The people of the Diocese of Central New York celebrate the following clergy calls and transitions:
Clergy New to the Diocese
Trinity Episcopal Church in Watertown has called the Rev. Molly Payne-Hardin to serve as rector beginning June 1, 2019.
Prior to arriving in the Diocese of Central New York, Payne-Hardin was associate rector and curate at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Panama City, Florida. There, she and the congregation started a laundry ministry, grew children and youth ministries, reinvigorated small group and teaching ministries, navigated the church’s recent recovery from Hurricane Michael, and established the church’s social media presence. Prior to her ordination, Payne-Hardin worked for nearly twenty years in public service as a communications director and trainer in public health, community redevelopment, and disaster response.
Payne-Hardin’s passions for serving Jesus include faith development in people of all ages, ministry with the poor and marginalized, healing ministries, and connecting newcomers to meaningful ministry.
Grace Episcopal Church in Utica has called the Rev. Christine Williams-Belt to serve as rector beginning June 1, 2019.
Williams-Belt was ordained in the Diocese of Ontario of the Anglican Church of Canada, where she served in several parishes including St. George’s Cathedral in Kingston, Ontario. In her last Canadian appointment, her parish discerned and laid the groundwork for the development of affordable housing and a community center, and for developing the parish into a mission of the diocese. Most recently she has served as interim rector of St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church in Hamilton, Georgia.
Williams-Belt is passionate about social justice, equality, and Jesus’ call to love God and neighbor. She enjoys sharing the Gospel in ways that inspire people to be the Church in thought, word, and deed.
Calls Within the Diocese
The Rev. Taylor D. Daynes has been called as Priest-in-Charge of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Trumansburg as of February 1, 2019. Daynes is also the Chaplain at the Episcopal Church at Cornell University in Ithaca.
Retirements
No clergy have retired since the previous Transition Ministry Update.
Licensed to Officiate in the Diocese
The Rev. Aaron Oliver, Episcopal Chaplain at Fort Drum, is licensed to officiate in the Diocese of Central New York as of January 14, 2019.
