Mtr Kelli's news

After four and a half years at Saint Philip’s, the Rev’d Kelli Joyce will leave parish work on May 31 to embark on her next adventure. In August, Mtr Kelli will begin a six year PhD program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only was she accepted to the program, but she also will be a Fellow in Theology and Practice. This program teaches how to make applicable the academics of theology to the individual lives of Christians.  

Mtr Kelli credits her time at Saint Philip’s for helping make clear to her how much she enjoys this type of work. She says that she loves taking what appears nerdy or esoteric and—to the extent possible—explaining why it matters to us as Christians. For example, why does it matter to our faith why Jesus did some of the things he did?

Mtr Kelli doesn’t anticipate a career in academia. She is returning to the classroom because she believes the church as a whole benefits when people think deeply about theological topics. “I really enjoy doing that type of work so I figure I’ll give it a shot.” 

The challenge of course work will be balanced by the embrace of family. Mtr Kelli’s family is in North Carolina and her wife, the Rev’d Bailey Pickens, has family in Alabama. This past year of COVID-19 lockdowns made Mtrs Kelli and Bailey even more acutely aware of how much they want to be within driving distance of their loved ones.

Mtr Kelli and Mtr Bailey will move with their dog Amos to Nashville. They’ve never been to the city but have friends from seminary who live there, as well as other Episcopal priests. Amos has visited the south before and Mtr Kelli reports that he’s eager to roll in grass full-time!

We wish Mtr Kelli and her family all the best!