Janet Waggoner named canon to the ordinary in Fort Worth diocese

Posted Jun 4, 2013

ens_060413_janetWaggoner[Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth] The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr. has announced that the Rev. Janet Waggoner has been named canon to the ordinary / transitional officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.

She “will assist me and the diocese as we move forward together in our life. This is being made possible by the generosity of one of our diocesan families. I am most grateful and very excited about filling this office, which is so vital for our future. It is my plan for her to begin this new ministry in July. Please welcome her to this new call,” High said in a letter to the clergy.

Waggoner is a priest from the Diocese of Oregon who, after receiving her MDiv from Yale Divinity School, served parishes in Connecticut for more than a decade, most recently as rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Shelton. The Waggoner family moved to Fort Worth in August 2012 when Janet ’s husband, Ed, accepted Brite Divinity School’s invitation to become the first Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Chair in Episcopal Studies. Since September 2012, Janet Waggoner has been serving as interim pastor at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Coppell.

In her work with individuals, congregations and the community, Waggoner seeks to facilitate transformation through leadership, preaching, education, conciliation and the arts. She is a board member of WIKS-USA, partnering with Kenyans to provide quality education for underprivileged children. Waggoner is a spiritual director and a member of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross.  She serves as an advisor in Title IV disciplinary processes for The Episcopal Church.

The Waggoners are the parents of two children, Wynne (10) and Benjamin (8), and a rescue dog, Ziggy.

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Comments (3)

  1. Grant Carson says:
    June 7, 2013 at 12:41 am

    Please realize that this is the rump Diocese of Fort Worth, formed of the very few TEC parishes left when a super majority of the diocese departed TEC over matters of faith. Of course TEC has sued for all the property. The matter is being adjudicated at the supreme court of Texas where arguments have been heard and a decision is expected any day

    My perspective is from the Diocese of Fort Worth (ACNA). I think the Diocese of Fort Worth (TEC) is making a huge mistake, and I really feel sorrowful for those, like the Waggoners, who will be affected. The TEC diocese is building a structure to support a much larger organization than it will ever have, expecting that the supreme court will rule in its favor, and loyal TEC folks will come flocking back to the buidings then belonging to TEC. That won’t happen. If TEC wins, churches will go dark all over the diocese, the ACNA folks worshipping in store fronts or wherever. That will leave the TEC DFW with too large an administrative structure and a very large inventory of empty buildings to support. The Waggoners, and others, who’ve gambled their futures on a Texas supreme court decison and folks streaming back to TEC will be dislocated.

    That’s why I’m sorrowful. I wish the rump diocese had somewhat less rosy glasses when estimating the future.

    Grant

    1. Marc Kivel says:
      June 7, 2013 at 6:55 pm

      Well, Grant, here’s the other side of the story: folks in the TEC aren’t sitting around worrying about ACNA…we’re are happy for the folks who made a choice to move on and we wish them every good going forward. Most of us in TEC know that people choose their communions and parishes for all sorts of reasons: aesthetics, theology, personalities, location, community…and we also know that church hopping is a way of life for many folks these days. Whether the Holy Spirit chooses to fill particular facilities or direct the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to find other uses for them, we’re called to continue to be loyal to our Church and our Bishops and seek and serve Christ in all persons. God be good to you and yours, Grant! Marc

  2. Jessica Nakawombe says:
    June 9, 2013 at 11:30 am

    Congratulations to Rev. Janet Waggoner and those who chose to entrust her with that responsibility. To Grant, the church of God will still stand strong irrespective of human flaws. Time immemorial, throughout Church history, churches have been opening and closing, yet others being transformed since we humans always do many things in the name of God without consulting or even listening to Him. It is my prayer and others that the Church of God remains strong in spite of many human differences and misunderstandings. May God bring healing to a hurting people. May He bring understanding to searching minds. May He give peace that passes all understanding to troubled souls. And may He forgive us all our trespasses as we should forgive all who trespass against us. Amen. Anathema Maranatha.

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