Raewynne J. Whiteley was born and raised in Australia. After completing degrees in Psychology, Women's Studies and Theology and being ordained an Anglican priest, she moved to the United States to work on a PhD in Homiletics. After more than 15 years in parish entry in New Jersey and New York, in late 2017 she moved to London to serve in the Diocese of Southwark as Discipleship and Vocations Missioner. In mid 2019 she was invited by her bishop to take the lead in the redevelopment of Lay Ministry in the Diocese. Her ministry focus is helping people to respond more fully to God's call to them, through preaching, teaching, fostering of vocation, mentoring of clergy, parish redevelopment, structural analysis and redesign, and visioning.
Raewynne loves preaching: it has been a passion since she took her first preaching class at the age of 19. As well as preaching most Sundays in her parish church and in other churches in the Diocese of Southwark , she has preached at Campbell University College, the Princeton University Chapel, the General Theological Seminary in New York, and the Cathedral of St John in the Wilderness in Denver. She has taught homiletics and theology at seminaries in Australia, the US, and the UK, and has presented continuing education programs, retreats, academic papers, public lectures and adult education events. Raewynne has contributed sermons, articles and reviews to a range of books and other publications. With Beth Maynard, she coedited Get Up Off your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog (Cowley Publications, 2003); in November 2007, her first solo book,Steeped in the Holy: Preaching as a Spiritual Practice was published by Cowley Publications, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield. Her current project is a collection of reflections tentatively entitled Walking the Edge of Silence: Reflections on Despair, Discernment, and Hope. When not working, she enjoys hiking, knitting, kayaking, singing, reading mystery novels, and spending time with her beloved cat, Abelard.
Current leadership roles Deputy Director of Discipleship and Lay Ministry, Diocese of Southwark, Church of England (2019-present) Adjunct Faculty, St Augustine's College of Theology, Wast Malling and Southwark, UK (from 2020) Canon Theologian, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island (from 2009)
Other professional experience Co-convenor, History working group, Academy of Homiletics (2009-2019) Diocesan Discipleship and Vocations Missioner, Diocese of Southwark, Church of England (2018-2019) Rector, Saint James Episcopal Church, Saint James, NY, USA (2007-2017) Faculty, George Mercer Jr. Memorial School of Theology, Garden City, NY, USA (2007-2017) Examining Chaplain, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island (2010-2017) Member, Ethics Committee, St James Health Care Center, St James, NY (2010-2017) Board Chair, Protestant Campus Ministry, SUNY Stony Brook (2014-2017) Dean, North Suffolk Deanery, Diocese of Long Island (2015-2017) Adjunct Faculty, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, USA (2009) Adjunct Faculty, Online Program (Homiletics), Trinity School of Theology, Melbourne, Australia (2005-2010) Visiting Faculty (Homiletics), Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, USA (2003) Vicar, Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church, Swedesboro, NJ, USA (2002-2006) Associate Priest, Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, NJ, USA (2001-2002) Interim Assistant Episcopal Chaplain, Episcopal Church at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA(2000) Associate Priest, Trinity Church, Princeton, NJ, USA (1998- 2001) Assistant Priest, Anglican Parish of Charlestown, Newcastle, Australia (1998) Adjunct Faculty (Homiletics, Theology), St John's College Centre for Ministry, Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia (1997-1998) Assistant Minister, Anglican Parish of Hunters Hill, Sydney, Australia (1995-1997) Research Officer, Victorian State Government, Public Service, Australia (1989-1991)
Grants and Honors Louisville Institute, Clergy Renewal Grant recipient, 2012. Fellow, Cathedral College of Preachers, Washington DC Honorary chaplain, Australian Consulate General, New York, NY Frank Woods Fellow, Trinity College School of Theology, Melbourne, Australia
Books Steeped in the Holy: Preaching as Spiritual Practice (Cowley Publications, 2007). Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog, edited with Beth Maynard. (Cowley Publications, 2003).
Selected Articles, Presentations, Academic Papers, and Chapters Keynote theological reflection, Gathering of Leaders, August 2017. Lay preacher training, Diocese of Chelmsford, UK, May 2014. Leader, Women’s Celtic Pilgrimage, St Cuthbert’s Way, UK, May 2014. Clergy retreat and clergy conference presenter, Diocese of Melbourne, Australia, 2013. “The future of the past: An invitation to explore online resources for the history of preaching,” Annual Meeting of the Academy of Homiletics, Austin, TX, 2011. “‘One half of his great office and employment’: The call to preach in bishops’ instructions to clergy in the post-restoration Church of England,” Annual Meeting of the Academy of Homiletics, Atlanta, GA, 2010. Guest Preacher, General Theological Seminary, 2009, 1999. Contributions to Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, Volume 1, ed. David Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, Louisville, KY, 2009: Westminster John Knox Press. Preaching workshop, Annual meeting of Episcopal Relief and Development diocesan coordinators, May 2009. “Complicit: Preaching on violence when you're involved in it,” Annual Meeting of the Academy of Homiletics, Boston, MA, 2008. Preaching Luke, St John's Episcopal Church, Tulsa, OK, November 2008. Women as preachers, St John's Episcopal Church, Tulsa, OK, November 2008. Preacher, Campbell University College, SC, 2007 “'Love would heal us, if we would be healed': Joseph Glanvill on preaching to a divided church,” Annual Meeting of the Academy of Homiletics, Minneapolis, MN, 2007. "Church in Public Space," in Wonderfully and Confessedly Strange : Australian Essays in Anglican Ecclesiology, ed. Bruce Kaye (ATF Press, 2006). Clergy Day Speaker, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, 2005 "Preaching Trouble," The Reader 101, no.4 (Winter, 2004): 5-6. "Cyber-Preaching," Church Times (UK), 17 September, 2004. Keynote Speaker, Episcopal Diocese of Washington, 2004
Published Sermons and Liturgical Resources Sermon resources. In Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Year C, Volume 1 Advent through Epiphany" by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009). "The Marriage of Debra Torrone and Robert Kilkenny." In Preaching 1 Corinthians 13, ed. Susan K. Hedahl and Richard Paul Carlson (Chalice Press, 2001). Sermons and worship resources for Palm/Passion Sunday and Ordinary Time 20. In The Abingdon Women's Preaching Annual, Series 2, Year A, ed. Leonora Tubbs Tisdale (Abingdon Press, 2001). "Innocent by Association." In Preaching through the Year of Luke: Sermons That Work IX, ed. Roger Alling and David J. Schlafer (Morehouse Pub., 2000). "Prayer for Bronte." In Women's Uncommon Prayers: Our Lives Revealed, Nurtured, Celebrated, ed. Elizabeth Rankin Geitz, Ann Smith and Marjorie A. Burke (Morehouse Pub., 2000).
Ordination Deacon, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, 1996 Priest, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, 1998
Education Princeton Theological Seminary, Ph.D. in Practical Theology, 2003 Australian College of Theology, Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Ministries, 1994 University of Melbourne, Master of Arts in Women's Studies, 1992; Bachelor of Arts, Honours, in Psychology, 1988
Continuing Education Gathering of Leaders, 2014 - present College of Congregational Development, Diocese of Olympia, class of 2018 Beautiful Authority 2016 CREDO, 2006, 2014 Clergy Leadership Project, Class XVIII, 2004-2007 Core Curriculum, College of Preachers, 2002
Certifications Level I Certification, Children’s Specialist, Professional Ski Instructors of America (2016) Level I Certification, Alpine Skiing, Professional Ski Instructors of America (2013)
Other Interests Kayaking, skiing, ballet, hiking, swimming, knitting and quilting, photography, gardening, reading.