Meet the Ordinand: Meredith Kadet Sanderson

Will you be be at online or at St. Matthew’s Church in Liverpool this Saturday to welcome our diocese’s newest clergyperson?

Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe will ordain Meredith Kadet Sanderson of Liverpool, NY  to the transitional diaconate on July 10th at 10:00 a.m.

Meredith arrives at this point in her vocational journey after years of discernment, ministry, and intensive study, and many of us know her as a member of the diocesan staff since 2015. Following her ordination, she will continue on the ordination track for the Priesthood.

We recently interviewed Meredith over email. Please pray for Meredith as she prepares for ordination and continues in ministry in our Diocese.

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 256)

Can you tell us about your background?

Meredith Kadet Sanderson (center) with two diocesan staff colleagues, Cathy Hobart (left) and Kathy Dengler (right), at the 2019 Diocesan Convention.

In 2015, I moved to Central New York with my brand-new husband Christopher and began my ministry on the diocesan staff. We’d been living in New York City where I had completed a Master of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary and served as Director of Programs for Episcopal Charities of New York, a foundation that provides grants, support, and resources to parish-based outreach programs. I grew up outside of Buffalo and was glad to be back in beautiful upstate New York. Since we’ve moved here, Christopher and I have become parents to our four-year-old son, Max.

Farming with Sister Helena Marie at the Community of the Holy Spirit, an Episcopal monastic community in Brewster, New York.

When I first began to articulate a sense of call to ministry in my mid-twenties, I wasn’t a churchgoer and wasn’t even sure I believed in God. This felt like a problem for me, but it wasn’t a problem for God. Long story short, I enrolled in seminary out of a desire to learn more about God, and it was during my studies that I first encountered the Episcopal Church. A friend introduced me to a community of Episcopal nuns who were stewarding a biodynamic farm  in the Hudson Valley. I spent a summer between semesters as an intern living with the sisters, joining with them in their daily prayers. I was swept into the tide of their beautiful liturgy, which was at once deeply traditional, radically inclusive, and reflected a deep reverence for the earth and God’s creatures. That summer (I wrote about it here) changed me for life and I knew I had found a home in The Episcopal Church.

Over the past six years, my ministry with the Church has deepened, and it’s been a privilege to work closely with Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe, our deeply faithful diocesan staff, and the remarkable people of this Diocese. I currently serve as the bishop’s chief of staff and director of communications. I love learning and sharing the stories of our faith communities, facilitating clear communication between the Church, the diocese, our parishes, and our communities, and supporting the bishop, staff, and other diocesan leaders as we work to realize our vision of a “world healed by love.”

 

Where are you currently doing ministry, and what will you be doing after your ordination?

Meredith preaching at her home parish, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Liverpool.

My ministry as the bishop’s chief of staff and diocesan director of communications will continue after my ordination to the transitional diaconate. Over the past year, my role on the diocesan staff has shifted in response to mutual discernment with our bishop and our diocesan commission on ministry. So for instance, one of the best parts of my formation for ordination this past year has been accompanying our bishop on her visitations and coordinating diocesan services. During the height of the pandemic, this assignment gave me the opportunity to work alongside dozens of our churches planning online-only worship services. We even created an all-Diocese online worship service for Christmas Eve that involved contributions from hundreds of people—it was a beautiful thing. Now that the bishop’s visitations are in-person again, I’m learning about live-streaming on-site (and sharing my learnings with parish leaders) while seeing first-hand how our love of God and one another is expressed in diverse communities all over the Diocese.

 

What’s your hope or your dream for your ministry in the Diocese of Central New York?

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

I believe that God intends the Church to last—though the form of the Church, for this and coming generations, may be outside the bounds of what we “can ask or imagine.” God wants the Church to last as long as God’s dream for the world lasts, as long as God’s love for the world lasts.

I hope that in my ministry, I will contribute to a culture of faithfulness in the Church: that we will love God, and love ourselves, and love one another, and love strangers enough to be willing to change, to lay down our ways and our lives, and to take up the ways of God’s love for the healing of the world.

 

As you reflect on the journey that has brought you to this point, to whom or to what do you feel most grateful?

I’m deeply grateful to the communities and family and friends who have formed me: Park Slope United Methodist Church, Judson Memorial Church in NYC, the Community of the Holy Spirit, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, the Companions of Mary the Apostle, the brothers of Holy Cross Monastery, the Church of the Resurrection in Oswego, Grace Episcopal Church in Syracuse, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Liverpool, Episcopal Communicators, and this beautiful Diocese of Central New York.

I must single out my husband, Christopher Carter Sanderson: your staunch support keeps me going, keeps me honest, and keeps me hopeful and faithful. Thank you for being my partner in ministry and parenthood.

Showing 16 comments
  • Marie Malvaso Hughes

    Congratulations, Meredith! I am so glad I had the chance to meet you when you visited and preached at St. James’.

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Dear Marie–thank you so much! I’m grateful, too, that we’ve begun to get to know one another. It was great to see you last Wednesday at the confirmation service.

  • Arthur Durando

    Among people I have known approaching holy orders, none shows more dedication or qualifications than you.we are all pleased to have been part of your spiritual journey. May you continue to grow and learn as you study and practice the skills of effective and inspired leadership in the church. May you perceive and communicate God’s will and Word throughout your ministry. We will all be blessed through your work. Thanks be to God for His work in your life.
    .

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Dear Art, thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement. Remembering our work together during the Bishop Search. I’m so grateful!

  • Anne Kelly

    Meredith: I am thrilled to have this opportunity to learn more about your faith journey and your plans for the future. Congratulations on this important milestone.

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Dear Anne, how wonderful to hear from you! Thank you so much for your encouragement.

  • Helen ONeill

    Congratulations Meredith! I am so happy for you and your faith journey and know you are going to do wonderful things! God Bless!

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Thank you so much, Helen!

  • Debra Pollic

    Congratulations! Although we have never met in person (Zoom yes!) I am deeply touched by your dedication and faithfulness. We are blessed to have you in our diocese.

    • Meredith Sanderson

      What a kind and encouraging thing to say. Thank you! I hope we will meet in person sometime soon!

  • ROSEMARIE Rockwell

    I am so happy for you Meredith and for us! You are always in my prayers! PEACE my friend

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Dear Rose, so grateful for our friendship and your prayers. Thank you!

  • jeffrey knox

    May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and yours and us safe and prptected in this journey where “I Call You My Friends.” *MONASTERY ICONS Windows Into Heaven

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Jeff and Sue, so grateful to have shared this day with you. Thank you!

  • jeffrey knox

    I CALL TOU MY FRIENDS

    *Windows Into Heaven
    MONASTERY ICON

    Your Friends
    Sue and Jeff

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