The REv. Laurel Matthewson

St. Luke’s, North Park

Nominee’s short bio: Laurel Mathewson was born and raised in Oregon, but found her way to the San Francisco bay area to attend Stanford University. While there, she also found a passion for the intersection of faith, politics, and social justice; the cultural and spiritual implications of landscape; and a life partner (her now-husband, Colin). Before seminary at the University of the South (Sewanee), Laurel worked as a research assistant, an editorial assistant at Sojourners, and a campus missioner at UCSD. Although she began to explore the possibility of ordained ministry while attending an Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., Laurel was confirmed, sponsored for ordination, and ordained a priest at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, where she led formation from 2013-16. In October 2016, the Mathewsons moved across Balboa Park to begin a new adventure with St. Luke's in North Park. Laurel is passionate about teaching and preaching the ever-surprising love of God, parenting her three children, trees, well-made cookies, and inspiring writing (which she aspires to create, sometimes and some days). Laurel's spiritual memoir in conversation with St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, titled An Intimate Good: A Skeptical Christian Mystic in Conversation with Teresa of Avila, was published by Whitaker House in 2024.

Nominee’s Statement in Favor of Their Candidacy: One of my God-given strengths is the ability to remain grounded in the midst of conflict, and remain attuned to consistent treatment of all parties. I would be honored to put these aspects of my constitution and experience to work in the larger church when needed. I've been called upon to serve as a Title IV advisor in two cases and have experience with Title IV proceedings from both "outside" and "inside" a congregation.