A Question of the Cross

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.