ST. ANNE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WELCOMING · DIVERSE · PROGRESSIVE
RESTON, VIRGINIA
Associate Rector for
Discipleship
About Kara Laughlin
Kara Laughlin most recently comes to us from St. Matthew’s in Sterling, VA where she has been serving as a Deacon this summer. She also served an internship with Rev. Dina at Epiphany in Herndon, and her sending congregation is St. James in Leesburg, where her role there was Teacher & Teaching Commission Chair, leading formation programs for children and youth.
Kara earned her MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary in May of this year.
Prior to seeking ordination, Kara was a professional freelance and editor for 21 years, author of multiple articles, poems and more than 60 nonfiction children’s books, including books about the pandemic and racial justice.​
She lives in Leesburg, VA with her husband, Jim Ferry, and their three children: Sebastian and Electra, who are college students, and Cordelia, who is a rising high school senior.
July 11, 2025
Dear St. Anne’s,
I am excited to share that the Reverend Kara Laughlin will be our new Associate Rector for Discipleship! Kara comes to us from St. Matthew’s in Sterling, VA where she has been serving as a Deacon this summer. She earned her Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in May. Prior to seeking ordination, Kara published more than 60 nonfiction children’s books, including books about the pandemic and racial justice. She has a passion for children and youth ministry as well as adult education, and is energized by our Action ministries of pantry and social justice.
Take a moment to check out her bio and read her welcome letter below. Mother Kara will join us in worship on Sunday, August 24. Her first day in the office with us will be Tuesday, August 26. Mark your calendars to extend a warm St. Anne's welcome to Mtr Kara that week.
I am incredibly grateful to our Search Committee! A special thank you goes out to Sandy Chamblee-Head and Brandon Huffman for serving as Search Committee Chairs. In addition, I'm so appreciative to the entire team, including Chris Cameron, Bernadette Capelle, Glen Corso, Martha Furniss and Rebecca Krentel for their faithful dedication as we discerned the best candidate for St. Anne's.
Join me in prayers of praise and gratitude as we anticipate welcoming Mtr Kara to St. Anne's!
In celebration,
Greetings, People of St. Anne’s!
I am delighted to accept the call to be your new Associate Rector for Discipleship. I’ve admired St. Anne’s from afar ever since my husband and oldest kid moved to Virginia from Illinois twenty years ago. I’m excited to finally have the opportunity to be a part of your welcoming and inclusive community!
​
I grew up in a small rural parish in Rhode Island, where we had Morning Prayer on three Sundays out of four.
When I think of St. Anne’s, I think of a few lines from the General Thanksgiving at the end of that service, when we pledge to “show forth our praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service.” I have already seen St. Anne’s doing exactly that—I visited not long after the Great Water Fountain Flood of 2025, and watched people getting the food pantry ready with care, while others worked in the makeshift office. I am enjoying the origami star I picked out that was left over from your Summer Celebration.
You are a group of people who are living out your faith by seeking justice in the world, especially for those our society has deemed the least among us. I’m looking forward to this new role of Discipleship, where I can empower all the people of St. Anne’s to spread that work even further into Reston and beyond.
I’m looking forward to meeting you in August!
Yours in joy and gratitude,
​
Kara Laughlin