Clergy at St. Christopher's
The Reverend Susan Sowers, Rector
The Reverend Susan Sowers, Rector
Susan became a priest to follow Jesus, wherever he leads. She was raised in an Army family, and followed in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, with her own military career. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1982, she served as a Transportation Corps Officer for 25 years and had the privilege of serving young American soldiers in a variety of leadership positions, including: platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander and brigade commander. While in the Service, she received two Master of Science degrees: Civil Engineering from the University of Washington and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Before retiring in 2007 and going to seminary, her final Army assignment was as the Chief of Staff of the Support Command in Iraq. Answering her call to ordained ministry, she was ordained in 2010, after receiving a Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Susan returns to us as our 5th rector, after serving for two years as the Associate Dean of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is no stranger to the congregation. This is where she was ordained to the priesthood and served as the Associate Rector for three years (Jun 2010 - Jun 2013). She is married to Donna Van Winkle who has lived in Hawaii most of her life, and joins her in ministry.
Susan is grateful and motivated to be ‘home,’ among the people of St. Christopher’s, as they journey life with Christ and one another. We are all called by God to live “fully alive,” and St. Christopher’s is one of those special places where love abounds and where people truly connect their faith to action.
“The glory of God is the human being fully alive.”
~ St. Irenaeus of Lyon (AD 202)
Susan became a priest to follow Jesus, wherever he leads. She was raised in an Army family, and followed in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, with her own military career. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1982, she served as a Transportation Corps Officer for 25 years and had the privilege of serving young American soldiers in a variety of leadership positions, including: platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander and brigade commander. While in the Service, she received two Master of Science degrees: Civil Engineering from the University of Washington and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Before retiring in 2007 and going to seminary, her final Army assignment was as the Chief of Staff of the Support Command in Iraq. Answering her call to ordained ministry, she was ordained in 2010, after receiving a Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Susan returns to us as our 5th rector, after serving for two years as the Associate Dean of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is no stranger to the congregation. This is where she was ordained to the priesthood and served as the Associate Rector for three years (Jun 2010 - Jun 2013). She is married to Donna Van Winkle who has lived in Hawaii most of her life, and joins her in ministry.
Susan is grateful and motivated to be ‘home,’ among the people of St. Christopher’s, as they journey life with Christ and one another. We are all called by God to live “fully alive,” and St. Christopher’s is one of those special places where love abounds and where people truly connect their faith to action.
“The glory of God is the human being fully alive.”
~ St. Irenaeus of Lyon (AD 202)
The Reverend Ansley Walker, Curate
The Reverend Ansley Walker, Curate
Ansley began discerning a call to ministry shortly after college graduation as she desired to serve all God’s people- she just didn’t know what capacity it would be in! Raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Ansley attended the University of Florida in Gainesville where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a focus in women’s and cultural studies. Though convinced she would go to law school after her undergraduate career, Ansley found herself very active in philanthropic efforts at UF and by senior year she knew she needed to be working somewhere in ministry. Upon graduation, Ansley served as the Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries for St. Simon’s Episcopal Church in Fort Walton Beach. During this time, she also served as a member of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast’s Young Adult Committee, adult staff for the Diocese’s Happening restart, and as an intern at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Niceville, Florida. When not working for the Church, Ansley taught middle school language arts, high school cheerleading, and children’s dance classes.
Ansley eventually followed her call to ordained ministry to Yale Divinity School and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. In seminary, Ansley served as a chapel minister for Berkeley and as a seminarian at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cheshire, Connecticut. She also mentored Yale College students through the Episcopal Church at Yale and published bible studies for The Episcopal Church’s “Sermons that Work” website. Ansley graduated in May 2021 with a Master of Divinity, a diploma in Anglican Studies, and a certificate in Educational Leadership and Ministry. Ansley also was awarded the St. Luke’s prize for her contributions to worship life at Berkeley.
Ordained to the diaconate in April 2021, Ansley is excited to return to her home diocese and the Florida Panhandle. She is eager to continue to serve God’s people and looks forward to her journey as a Christopher!
Ansley began discerning a call to ministry shortly after college graduation as she desired to serve all God’s people- she just didn’t know what capacity it would be in! Raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Ansley attended the University of Florida in Gainesville where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a focus in women’s and cultural studies. Though convinced she would go to law school after her undergraduate career, Ansley found herself very active in philanthropic efforts at UF and by senior year she knew she needed to be working somewhere in ministry. Upon graduation, Ansley served as the Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries for St. Simon’s Episcopal Church in Fort Walton Beach. During this time, she also served as a member of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast’s Young Adult Committee, adult staff for the Diocese’s Happening restart, and as an intern at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Niceville, Florida. When not working for the Church, Ansley taught middle school language arts, high school cheerleading, and children’s dance classes.
Ansley eventually followed her call to ordained ministry to Yale Divinity School and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. In seminary, Ansley served as a chapel minister for Berkeley and as a seminarian at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cheshire, Connecticut. She also mentored Yale College students through the Episcopal Church at Yale and published bible studies for The Episcopal Church’s “Sermons that Work” website. Ansley graduated in May 2021 with a Master of Divinity, a diploma in Anglican Studies, and a certificate in Educational Leadership and Ministry. Ansley also was awarded the St. Luke’s prize for her contributions to worship life at Berkeley.
Ordained to the diaconate in April 2021, Ansley is excited to return to her home diocese and the Florida Panhandle. She is eager to continue to serve God’s people and looks forward to her journey as a Christopher!
