Teresa Martin is new superior of Community of the Transfiguration
Episcopal News Service. September 8, 2008 [090808-04]
Sister Teresa Marie Martin is now serving as superior of the Community of the Transfiguration, an Episcopal women’s order based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Martin succeeded Sister Ann Margaret, who had served a total of 20 years as superior, with a five-year interim as assistant superior. Martin was elected on June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, and was installed at Evensong that night.
Martin, a California native, entered the Community of the Transfiguration in 1963 and was life professed on October 4, 1967. She taught grades 3 and 4 at the sisters' Bethany School, then served as a cottage mother and administrative assistant before becoming the school principal for five years. She later returned to teaching, but became principal again in 1979 for a transition year. During those years, she designed and taught vacation Bible schools in the South and Midwest, served as a member of the community council, and was on committees for liturgy, music and rule revision. She was also active in the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
In 1980 Martin moved to the Sisters' house in Eureka in the Diocese of Northern California to begin a new ministry leading workshops and retreats. In 1985 she became a Witness for Peace in Nicaragua, and spent a month there. She returned a year later at the invitation of the Bishop of Nicaragua to become a Volunteer for Mission, and a staff member of the Instituto Anglicano de Nicaragua, where she served for nine months.
Returning to the Northern California ministry, Martin again served in parish and diocesan affairs, including an anti-racism task force, the Church in the World commission and the Commission on Ministry. She attended Christ Church, Eureka, serving as a vestry member, webmaster, spiritual formation coordinator and diocesan convention representative. In addition to her travels to Nicaragua, Martin has been to China and the British Isles – particularly Ireland, where she expanded her knowledge and experience of Celtic spirituality. She is a skilled nature photographer and enjoys painting and drawing in various media.
Martin also founded the Women’s History Project in the Diocese of Northern California, and coordinated it for more than ten years. She did interviews with women leaders in the diocese, compiled a diocesan collection of women’s stories and helped individual parishes to start their own programs.