We are pleased to announce the call of two clergy to positions within the Diocese. The Rev. Eldwin (Ed) M. Lovelady has been called as Vicar of St. Benedict, Lacey and The Rev. Ruth Anne Garcia as Senior Associate Priest at Epiphany, Seattle. Please join us in welcoming them to their new positions.
The Rev. Eldwin (Ed) M. Lovelady
Ed is a 22-year military veteran who retired in 1990. He graduated from The School of Theology of the University of the South in May 1993 with a M.Div. degree, and was ordained Deacon in May 1993 at St. John’s Cathedral in Spokane and Priest in Dec 1993 at St. Luke’s Church, Jamestown, NY.
He served two congregations in the Diocese of Western New York, St. Luke’s in Jamestown as Curate and St. Peter’s in Westfield as rector. He was Dean of Chautauqua Deanery and served on the Hispanic Ministry development committee and Liturgy committee.
Ed was called as Rector of All Saints’ Church in Las Vegas in 2004. All Saints’ became the largest and fastest growing congregation in the Diocese of Nevada with development of a multicultural parish with Filipino and Latino ministries. He served as a diocesan Multicultural liaison and traveled to the Philippines to develop a Companion Diocese relationship between Nevada and the Episcopal Diocese of Santiago. He retired from full time ministry in 2009 and moved to the Diocese of Olympia.
Since moving to the Diocese of Olympia, he served as Interim Rector at St. Luke’s ~ San Lucas in Vancouver, Priest Associate at St. Mary’s, Lakewood, and Sunday supply for several congregations, Episcopal and Lutheran, in the central part of the diocese. He was called as Interim Vicar of St. Benedict’s in Lacey in June 2016, and as permanent vicar in September 2017.
Ed serves on the Caring for All Creation Partnership committee on our relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Philippines. He has made 3 trips to the Philippines on behalf of our diocese. He is a Safeguarding God’s Children and Safeguarding God’s People trainer.
Ed is married to Debbie and they have 5 children and 8 grandchildren. His hobbies are his two youngest grandchildren who live in Tacoma and computers. He developed and hosts eight websites for Churches and Church organizations including five in the Philippines, Episcopal AsiaAmerica Ministries (EAM) Council, and the Caring for All Creation partnership.
The Rev. Ruth Anne Garcia
Ruth Anne is from Middletown, NY where she is serving at Grace Episcopal Church as Interim Rector. She has served as Rector in two parishes and also has experience as a Chaplain and an Associate. After graduating from General Theological Seminary, Ruth Anne served as Chaplain at St. Paul’s School Concord, NH. From there she joined St. Columba’s Church in Washington DC. St. Columba’s is a large parish and during her years there, it was in rapid growth mode. After St. Columba’s she joined the staff of Trinity Wall Street where she was involved in a wide variety of ministries, one of which was a children’s chapel.
Over the past eighteen years as a priest, Ruth Anne has seen many types of churches from many different perspectives. She was raised in Lewistown, MT, and her husband Jeremy Bacon comes from New York/ New Jersey. He is an accomplished jazz pianist and is looking forward to broadening his exposure in the Pacific Northwest.
Ruth Anne’s first Sunday will be 1 Advent, December 3.
