After 18 months of faithful prayer, conversation, review of documents, interviews by phone and in person, the Rector Search Committee presented the Rev. Dr. Judith A. Davis' name to the Vestry for confirmation on June 17, 2008. The Vestry sanctioned this decision on June 18, 2008. We believe that from the 37 candidates reviewed, the Search Committee selected the person who most clearly has the gifts to fulfill the hopes of the parishioners of Christ Church and to guide them to a deeper ministry and mission in Christ. Judith will begin her ministry to Christ Church, Harwich Port on Sunday, September 21, 2008.

Above all, Judith sees her call to be as a pastor, shepherd, and teacher. She is currently the Rector of Christ Church - Washington Parish on Capitol Hill in the District of Columbia. This parish was the first Episcopal church in the original federal city of Washington in 1794. She has served there for 12 years. During her tenure she has been instrumental in increasing annual pledging, in paying off a $600,000 debt, in expanding the parish base with new families and young adults, and in building up the lay ministry.

When members of our search committee visited with leaders of the parish, we were told that they would miss deeply her pastoral care and her clear leadership. The senior warden described her as the "sun" in the center of the parish. Others praised her strong liturgical skills, her gifts of preaching and teaching, her ability to reach out to everyone, her active presence in the wider community, and her sense of humor. It is a special tribute to her that the parish gave her a surprise birthday present of a motor scooter so that she could travel easily around Capitol Hill with a less dramatic footprint on the environment.

Education
• B.S. in biology and English, High Point College, NC - 1969 and PhD in Allied Health/Hematology, University of FL - 1982
• MDiv in Anglican Studies, Yale University,1991 and STM in Liturgics, 1995

Professional and Volunteer Work
• Asst Professor of Allied Health, North Carolina State University - 7 years
• Associate Rector, St. Michael's Church, Bristol, RI - 4 years
• Rector, Christ Church-Washington Parish, Capitol Hill - 12 years
• Chair, Washington Diocese's Liturgy and Music Commission - 7 years
• Volunteer Chaplain at the Washington National Cathedral -12 years
• Field Education Supervisor for seminarians at the Virginia Theological Seminary
• Secretary/Trustee, Board of Trustees, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale - 13 years
• Member of the Board of Directors, Capitol Hill Group Ministry, a consortium of interfaith social service ministries to homeless and needy neighbors

Judith was one of the first applicants. She was led to Christ Church after reading our website listed with the diocese. She knows New England well and is grateful to be returning to the ocean. Her work as a supply priest at St Ann's, Block Island, is an important part of her spiritual journey.

She has a deep commitment to her family which consists of her partner, The Rev. Dr. Anne Bathurst Gilson, and their son, Jamie, almost 6 years old. She is dedicated to the Episcopal Church's Millennium Development Goal of environmental sustainability. She loves painting watercolors, singing, gourmet cooking, and kayaking. She's also a good sailor and tennis player.

Her own ministry statement is a fitting summary of her call. She desires "to serve with God's people as rector of a parish which shares empowered lay ministry, enjoys progressive liturgy and good music, wants strong teaching and preaching, desires to grow spiritually, and is committed to living in community as a diverse and faithful people, welcoming and caring for all."