Barbara Ballenger Begins Seminary
August 17, 2017
At the end of this month I’ll be starting seminary classes at United Lutheran Seminary (formerly Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia) right around the corner, on Germantown Avenue. I will continue in my full-time position as Associate for Spiritual Formation and Care, while working on my seminary degree part-time.
This first semester will see me heading off to classes on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7 to 10, and taking some time off for a week-long intensive class in mid-October. My hope is that within three years, I will be ordained an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
For me, seminary is the next phase in a long process (20 years!) of discerning and accepting God’s call to the priesthood, and I could not have gotten to this place without the love, support, and encouragement of the community of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
I was received into the Episcopal Church seven years ago, a few years after leaving the Roman Catholic Church in order to be free to test and pursue this vocational call. Before that I had worked in professional ministry as a layperson in a variety of faith-based settings: a performing arts ministry, an international relief and development organization, in campus ministry, and in parish pastoral ministry.
My work at St. Martin’s for the past three years has allowed me to continue to discern my priestly vocation in an environment where the faith community embraces discipleship and spiritual growth, seeks out faith connections, labors for transformative justice and peace and whose members are willing to both give and receive support and care from one another. You have encouraged and have helped me develop my ministry skills in pastoral care, leadership, and liturgy, and you have deeply inspired my own growth as an Episcopalian and a Christian.
As I enter my fourth year in ministry here, while taking on this new level of learning and faith development, I ask for your continued prayers and support, as I will pray for you. The past few years at St. Martin’s have been for me an extraordinary walk of love and blessing, and I look forward to continuing it with you.
Blessings,
Barb Ballenger
Associate for Spiritual Formation & Care
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Associate Rector
(215) 247-7466 ext. 102
Barbara (she/her) joined St.
Martin’s in 2014. In June
Barbara’s family moved from State College to Philadelphia, where her husband
works at Drexel University. They’re excited to be a part of St. Martin’s
vibrant faith community. Barbara’s family includes her husband, Jess, adult
son, Jesse, and high school-aged daughter, Hannah. Non-human family members
include Tara the rat and Oakley the dog.
Barbara hales originally from northeast Ohio, where she grew up and went to
school. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kent State
University and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Ursuline College.
Barbara’s ministry background is based largely in the Roman Catholic Church
where she worked for more than 17 years in a variety of faith-based positions,
including parish faith formation director, campus minister, newspaper reporter
and program coordinator for Catholic Relief Services. She also worked for eight
years in a performing arts ministry as a retreat leader, songwriter and
storyteller.
Most recently Barbara worked for Episcopal Relief & Development as a
training coordinator in US Disaster Preparedness and Response. She joined the
Episcopal Church in 2010, with the long-term goal of priestly ordination.
Woven through her work in ministry is a passion for social, economic and
environmental justice. Over the years, Barbara has worked on issues of peace
and non-violence, cultural understanding, global and domestic poverty,
sustainability and environmental stewardship.
For fun Barbara loves to read, make music, and turn broken things into mosaics.
You’ll probably also see her riding her bike around West Mount Airy and
Chestnut Hill. She might even stop and ask you for directions.
Barb began seminary in the fall of 2017. Read more here.
In June 2019, Barb was ordained a Deacon in the Episcopal Church, on her path to full priestly ordination later in the year. Read more about becoming a deacon here.
On Friday, December 13, 2019, Barbara was ordained to the Priesthood at St. Martin's.
