From the Rector's Desk
The Rev. Ledlie I. Laughlin
Rector, St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Washington, DC
Dear Ones,
I am thrilled to share joyful news: Katie McGervey has accepted my invitation to serve as our Director of Children’s Ministries. Katie brings a generous mix of creativity, excellent organizational skills, a joyful caring heart, an eagerness to involve one and all, and a practical roll-up-your-sleeves approach. During these interim months, her primary charge has been to keep things going. Going forward Katie is brimful of ideas. With support from Amy as Associate Rector for Family Ministries, Katie will be collaborating with our renovation team and others to shape and support this ministry at the heart of St. Columba’s.

I am thankful for the wisdom and support of the Search Committee:  
"After months of reflecting on the needs of St. Columba’s children’s ministry, conducting a nationwide search, reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates, the Search Committee unanimously put forth Katie McGervey as our selection for St. Columba’s next director of children’s ministries.

Katie’s calling to this position is evident, and we are confident that she will build on the strong foundation of the program. Her vision for how St. Columba’s can raise our children as children of God and in the Episcopal Church excited us. We look forward to joining Katie in fulfilling our baptismal covenant to do everything in our power to support our children in their life in Christ."
~ Erika Sward
on behalf of the search team: Peyton Craighill,
Dana Crepeau, Meredith Dresner, Jeremiah Williams
Katie writes:
“I am thrilled to be entering this new direction in my faith life and ministry. We have a vibrant children’s ministry and I look forward to working with parents, children and all parishioners to guide our program as it continues to grow. I want each of our children to know deep inside that they are a beloved child of God and of St. Columba’s. Our new family ministry team has a tremendous opportunity to support families across all the stages of development and in all life transitions.”
~ Katie 

Many of us already know Katie as a long-time parishioner. She was raised in The Episcopal Church and joined St. C’s in 1994. She has been active in many ministries through the years. Katie and Joe were married at St. C’s and together have raised Max, 17 and Oscar, nearly 14, here.
 
Katie has a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management. She’s worked in the federal government and, with Joe, served as a Volunteer for Mission for two years in South Africa (where Max was born). Since then, Katie has spent the bulk of the last 17 years focusing on homeschooling her boys. From that work she brings an understanding of different learning styles and the need to provide instruction in many different forms. She has taken on leadership roles in many volunteer capacities over the years. 
 
Please join me in giving thanks to God in celebration of this exciting new beginning.

Peace!
The Rev. Ledlie I. Laughlin, Rector