Welcome to the Rev. Jenny Montgomery

Dear Grace & Holy Trinity Community,

I am ecstatic to share that the Rev. Dr. Jenny Montgomery will be joining us as a Priest Associate focused on Parish Life ministries. Priest Associate is a common designation for retired Episcopal clergy. Jenny begins on Sunday, September 14th. She will be attending some Parish Life offerings and getting to know group leaders, as well as being involved in worship leadership. Jenny will join our clergy team in pastoral care visits, preaching, celebrating, and teaching. 

In her 26 years as a priest, she has served parishes in Virginia, upstate New York and Connecticut. Jenny has her doctorate of ministry degree from Virginia Seminary in Ministry Development with a focus on unifying and strengthening parishes, particularly following trauma and conflict. Before retiring to Richmond in 2020, she was part of the Ignatian Spiritual Center at Fairfield University. In 2023 she became a clergy mentor.

Jenny is married to the Rev. Dr. Joe Glaze, also retired, who served American Baptist and UCC congregations in New York, Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. She has two sons plus four step-sons and two step-daughters. She is known affectionately as “Gigi” to her five grandchildren and eleven step-grands. In retirement Jenny enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, baking cookies, walking their lab, Charlotte, writing creative non-fiction and reading a good novel. 

I asked her what excites her in becoming the Priest Associate at GHTC. She said,  

“One of the questions, after retiring as an Episcopal priest, is where to worship. Initially the priest may visit a nearby parish to check out the liturgy, music and preaching, but typically, we don’t just choose a church and make ourselves at home. We seek out the rector or priest in charge to introduce ourselves and ask about connecting with the parish. Which is what happened to me and my husband, Joe, when we moved across the street from GHTC this past winter. From the first Sunday we slipped into a pew, we felt drawn to this church. People were friendly, worship was meaningful and the nave stunningly beautiful. Within a week or two we met with Father Brent who was eager to know us and welcomed us to find our place at GHTC.

Over these past six months and several meetings later, becoming your Priest Associate is the ministry to which I am feeling called. My training and experience lean heavily toward strengthening the body of Christ through relationship building with one another, fellowship, sharing stories, enlivened conversations and fun. And so, what excites me about this opportunity is first getting to know you. And then learning more about your parish life ministries and how they align with the mission of GHTC. It feels right to belong here, to make GHTC our faith community, to volunteer our time here, and to be a resource for the clergy as needs may arise.

Retirement is really good and Joe are enjoying it together. The unanswered question was where to worship. Now we know the answer! Grateful to be one among you as Priest Associate.”

– Jenny+

Jenny will be with us for eight to ten hours each week and will not be here every Sunday. She will preach on Sunday, September 14th and lead with me in the Adult Forum on Sunday, September 21st. This completes our clergy team. I am so curious what God will do with our different gifts, opinions and experiences in a shared ministry here with each of you! Blessings!

In Peace,

Father Brent 

Priest-in-Charge