The Rev. Barbara Harrison Seward is the inaugural southern canon missioner in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She began her ministry on Feb. 15, 2022. []
Seward, a 2011 graduate of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, most recently served as rector and priest in charge at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She connected with the church while studying at the seminary. From her time at EMS, Sewards notes the 鈥済reat listening skills鈥� and 鈥渢hat peace ethic and conflict resolution [that] rippled through every class.鈥�
In her new position, Seward leads the mission priorities with half of the parishes in the diocese. She will work with the northern canon missioner and the canon for mission resources and chief operating officer, while also reporting to the diocese鈥檚 bishop. Her other responsibilities include helping to guide priorities and build partnerships among congregations and in the communities they serve.
Seward began the discernment process of serving in this role during the pandemic. She recognized a need within struggling communities, she says, both because of the pandemic and because of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.
鈥淎ll that fell into my sense of call, it raised up so much within me,鈥� Seward said in a recent interview with EMS staff. 鈥淚 wanted to be more than an establishment priest.鈥� Her call, she says, is still unfolding.
Some of the priorities in the diocese are racial reconciliation and justice, clergy and lay formation, and creating healthy churches. Developing congregations is a skill Seward has 鈥渁lways had,鈥� but she discovered that it was 鈥渂etter utilized from my being on the outside coming in.鈥� This applies both to congregations and communities. 鈥淲herever I go, I’m paying attention to the systems.鈥�
What excites her most about the new role, Seward says, is getting to 鈥渉elp people see that we’re part of something bigger, even something bigger than the Episcopal church, but the church itself, regardless of denomination.鈥� Seward draws energy both from 鈥渨orking with wonderful people鈥� and 鈥減articipating in the formation of the church.鈥�
The Rt. Rev. Kevin D. Nichols spoke of Seward鈥檚 鈥渨arm pastoral presence, deep commitment to the most vulnerable and her diverse experience in serving congregations in the midst of difficult transitions.鈥�
In addition to her Master of Divinity degree from EMS, Seward holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Fayetteville State University, a master鈥檚 degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary. She has also served parishes in Minnesota, Illinois, and Maryland.