It is my delight to share the news that The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining will serve as Saint Mark’s Theologian-in-Residence for the coming year. In this role, Dr. Raining will bring her manifold gifts and considerable experience as she engages the cathedral community at periodic intervals as theologian, priest, preacher, teacher, and ministry consultant. We look forward to her presence among us, which will be virtual initially, with travel to Seattle coming later this year. Dr. Raining writes: “I am thrilled to journey with the cathedral this year! I believe that the Holy Spirit will speak to us during this time of fellowship, theology, and experience. ”
Dr. Raining serves in several roles as a leader in the Church: she is rector of St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania (the first woman to rector a 500-member parish in the suburbs of Philadelphia); she is the Founding Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at the General Theological Seminary in New York City; she has served as a deputy to several General Conventions of the Episcopal Church; she serves on the Presiding Bishop’s Task Force for the Way of Love; and she serves as mentor, coach and spiritual advisor to several people seeking ordination. She is a member of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Native Americans, and she recently published an article in
Anglican Theological Review on “blood memory and gratitude as a multi-lineage spiritual practice.” She is also a founder of
The Hive, a home for wellness, spirituality and growth.
Dr. Raining earned her Doctor of Ministry from Drew University (2014), her Master of Divinity from Yale University (2007), and Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Psychology from Moravian University (2005). Read more about Hillary, her background, writings, reflections and publications
on her website.
Dr. Raining is scheduled to offer a two-week series in March for Cathedral Commons on “blood memory and our spiritual inheritance.” We will share more on that in the coming weeks.
I look forward to Hillary engaging our community at regular intervals in the course of next year, and I hope you will join me in welcoming her. I am,
Gratefully yours,
