Introduction to Canon Claire Woodley

AUGUST 13, 2017
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The Rev. Claire Woodley named new Canon for Ministry Support

Bishop Provenzano today announced the appointment of the Rev. Claire Woodley as Canon for Ministry Support of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. 

Mother Woodley will be principally focused on the support, growth, and oversight of all transition ministry work. She will also focus on gathering, encouraging, and supervising diocesan missioners. She will work closely with the Mercer School of Theology staff and the Diocesan Commission on Ministry to provide resources and guidance for seminarians and newly ordained clergy.

Bishop Provenzano said, “I am very excited that Mother Woodley has accepted the call to serve as my Canon for Ministry Support. She possesses the necessary experience and abilities to aid our congregations, clergy, and lay leaders in the next steps of our developing ministry across the diocese. 

Mother Woodley will officially begin her new work on October 16 but will attend and will be introduced at the diocese’s Clergy Day gathering on October 3. I am looking forward to her joining our diocesan team." 

Since 2001, Mother Woodley has been rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Mohegan Lake. Under her leadership, St. Mary’s is building a strong family and youth ministry, and a new outreach center with space for a community food pantry, children’s book pantry, and a wellness center for a community health clinic.

She also developed community partnerships that established programs such as the “Save-a-Life” program training youth and adults to be first responders to teens and families in crisis. 

Mother Woodley has been active on numerous Episcopal diocesan and churchwide committees. As chair of the Congregational Development Commission of the Diocese of New York she transformed its efforts from a granting program into direct service to congregations. She co-chaired the Strategic Planning group of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and co-authored “Open Doors/New Futures: Strategies for Vital and Viable Congregations” for that diocese’s 2016 strategic plan.

Her other publications include topics such as Women’s Leadership Development in the Episcopal Church and Youth Leader Training.

She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York and was ordained in 1989. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Theory and Performance from the University of Minnesota. 

Mother Woodley grew up in Minnesota, the youngest of six and came to New York in 1977. She lives in Ossining, NY and has three adult children, Katrina (36), Lucas (26), and Adam (24).  Her sons live in Brooklyn and her daughter resides in Washington D.C.