Dear St. Francis Family,
On behalf of the Search Committee and Vestry, is with great joy that I am able to announce the upcoming arrival of the Reverend Katharine Grace Flexer who will become the rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Pauma Valley. The Search Committee worked diligently to create the documents that shared the information regarding our parish with interested clergy across the nation. They worked with the San Diego Diocese on this process and considered the applicants. They interviewed those they thought were the best fit for our church. Following those interviews and an in-person visit, with the Search Committee and Vestry, Rev. Flexer was selected. She has met with our Diocesan Bishop Snook and her placement was approved this past week. She has accepted the call to our church. Her first day at our parish will be March 20, 2025 and her first Sunday service will be March 23, 2025.
Reverend Kate grew up in the Seattle area and received a BA in Politics from Whitman College. She attended seminary at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. She was ordained in the year 2000, and served churches in California in San Francisco, San Jose, and Berkeley. She has been the Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Manhatten in New York since 2014.
At her church in New York, Revered Kate led traditional and innovative worship services. She found many ways to reach out and welcome new members, most of them new to the Episcopal Church and has also spent time deepening the spiritual roots of the church members as well as the community. Rev. Kate plans to provide pastoral, spiritual, and administrative leadership for our church. She also has experience in developing Christian Education, Youth Ministry and preparation for baptism and confirmation and has led young adult ministries and adult forums.
Reverend Kate recognizes that St. Francis has an abundance of resources and land as well as lovely, peaceful facilities. She will prayerfully assist in maintaining and using our property well, to serve our community and sustain for the future.
She admires how our church follows our patron St. Francis by intentionally seeking to live out his example of integrity and prayerful action. Rev. Kate has expressed a hope to explore our beautiful Pauma Valley and surrounding communities and looks forward to assisting us in growing our ministry here.
Reverend Kate’s husband, Jim Hinch, is a professional journalist, and they have two children, Frannie and Ben. They also have a dog named Gabriel. We all look forward to introducing Reverend Kate and her family to you in person. Until then, please continue to remember them in your prayers as they make their move to our area.
Yours in Christ,
David Winebarger, Senior Warden
St. Francis Episcopal Church, Pauma Valley
Litany for Discernment for congregation seeking new ordained leadership
Click here to read our St. Francis Parish Profile.
On behalf of the Search Committee and Vestry, is with great joy that I am able to announce the upcoming arrival of the Reverend Katharine Grace Flexer who will become the rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Pauma Valley. The Search Committee worked diligently to create the documents that shared the information regarding our parish with interested clergy across the nation. They worked with the San Diego Diocese on this process and considered the applicants. They interviewed those they thought were the best fit for our church. Following those interviews and an in-person visit, with the Search Committee and Vestry, Rev. Flexer was selected. She has met with our Diocesan Bishop Snook and her placement was approved this past week. She has accepted the call to our church. Her first day at our parish will be March 20, 2025 and her first Sunday service will be March 23, 2025.
Reverend Kate grew up in the Seattle area and received a BA in Politics from Whitman College. She attended seminary at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. She was ordained in the year 2000, and served churches in California in San Francisco, San Jose, and Berkeley. She has been the Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Manhatten in New York since 2014.
At her church in New York, Revered Kate led traditional and innovative worship services. She found many ways to reach out and welcome new members, most of them new to the Episcopal Church and has also spent time deepening the spiritual roots of the church members as well as the community. Rev. Kate plans to provide pastoral, spiritual, and administrative leadership for our church. She also has experience in developing Christian Education, Youth Ministry and preparation for baptism and confirmation and has led young adult ministries and adult forums.
Reverend Kate recognizes that St. Francis has an abundance of resources and land as well as lovely, peaceful facilities. She will prayerfully assist in maintaining and using our property well, to serve our community and sustain for the future.
She admires how our church follows our patron St. Francis by intentionally seeking to live out his example of integrity and prayerful action. Rev. Kate has expressed a hope to explore our beautiful Pauma Valley and surrounding communities and looks forward to assisting us in growing our ministry here.
Reverend Kate’s husband, Jim Hinch, is a professional journalist, and they have two children, Frannie and Ben. They also have a dog named Gabriel. We all look forward to introducing Reverend Kate and her family to you in person. Until then, please continue to remember them in your prayers as they make their move to our area.
Yours in Christ,
David Winebarger, Senior Warden
St. Francis Episcopal Church, Pauma Valley
Litany for Discernment for congregation seeking new ordained leadership
Click here to read our St. Francis Parish Profile.
