Diomass: Trinity Church Calls New Rector -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 7/25/2006
Last Visited: 10/25/2006
"We've spent the last decade strengthening the Christian community that is Trinity, and renewing our historic building, all with the goal of continuing to grow in our faith and witness and to be of greater service to the city.Anne's ministry will widen the doors of Trinity church for this next stage of its ministry."
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"Her vision of Trinity's place in the city is a compelling one and I look forward to working with her in the Diocese.
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Bonnyman comes to Trinity Church Boston from Trinity Episcopal Parish, Wilmington, Delaware, an urban parish with two historic churches (Trinity Church (1890) and Old Swedes Church (1698)), where she has been the rector since 1995.The parish, located in the changing downtown environment of Wilmington, is home to an increasingly diverse congregation of long-time members who commute in from the suburbs, and of newer members from the growing local Latino community.She has been an active presence in the Wilmington community, serving as co-chair of the faith-based committee of the Mayor's 2005 Hope Commission for the City of Wilmington and as a frequent guest editorial writer for the local daily newspaper.Under her leadership, Trinity Parish developed a major affordable housing initiative in the church's urban neighborhood, partnering with local non-profit organizations and lending institutions.
Bonnyman holds a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Villanova University, and a Bachelor of Arts from University of Tennessee.She was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee in 1983.Raised in a Roman Catholic home and primary schools, she found herself drawn to the Episcopal Church while she studied theology and scripture at Villanova.About her faith journey, she says: "One of the things I love most about the Episcopal Church is that we are curious and do not shrink from intellectual inquiry.
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The eighteen-month search started with the development of a Parish Profile, which involved surveying and interviewing thousands of parishioners and a large number of leaders from Boston's faith, civic, and corporate communities to best understand the current state of the parish and expectations for a new rector for this influential church.
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The church's building on Copley Square has been widely celebrated as a masterpiece of American architecture and stands as a cherished National Historic Landmark at the heart of Boston.