On February 1, 2025, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia, hosted the ordination of the Rev. Rebecca Casey and the Rev. Caroline Mitchell to the Sacred Order of Priests in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. Bishop Mark Stevenson presided over the service, welcoming two women who had each followed a unique path to the priesthood.
Rebecca “Becki” Casey came to Virginia through the Pathways in Ministry program at Virginia Theological Seminary. Raised in the West in a tradition that did not allow women to serve as ordained ministers, Becki spent much of her life working as an equestrian trainer and in Christian camp ministry. She had served as a lay leader throughout her adult life but was never able to pursue ordination until she found a place in The Episcopal Church. She now serves as the priest in the parishes of Piedmont in Madison and Grace in Stanardsville, bringing a deep passion for ministry to rural communities.
Caroline Mitchell’s journey also began at Virginia Theological Seminary through Pathways in Ministry. Before seminary, she worked in town management and emergency services, later joining the American Red Cross as a disaster response manager. Her work with the Red Cross led her to become the Director of Disaster Spiritual Care, offering spiritual and emotional support to those affected by disasters. Caroline will serve as associate clergy at St. Thomas in McLean.
The day marked the beginning of their priesthood journey, with Becki and Caroline ready to continue their ministries, sharing God’s love and care with the communities they serve and beyond.
