, 5:32 pm | [comment link]
2. robroy wrote:

During residency, I attended Calvary. It was pretty much spiritually dead, and offered no help in a time when we could have used it. Fortunately, we discovered a non-denominational church that we attended as well.

Columbia is booming, yet the parish is going nowhere but down. It should have launched a mission parish or two years ago. I see they finally did this last spring, so this can’t be the reason for their decline.

A definite dearth of testosterone: Both clergy at Calvary and also the vicar of the church start. There is a male chaplain for the university. We tried unsuccessfully to get the diocese to appoint a chaplain while we were there. Another thing that should have been done years ago. Looks like they finally did it in 2006.

October 27, 6:50 pm | [comment link]
3. KevinBabb wrote:

Could they really have 850 members, but only 200 in church on a Sunday? That seems a little light, even for an Episcopal congregation. Perhaps the Reverend Mother will have some cleaning to do on the membership rolls.

DioMO tried to start a mission in Columbia about fifteen years ago, but it failed after about three years.

October 27, 8:27 pm | [comment link]
4. RazorbackPadre wrote:

makes me feel so wonderful…
Is it really all about the feelings?

October 27, 9:08 pm | [comment link]
5. Chris wrote:

Columbia is a university town (Univ. of Mo.) - not quite a Madison or Ann Arbor, but certainly trending that way.  that ECUSA struggles even here with its revisionist message (per #2) is really telling.

October 28, 10:12 am | [comment link]
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