2023 Guest Preachers
The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves was graduated from California State University, Fullerton, in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Music. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from the College of St. John the Evangelist in New Zealand in 1994. She was ordained in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles to the diaconate in 1994, the priesthood in 1995 and to the episcopate in 2007 in the diocese of El Camino Real.
As a priest, Bishop Gray-Reeves served as assistant rector in two parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles before accepting the call to be rector of St. Margaret’s in Miami Lakes, Florida, in December 1998. Following six years of service as rector she joined the staff of the Diocese of Southeast Florida as Archdeacon for Deployment.
In November 2007 Bishop Gray-Reeves was elected as the third bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the College for Bishops and also offers consulting and mediation services in the church.
Bishop Mary authored the book Unearthing My Religion and co-authored The Hospitality of God with The Rt. Rev. Michael Perham, formerly of the Diocese of Gloucester, CofE. These publications and her involvement in supporting strong leadership in all orders of church ministry reflect her passion for making the Christian faith relevant in today’s complex world.
Bishop Gray-Reeves was instrumental in forming Beautiful Authority, a network gathering for young women clergy and she currently serves on the team for Leading Women, 2022, a gathering that seeks to support women clergy serving in a post-colonial and post-covid world.
Bishop Mary serves on various committees and boards of the Episcopal Church, including Episcopal Relief & Development and she is a member of the International Women’s Forum. She also serves as the Vice-President of the House of Bishops.
Bishop Gray-Reeves was widowed in June 2014 following 32 years of marriage to Michael Reeves. She is the mother of Katie and Dorian and soon to be mother-in-law to Nick. She is Calla’s equine partner, a Rocky Mountain gaited mare, who proves to be both an excellent riding instructor and rigorous spiritual director!
The Rev. Geoffrey M. St J. Hoare
Currently in his sixth year as Rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., the Rev. Geoffrey M. St J. Hoare has deep experience in parish ministry, having served for eighteen years as the Rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and for more than ten years as the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. He began his ministry as Deacon and Priest at Christ Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
A native of the United Kingdom, Geoffrey is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. He read theology at Magdalene College, Cambridge University, and has a Master of Sacred Theology degree from the Yale Divinity School.
Geoffrey lives in Washington with his wife Sage and their children Ruthie and Allyson. Two older children, Alexander and Joanna are in Washington and Atlanta.
The Rev. Ledlie Laughlin
Rev. Laughlin has been serving as the rector of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. since 2015. With nearly thirty-five years of experience in parishes of all sorts, Ledlie leads with an infectious and joyful faith in Jesus Christ and a deep commitment to justice in our society. Before going to St. Columba’s, Ledlie served for sixteen years as the Rector of St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia, and in churches in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
Ledlie and his wife Sarah have two grown children. Ledlie received his BA with Honors from Oberlin College and his Master of Divinity degree from Yale University.