Meet Mother Teri
Welcome to St. Mary's Episcopal Church! It is a joy and privilege to serve as Rector of this wonderful parish.
My hope is that whether you have been an Episcopalian your entire life, are exploring faith for the first time, or are simply looking for a church to call home, you will find a warm welcome here. I believe that God meets each of us exactly where we are, and that the Church is at its best when it reflects Christ's love through hospitality, compassion, and joyful worship.
I began serving as Rector of St. Mary's in June 2026 after first serving as Curate during an important season in the life of our parish. I was ordained to the priesthood in 2024 after graduating from Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, where I earned my Master of Divinity. Before seminary, I spent many years working in banking, insurance, and nonprofit leadership, experiences that continue to shape the way I lead with collaboration, stewardship, and care for people.
Beyond parish ministry, I have the privilege of serving the Diocese of Florida as Clergy Co-Chair of the Bishop's Transition Committee, Communications Chair for the Ministry for Racial Healing, Reconciliation, and Justice Commission, and as a member of the Diocesan Disciplinary Board. I am also participating in Shaping the Parish, a two-year leadership formation program offered by the Order of the Ascension that focuses on revitalization within healthy, faithful, and life-giving parish ministry.
My own journey to The Episcopal Church began in an unexpected way. Raised in the United Methodist tradition, I visited Washington National Cathedral while traveling and attended a small weekday Eucharist. As I left that service, I quietly remarked, "I feel like I've come home." That simple moment became the beginning of a journey that led to confirmation in The Episcopal Church, seminary, and ultimately to ordained ministry.
One of the greatest joys of being a priest is discovering Christ in everyday encounters. Whether I am celebrating the Eucharist, sitting beside someone in the hospital, chatting in the grocery store, or sharing a refreshing cup of water, I believe every person is created in the image of God and every encounter is holy ground. God is always at work, often in the ordinary moments of life, drawing us ever closer through grace.
George and I have been married for more than twenty-four years and count it a tremendous blessing to share this journey together. We love traveling—especially to Alaska and the Canadian province of Québec—photographing historic churches and steeples, and worshiping in Episcopal/Anglican churches wherever we go. Our daughter, the Reverend Savannah Ponder, serves as Rector of the Chapel of St. John the Divine in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, and our son-in-law, the Reverend Matthew Ponder, serves as Curate at Christ Church in Westerly, Rhode Island. Our family also includes two grand dogs, rescued greyhounds from Ireland, Augustine and Monica, whose gentle spirits bring us endless joy.
At the heart of my ministry is a simple conviction: God is always inviting us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another. My calling is not simply to lead a parish but to walk alongside God's people—to celebrate life's joys, to stand with them in seasons of sorrow, to proclaim the hope of the Gospel, and to help create a community where every person knows they are loved, welcomed, and valued.
Whether you are seeking a church home, returning to faith after many years away, asking difficult questions, or simply wondering what The Episcopal Church is all about, I hope you will come and visit us. There is a place for you at St. Mary's, and I would be honored to meet you, hear your story, and share in the journey of faith together.
As Saint Thérèse of Lisieux beautifully reminds us, "Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing." That conviction continues to shape both my life and my ministry, and I pray that everyone who walks through the doors of St. Mary's experiences nothing less than the love of Christ.
~ Mother Teri +