Trinity Episcopal Church Calls 18th Rector

The Rev. Carlye J. Hughes

She is currently rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Peekskill, NY, in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Under her leadership St. Peter's Church has grown from a family-sized church to robust pastoral-sized parish with a team of lay leaders. Stewardship levels in the parish increased by 50 percent.

"We are convinced that the Rev. Hughes is the answer to God's call to us for a faithful servant who will minister to us and with us for years to come," said Senior Warden Jerry Nanna. "She clearly has the gifts of preaching, teaching, and pastoral care we were looking for to lead us into the future life of Trinity."

The Rev. Hughes has deep roots in Fort Worth. "Fort Worth is my home town, the place where I first discovered my love of the church and my call to religious vocation," she said.

David Smedley and Carlye Hughes

The Rev. Hughes graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity and was ordained in 2005. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of Texas, Austin. She attended Texas Christian University and Boston University. She was a Lilly Fellow at St. James Church, New York, NY from 2005 to 2007. Prior to entering seminary she worked as regional training manager for the Crown Plaza Manhattan. She co-chaired the Committee to Elect a Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of New York. She is a current member of the New York Diocesan Standing Committee and the Commission on Ministry. She also served as Diocesan Convention Chaplain in 2008. She is active in the Peekskill Area Pastor's Association, working on their Hunger Subcommittee and chaired the Diversity Subcommittee. She also has facilitated Diversity Awareness Training for Virginia Theological Seminary. She is married to David Smedley.

"I have a steadfast commitment to recruiting, nurturing and empowering lay people for ministry," she said.

Victor Mashburn and Judy Graber, co-chairs of the Succession Committee, said, "This call is the successful conclusion to a spirit-led succession process." It is anticipated that the Rev. Hughes will be formally installed as rector in late spring.

The Rt. Rev. Wallis Ohl, provisional bishop of Fort Worth, said, "I am delighted with the prayerful way that the Succession Committee at Trinity Parish has exercised its ministry throughout their search. I am also thankful for the vestry in electing the Rev. Carlye Hughes as their next rector. The Rev. Hughes will bring her incredible gifts and joyful personality to the work of continuing to develop the ministry of Trinity in new and exciting ways."

She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hughes. Her father was the long-time basketball coach at Dunbar High School and her brother, Robert Hughes Jr., is the current coach. The Rev. Hughes will be the second female rector in the diocese (Susan Slaughter of St. Luke's in the Meadow, Fort Worth, is the first) as well as the second African-American rector (Ron Baskin, former rector of St. Simon of Cyrene, was the first).

Trinity played a central role in the reorganization of the diocese after the former bishop and other diocesan leaders left The Episcopal Church in November 2008. Trinity hosted the February 2009 Special Convention led by the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop, and has continued to supply leaders, both lay and clergy, to the diocese as it rebuilds.