The Rev. Mary Lynn Coulson grew up in Kansas City, so she appreciates great barbecue and fireflies. The rolling plains and big skies of the Midwest cultivated in her a love of learning, art, nature and spirituality. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where she studied Environmental Studies and spent a transformational semester abroad in Senegal, West Africa to increase her proficiency in French. After graduating from a school that looks like Hogwarts, she worked at a local environmental magazine in Kansas City.
With the support of the Episcopal parish where she had grown up, she discerned a call to ordained ministry and quickly began seminary at Virginia Theological Seminary, outside of Washington, D.C. While there she delighted in learning biblical Hebrew, grew spiritually in painful and beautiful ways, and solidified her love for the Episcopal church. She also spent one year serving full-time as a hospital chaplain, and so pastoral care is the basis for all her ministry.
Mother Mary Lynn has spent the past three years serving as a curate and then assistant rector at St. Bartholomew’s in Poway. Her ministry included pastoral care, Christian formation, and serving as the chaplain to the preschool. Her husband, David, is minister of formation at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, and their son George just celebrated his second birthday.
Mother Mary Lynn is thrilled to join St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea as their Rector, helping people of all ages grow in their lives as disciples of Jesus. She can’t wait to immerse herself in the Pacific Beach community, joining with the parish and preschool in listening for God’s call for us in this particular place and time. In her time in discernment with the call committee and vestry of St. Andrew’s she has encountered this to be a vibrant and loving community - full of people of all ages who desire to grow and learn together. She is honored to be called to this special community and can’t wait to get to know everyone!
