The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder
What a joy it is to discern with you who God is calling to be your next Bishop. I am humbled and grateful to participate in this holy work together.
The honesty of your profile is what took hold of my heart. I heard hopefulness and longed to dream alongside you, I heard woundedness and longed to hold space for your healing, I heard disconnect and longed to build community with you, I heard anxiety and longed to pray with you, and I heard love—so much love—and longed to be and serve the body of Christ that you are and are becoming. That longing has been confirmed again and again throughout this mutual discernment process.
I grew up in the small town of Lexington, Virginia, where I stayed to attend Washington & Lee University. I later earned graduate degrees from St. John’s College and The General Theological Seminary. I have served churches in North Carolina, New York, and Georgia—currently as the Canon for Community and Education at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. In all these places, my greatest desire is to build community by connecting people with Jesus and with one another.
I am married to an incredible man from Wayne County and we have family in Wolcott, Newark and Farmington. Our two amazing children enjoy spending their summers with grandparents and cousins in the Finger Lakes. I have loved your people and places for years and years, and I hope to love and serve alongside you for years to come.
