July 20, 2026

To my St. Margaret’s family:

It is with great joy and hope that I write to announce that the Vestry has called Mother Lynn Hooks as the Priest in Charge at St. Margaret’s beginning on September 1, 2026, and that Mother Lynn has enthusiastically accepted this call. At the end of a three-year period, the Vestry will have the opportunity to make, and Mother Lynn will have the opportunity to accept, the call to become our permanent Rector. Meanwhile, she will carry all the responsibility and authority as the Priest of our parish.

We are grateful for God’s wisdom through Bishop Shannon Duckworth and Canon Morgan MacIntire to open this pathway for us. The leadership of our diocese knows St. Margaret’s well, and knows Mother Lynn well, and was confident this could be a Spirit-driven and fruit-bearing partnership. Our Vestry’s discernment process and conversations with Mother Lynn have confirmed this to be true.

As we celebrate Father Tommy’s last Sunday on July 26th, we are excited to have a clear path forward. The diocese has assembled a roster of clergy and leaders to preside and preach at St. Margaret’s between now and Mother Lynn’s arrival. Her first Sunday presiding will be September 13. Please prepare to extend a true St. Margaret’s welcome to Mother Lynn and, meanwhile, please keep her in your prayers as she makes this transition.

Some may know Mother Lynn from her time serving at St. Margaret’s during 2020 as a transitional deacon. Mother Lynn is excited to return, to get to know our current parish, and to introduce herself again with five years more ministry and life experience. Mother Lynn is the right leader for this season at St. Margaret’s. Her commitment to God’s welcome for ALL, energy and ideas around ministry, and high-level administrative skills will help us remain a healthy congregation as we continue to grow. Her career in the classroom, combined with her years in ordained ministry, has formed her into a gentle teacher who will shepherd us well as we follow Jesus together.

In Christ,

Danielle Thomas
Senior Warden