12/11/2015
The following comes to us from St. Barnabas, Norwich
On sunday afternoon, November 15, the members of the vestry and the Discernment Committee unanimously voted to call the Reverend Jennie Anderson to serve as our Priest in Partnership at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. That news, conveyed by phone to Jennie that very afternoon, was received with such expression of joy that the sensation of joy traveled right through the air waves and wires into the heart of the conveyor of the news. And that is, perhaps, the first thing to say about Jennie. She feels and conveys the joy of life. That was made clear to us in our day-long meeting with her. Jennie is a woman of great vitality and exuberance, outgoing, generous with her time, honest, forthright, committed to the faith, dedicated to the life of the church, with a strong sense of social justice.
Jennie is a New Englander, born in the Boston area, with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts in wood science and technology. She worked for many years as a carpenter and welder, active in the local carpenter unions, before entering, in 2004, the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, from which she graduated in 2007. Jennie comes to us with the strong recommendation of Bishop Tom Ely, and Canon to the Ordinary and Transition Minister Lynn Bates.
These last years she has been working full time at Saint James School in Philadelphia, a faith-based Philadelphia middle school in the Episcopal tradition, committed to educating traditionally underresourced students in a nurturing environment. Jennie worked officially as building and grounds custodian, unofficially serving as chaplain to children and staff. This past year, she also served as supply clergy in the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr where she is much loved.
Jennie has a son, a daughter-in-law, and a grandchild who live in the Northfield area of Vermont. She and her labrador retriever will be moving into the rectory just before Christmas, and her first preaching and celebration of the Eucharist with us will be on sunday, January 3, 2016.