About The Rev. Kimberly D. Lucas

The Rev. Kimberly D. Lucas grew up in Spring Lake, NC. She is a “near” cradle Episcopalian, baptized at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville at the age of two.  When her mother remarried, she spent time at her step-father’s church St. Luke’s AME where she says, “They taught me about female leadership and how to preach.” While attending college at Wake Forest University, she joined the Episcopal Student’s group and under the guidance of the chaplain (The Rev. Bob MCGee) started confirmation classes. It was during this time that she felt the first stirrings of a call to ministry.

After graduating with a BS in Biology, Kym attended Union Theological Seminary, in New York City where she received her Master of Divinity. While in New York she also took classes at the General Theological Seminary (Episcopal). Kym was ordained to the deaconate in 1996 and ordained priest in 1997. Prior to her arrival at St. Ambrose, she served as: Assistant Rector at St. Luke’s Bethesda, MD, Rector at Christ Church, Pittsburgh, PA, and Priest Associate at The Church of the Advocate, Chapel Hill, NC.

Kym and Mark Retherford (her partner of nine years) have two children, Jaden and Kaia and Kym works to balance her duties as pastor with her other callings as wife and mother. Sometimes finding time to pray can be challenge, but she feels strongly that God has called her to serve St. Ambrose at this time.

And what do you call a female priest? Kym says:

The titles of clergy are given as terms of respect. If you call a male priest “father,” it is respectful to call a female “mother.” But, because I’ve hung out with clergy from a lot of different denominations, I’m not picky. I’m comfortable with “pastor” or “reverend.” I’ve even been called “father,” which is ok by me..  Kimberly (Kym) is my Christian name and it works too.