Mother Ginger first felt called to ordained ministry at a young age, but due to the environment in which she was raised, she believed that calling was not possible. “For many years, I did not believe that women could or would be accepted in that role. I thought women could only serve as chaplains, and even those jobs would be difficult to come by.”
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the Rev. Ginger Bennett was received into the Priesthood of The Episcopal Church by the Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan at St. Andrew’s in Shippensburg.
This perspective began to shift during her teenage years when Sister Alice, a Catholic nun encouraged her to seek out God in the still small voice within. As Mother Ginger explored contemplative worship, her appreciation for the sacraments, theology, and liturgy grew. This journey culminated in a time of prayer and discernment that brought her to 2 Corinthians 8:10-12. As she read the passage, she knew she was being invited to share the gifts God had given her in a new way.
Mother Ginger was first ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2020. While serving as a Lutheran pastor, Mother Ginger continued to feel a deep longing to connect with God in quiet, sacramental, and even mystical ways. The Rev. Barbara Hutchinson, Rector of St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg, guided her in this spiritual journey. Together, they explored this dimension of Episcopal spirituality, and through a course on liturgical theology from the Stevenson School for Ministry, Mother Ginger’s call to ministry in The Episcopal Church grew stronger, culminating in her reception as an Episcopal priest in February.
“I feel a strong call to serve at the altar, but I also feel God calling us into the tension of being active and present outside of the church,” Mother Ginger shared. “I have really appreciated this type of both/and ministry at St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg. I am leaning in as I discern where and how God is calling me next.”
Mother Ginger is currently serving in a variety of church and chaplaincy contexts. She is Associate to the Rector at St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg; Chaplain Resident at Lebanon VA Medical Center, Lebanon; Air Force Reserve Chaplain stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Civil Air Patrol Gettysburg Squadron Chaplain; and Civil Air Patrol Group 2 Chaplain.
