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The Rev. Colleen Schiefelbein is the first Priest-in-Charge of St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Having grown up in a military family and later marrying a Marine who served 24 years on active duty, Colleen lived a life of frequent transition before learning to put down roots. She holds a B.A. in English from Virginia Commonwealth University, an M.B.A. in Marketing from Golden Gate University, and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary. An insatiable reader and lifelong learner, she also holds a certificate in Interim Ministry. Colleen has over 20 years of experience in Christian Formation and Youth Ministry and currently serves as co-chair of the Truth and Reparations Task Force for the Diocese of Virginia.
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Project Description:
St. Martin de Porres is a "new creation," formed by the coming together of three parishes into a single, diverse community. Named for the only Black saint represented among the 173 churches in the diocese, the parish strives to center its life on Jesus’ teachings while wrestling with social and structural justice issues. This project focuses on embodying the diocesan mission—"Love Jesus. Embody justice. Be disciples"—by leveraging the Church’s current "inflection point" to move away from historical privilege and toward authentic, Spirit-led service that strengthens the larger community.