Rev. Canon Virginia "Ginny" Doctor - Resume
c/o The Episcopal Diocese of Alaska
1205 Denali Way
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Ministry Objective: To improve the spiritual wellness of people, particularly Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
Education:
Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY
Oswego State University, Oswego, NY
Vancouver School of Theology, Native Ministries Program (two summers)
Ordination, The Episcopal Church
Transitional Diaconate: September 3, 2000
Priesthood: July 15, 2001
Other Training:
Anti-Racism, Women of Vision, Creative Journey (empowerment of women’s leadership), Indigenous Women’s Pathways (leadership training for Indian/Native women) Sexual Misconduct Prevention training, The Kingian Approach for Non-Violence for Social Change, and a number of theological training sessions through the Diocese of Alaska’s David Salmon School for Ministry, the Indigenous Theological Training Institute and “Happening” (spiritual awakening and development for teens).
Ministry Experience:
1976-1993: Executive Director of a non-profit social
service agency serving the Indian
community in the Central New York area. Duties included overall
management of agency, planning and development, administration of
grants from local, state and federal agencies.
1993-2008 Appointed missionary through the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, serving in the Diocese of Alaska. Duties include: identifying, empowering and training lay leadership in several remote Native villages, planning and development of programs/projects for the Bishop, providing pastoral care and sacraments to Native Villages without clergy, serving as the Canon to the Ordinary with special emphasis on lay and ordained leadership development
1997-2001 Special Assistant to the Bishop – ministry program planner and grant writer; providing pastoral care to several congregations without clergy or Lay leadership; developed and directed the Young Adult Mission Exposure Project for the Diocese; assisted with Diocesan Convention planning and also Interior deanery meeting planning, coordinated and delivered all training for the diocese.
2001-present Canon to the Ordinary – duties included all of those listed above and Interpretation of the Canons, advising the Bishop on numerous matters related to clergy, staff and congregations. Also serve as the Deployment Officer for the Diocese and liaison for the Commission on Ministry. Since the Bishop’s departure I have responsible for supervising all staff and ensuring that the diocese is fiscally responsible and adheres to the Canons of the Church. Pastoral care is also provided to a number of congregations without clergy.
Related Experience:
Training:
Women of Vision Trainer, Indigenous Women’s Pathways Trainer, Creative
Journey Trainer, workshop leader in Native Spirituality and cultural sensitivity;
retreat leader; trainer for the Small Church Leadership Institute; and
have been an instructor in ministry planning at the Native Ministries Summer
School, Vancouver School of Theology and will return in the Summer of 2008
to teach on Anti-Racism.
Writing:
Contributing writer of prose and poetry to the “Ikhana,” the now defunct
“Journal for Women’s Ministry,” “O Ye Frost and Cold,” the “Alaska Epiphany,”
and the book of “Women’s Uncommon Prayers,” “The First People’s Theological
Journal,” and “Liturgics IV – The Chant of Life.”
Other skills:
Music leader for St. James’ Episcopal Mission, Tanana, AK; I play the guitar,
a variety of percussion instruments and am learning how to play the Native
American flute; contributing artist for the “Women’s Round Calendar.” I
am currently involved in a research project on the influence of the deaconesses
and other women missionaries on the ministry and lives’ of Native Women.
Affiliations:
Member of the Lower Mohawk Nation, Six Nations Reserve, Ontario, Canada; President of the Indigenous Theological Training Institute, former member of the Design Team for the Sabbath Retreat (National event sponsored by the Ministries with Young People Cluster), past member of Executive Council of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, past Chair of the Episcopal Council of Indigenous Ministries (and currently member pro-temp), and a number of other committees/task forces of the Episcopal Church.
Awards and Honors:
1983 Recipient of the “Unsung Heroine Award” for work with Native American
women and girls. Presented by the N.O.W. Chapter of Central New York
1986 Recipient of the “Outstanding Young Woman in our Community,” presented by the Syracuse Jaycettes.
1990 Recipient of the “Woman of Achievement in Human Rights.” presented by the Syracuse, NY, newspapers.
1995 Recipient of a “Polly Bond Award of Merit,” presented by the Episcopal Communicators.
