Bishop Shannon has appointed the Rev. Susan Ohlidal as canon missioner for local ministry. Ohlidal, who is also priest-in-charge at St. Andrew’s Church in St. Johnsbury, began work on March 15.
“Our capacity for training, forming and supporting local ministry teams has been steadily decreasing over the last five years,” Bishop Shannon said. “Hiring Susan gives us an opportunity to re-energize and reorganize local ministry in churches throughout the diocese.”
The diocese has applied for a grant from the Roanridge Trust of the Episcopal Church to help fund the part-time position.
In addition to her work for the diocese and at St. Andrew’s, Ohlidal is co-pastor of Convivia/ StJ, an Episcopal community in the Northeast Kingdom that offers worship and a pub theology program.
She served previously as the diocesan coordinator of pastoral enrichment and as the executive director of Province One of the Episcopal Church, which encompasses the New England dioceses. Later, as the diocese’s canon for ministry development, her portfolio included leadership and ministry formation and development of new initiatives. She served also as the diocesan coordinator to Living Stones, a partnership of Anglican and Episcopal communities committed to the ministry of the baptized, including locally formed ministry teams.
Ohlidal holds a master of arts degree from Penn State University, an M. Div. from Harvard University, and a Certificate in Anglican Studies from the Episcopal Divinity School.