YOUNGSTOWN –St. John’s Episcopal Church welcomed the Right Rev. Anne B. Jolly, the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, who confirmed and received several members of the parish during a recent service.

Jolly is the first woman to serve as Ohio’s Diocesan Bishop. She was ordained and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Ohio at the Public Auditorium and Conference Center in Cleveland in April.

Jolly took over jurisdiction of the Ohio Diocese on July 1.

She has been part of the Episcopal Church for 18 years. She previously served as president of the standing committee in the Diocese of Chicago as the head of the ecclesiastical authority for two years throughout the interim period between diocesan bishops.

Jolly has been the rector of St. Gregory’s in Deerfield, Ill., for six years, a college for congregational development trainer, certified intercultural development inventory administrator and a congregational consultant for the Diocese of Chicago.

She had led vestry and leadership retreats across the country, served on the board of the Episcopal Parish Network and the World Missions Board of the Diocese of Texas.

Before receiving the call from St. Gregory’s, Jolly served at Good Shepherd in Austin, Texas, St. Paul’s in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Christ Church in Greenville, S.C.

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