On Sunday, August 18, 2024, we celebrated 8 years of shared ministry with Mother Julia, as we ended our pastoral relationship with her and sent her forth to her next calling as Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts. Below is a recap of the day–a glorious and momentous one in our parish’s shared history.
Service leaflet from the 10am service, including a litany of leave-taking and prayers for ending a pastoral relationship [DOWNLOAD]
Program leaflet from the 4pm farewell party, including a list of gifts and presenters [DOWNLOAD]
Mother Julia’s sermon, recapping her ministry with us over the past 8 years [LINK]
Gifts included:
- A complete set of white Episcopal vestments, donated by various Trinity parishioners: mitre, deacon’s stole, bishop’s stole, chasuble, and cope
- The Altar cross to be installed in the Holy Innocents’ Chapel designed and fabricated by Ron Shouten; a framed sketch of the design was given to Mother Julia
- A framed copy of the hymn commissioned for this occasion: Whitworth New by Jason Roberts on text by Susan Cherwein
- A gift of money donated by various Trinity parishioners
- Hand-print art from the children of Trinity and of St. Richard’s Episcopal School
- Announcement of The Julia Whitworth Award, given in honor of Mother Julia by Trinity to St. Richard’s Episcopal School: $1000 given annually for 10 years to a St. Richard’s faculty member to further the impact of the arts, particularly theatre–one of Mother Julia’s deep loves. The sentiment shared by Dr. Leslie Hosey, head of school in announcing the award: “This gift is intended to provide professional development opportunities as well as project based and experiential learning for faculty and students. It is through the arts and humanities that we most fully understand our shared humanity across time and culture, elevating our shared mission of honoring the inherent dignity and worth of every individual in the service of the greater good. We thank Mother Julia for her leadership at Trinity, her support of St. Richard’s, and we wish her well in the next steps of her journey, knowing that her legacy will endure through this gift.”
Biographical summary for Mother Julia
In 2016, the Reverend Julia E. Whitworth was called to be the 13th Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Indianapolis. Previously, she was Canon for Liturgy and the Arts at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and Assistant Rector at St. James’s Church in West Hartford, CT. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary, she has a passion for social justice and the Church’s call to be liberating hands and feet of Jesus Christ in the world. Before seminary, Mother Julia was a professor of theatre and performance studies at New York University and professional theatre director.
She loves liturgy, music, teaching, intergenerational ministry and the important work of forming the next generation of leaders in the Church. She is a co-founder of Trinity Haven, the first dedicated residence for LGBTQ+ youth in Indianapolis, and she sits on its board, as well as the boards of St. Richard’s Episcopal School and the National Association of Episcopal Schools. She is married to Ray Neufeld, a teacher and artist, and is mother to Liam, Gregory, and Grace.
In March 2024, Mother Julia announced to the parish that she had been named to the slate of nominees for bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, and on May 18, 2024, during the special electing convention at Trinity Church, Boston, she was elected by clergy and lay delegates. The Diocese of Massachusetts, established in 1784, is among The Episcopal Church’s oldest and largest, in terms of baptized membership, and comprises 180 parishes, missions, chapels and chaplaincies in eastern Massachusetts.
It was not a simple decision to enter into this bishop search process. I love Trinity, and all of you, very much and am still deeply committed to our mission and your thriving as a congregation. I am in no way eager to leave. In Massachusetts, however, I recognize a diocese which, like our parish, understands its work to be both in inspiring disciples for the future and serving as hands and feet of Christ well beyond the confines of church buildings.
Bishop-elect Julia Whitworth’s ordination and consecration will take place at 11am on October 19, 2024, at Trinity Church, Boston, with The Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, as chief consecrator. She will be seated as the 17th bishop diocesan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts the following day, Sunday, October 20, at 5pm at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston.
