My name is Nonhlanhla Shezi (Noni), and I am a second-year (Middler) student at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS). I am the eldest of five siblings and a single mother to one child. I was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and raised in a small town called Port Shepstone. I was baptized in the Church of England and brought up in the Anglican Church (Anglican Communion). My service to the church began with tasks like cleaning, assisting with Sunday School, and serving as an acolyte. Later, I took on leadership positions for youth at various levels, from my parish to the Archdeaconry and even the diocesan level. This also involved serving as the youth president of the Anglican Youth of Southern Africa. As president, my main role was to establish a sustainable approach to youth ministry for the province. Additionally, I was involved in church organizations such as the South African Council of Churches and Kairos Southern Africa, which enriched my understanding of ecumenism. Concurrently, I was developing myself as a Communications Practitioner for South Africa’s energy company while raising my son (Ziphozonke). I am excited about becoming a part of The Falls Church community. I am looking forward to learning and growing, establishing strong and enduring relationships, walking the path of faith, and witnessing the power of salvation in Christ Jesus.
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The journey of women into ordained ministry within The Diocese of Virginia reflects broader trends in The Episcopal Church and is a story marked by significant milestones.
Early Deaconesses and Ordination Milestones
The role of women in ministry within The Diocese of Virginia began with the appointment of deaconesses, a position distinct from that of a deacon. In 1895, Bishop Whittle admitted Mary E. Jones as a candidate for orders as a deaconess. Jones was involved in outreach at St. John’s in Richmond, representing an early form of formalized women’s ministry in the Diocese. This role, however, did not equate to ordination as a deacon or priest, which would come much later.
The first ordination of a woman to the diaconate in The Diocese of Virginia occurred on January 29, 1972. Alison Cheek was ordained a deacon by Bishop Hall, becoming the first woman to be so ordained in the Diocese and, notably, the first in the South as well. While Bishop Hall allowed Cheek to go through the process for ordination to the priesthood, she did not receive the unanimous approval of the Standing Committee, a required step toward ordination. Cheek was ordained a priest on July 29, 1974, in the first ordination of women to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church, a group known as the Philadelphia Eleven. Her ordinations were monumental, leading the way toward greater inclusion of women in the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church.
The following major milestone came on January 2, 1977, when Patricia Merchant Park was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Hall. Park had served as a deacon at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill in Alexandria for two and a half years before her ordination as a priest. Her ordination marked a pivotal moment in the Diocese, signifying a growing affirmation of women in all levels of ministry.
Pioneering Female Rectors and Deans
The journey towards female rectors in the Diocese of Virginia also saw its own groundbreaking moments. The Rev. Blanche Lee Powell stands out as a key figure in this history. Ordained as a deacon in May 1975 by Bishop Hall, Powell was the first woman to lead a church in the Diocese in a full-time capacity. She was appointed as Vicar of St. David’s, a mission church in Manassas, in late summer or early fall of 1975. Despite her role as Vicar, she did not have priestly ordination until 1977. During this period, the Bishop appointed the Rev. Richard L. Shimpfky as Supervising Priest, reflecting the transitional nature of the role for female deacons at the time.
After her ordination to the priesthood, Powell continued to serve as Priest-in-Charge at St. David’s until the church’s closure in November 1981.
In 1994, the Very Rev. Martha Thorne became the first Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary. She was among the first female deans of Episcopal seminaries in The Episcopal Church, serving in this role until 2007.
The Era of Female Bishops
The appointment of female bishops in the Diocese of Virginia represents another significant chapter. The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff made history as the first female bishop ordained in and the first female ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of Virginia. Her consecration on July 28, 2012, was a landmark event, with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori serving as the chief consecrator. This event not only celebrated Bishop Goff’s individual achievement but also underscored the broader affirmation and celebration of women in The Episcopal Church.
On April 1, 2023, the Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris began her call as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Virginia. She is the first Black woman to serve as a bishop in this Diocese. Bishop Harris’ presence and ministry with us today adds to the ongoing legacy of women in leadership roles within the Diocese.
Several female bishops across The Episcopal Church served in the Diocese of Virginia during their priestly ministry. Among them are the Rt. Rev. Dr. Dede Duncan-Probe, Bishop of the Diocese of Central New York, the Rt. Rev. Elizabeth Bonforte Gardner, Bishop of Nevada, the Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf, Bishop of the Diocese of West Tennessee, and the Rt. Rev. Ketlen Solak, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
The history of women in ordained ministry within the Diocese of Virginia reflects both a microcosm of the broader Episcopal Church’s shifts and a unique journey of its own. From the early deaconesses to pioneering female rectors and bishops, the Diocese has navigated complex theological and societal questions, contributing to the evolving landscape of women’s roles in the Church. Each milestone represents not only an individual achievement but also a step forward in the ongoing pursuit of equality and representation within the Church’s leadership.
From Stories Around the Diocese
Diocese of Virginia Communications
John Wunderlich - 2 min read
I do not get reminded of my passion for working with children of youth as much as I would like. Often, I get caught up in paperwork and meetings, the day-to-day of the career and I do not have extra minutes to spend doing the part of the job that really and truly energizes me. I was fortunate enough to spend a month working with Shrine Mont Summer Camps as they prepared for and hosted 200+ campers in the time that I got to spend with them. Working with a group of young adults, who were dedicated to making camp a place where everyone can come and experience God, ended up being almost a month of being pushed and stretched to my limits AND a reminder of why I do the work that I do.
I did not have to wait that long to come back and put that renewed sense of love and purpose into practice. When Lauren Breeden let everyone know that she was sick on Monday morning, the Monday morning that VBS was kicking off, I got to act as the Director of VBS. It has been seven years since I have been in that role before coming to The Falls Church and I forgot just how amazing that role can be. I got to sing and dance with 65 campers who were so willing to be unashamedly goofy and happy. I got to spend my day playing capture the flag and painting clay pots. I got to work with the most amazing group of adults who were always flexible and constantly attentive to the needs of the campers. I got to watch as 19 youth took on the roles of leadership and constantly sought ways to be more helpful. I got to sing happy birthday 10 times to one person on one day.
VBS and Shrine Mont Camps have been astoundingly special this year, and I was lucky enough to be included in them. Whether that was special planning to make sure I am at Shrine Mont only when I can still perform my duties from the mountain or coming back into the ever-changing landscape of VBS, I GOT to be there. I got to see the active work that God is doing in our community through our community. I got to see the ways that kids, teenagers, college students, and adults change each other's lives simply by being a part of a Godly community and bringing others into that space with them.
So, for all of the 'I' and 'me' statements that I have made, please know that it is you all who are doing the work. It is those of you who are participating in VBS for the thousandth time or the first. It is you all who are sending your campers to Shrine Mont and VBS. It is all the youth who spent 6 hours of their day last week making sure our campers rotated correctly. It is the summer staff at Shrine Mont who lead hikes and activities. It is all of you who make the Body of Christ so special, and I am just thrilled to be a part of it.
John Wunderlich
Director of Youth Ministries and Liturgical Volunteer Coordinator
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