Untitled - Constant Contact

The Rev. Jody Greenwood will begin her call as Rector to Church of the Servant Wilmington beginning September 10th, 2017. Greenwood’s journey to becoming Rector in Wilmington has been witness to a lifetime of experience. Jody and her identical twin sister were born in Houston, Texas and raised in an Episcopalian family. Like many Episcopalian girls they wanted to attend Sewanee, the University of the South. Considering the small campus, and the importance of discovering who you are in college, Dad said only 1 of can go. So Jody went off to Ohio to attend Wittenberg University where she majored in Accounting and Economics. Upon graduation in 1985 Greenwood visited her sister at Sewanee where she had a discussion about entering seminary with a professor. At the time women entering seminary school was very much a hot topic – especially in her home diocese, so Jody was advised by her hometown priest to continue on in an occupation of her major, accounting. So she entered the business world in Houston and built an impressive career at Chase Bank. She did well yet began to feel the pull towards service. In 2007 she quit her job and began vocational counseling. Greenwood remembers the day she felt the Call clearly. It was Good Friday. During the Stations of the Cross Liturgy, and with each station Jody felt a conviction to do hands on work in her Christian journey. The barrier in 1985 was that she was a woman. The barrier in 2007 was that she was gay. Greenwood had the conversation with her Texas Diocese and was encouraged to explore other diocese. She thought that the Diocese of Atlanta might be the perfect fit for her vocational journey of becoming a priest. The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander of the Atlanta Diocese had recently published the book, “This Far by Grace: A Bishop's Journey Through Questions of Homosexuality” discussing his own discernment of Christian theology and sexual orientation. Greenwood contacted Bishop Alexander to discuss her dilemma. He let her know that he had church related business in Austin and carved out time to meet her at the Austin Coffee Shop, Book People. At the end of their visit, Alexander invited Greenwood to come to the Atlanta Diocese and enroll at the Emory University Candler School of Theology. Bishop Alexander has since moved on and currently serves as Dean of Theology at Sewanee University. Jody began seminary in 2010 and graduated in 2013. Along the way of her journey Jody reconnected with and married Alice Melott in 2012. Alice has a deep love for Eastern North Carolina which she developed as a camper and counselor at Camp Seafarer on the Pamlico Sound. Greenwood served at Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, Georgia, first as Seminarian from September 2010 until her Ordination to the Priesthood in June 2013 when she became Associate Rector. She and Alice would take trips to North Carolina’s Atlantic Beach from Atlanta. They loved the area. When the opening for Rector in Wilmington presented itself, Jody and Alice were excited. The Rev. Greenwood looks forward to becoming involved with the UNCW campus student groups. She says that the young people are programmed to do what they want when they choose, and the Sunday morning time slot for worship may no longer fit their schedule. Student ministry might look more like The Rev. Greenwood attending campus group meetings covering ethics, philosophy, and the implications of life decisions. She discusses the topic with enthusiasm rather than a longing for the old days. Jody feels that Lay leadership is the future of the church and should be nurtured in realistic ways of the time in which we live. She and Alice are thrilled to become a part of the Church of the Servant and Wilmington community and we are happy to welcome them to the Diocese of East Carolina. -Ben Harper