EDSD Calls The Rev. Beth Scriven as Canon to the Ordinary for Leadership Development

The Diocese of San Diego is glad to announce the call of a new Canon to the Ordinary for Leadership Development: The Rev. Beth Scriven, who comes to us from the Diocese of Indianapolis. In her new role, Canon Beth will take on many duties currently under the care of Canon Gwynn Lynch, who plans to retire as of April 1. These duties include consulting with congregations on congregational development, vestry support, conflict resolution, leadership development, and clergy transitions. She will also serve as the staff liaison to the Commission on Ministry, the diocesan liturgist, and the primary organizer for diocesan convention and several other diocesan events. Canon Beth will join the executive team of diocesan staff, which also includes Canon Jason Evans, the Canon to the Ordinary for Mission, and The Rev. Canon Jeff Martinhauk, the Canon for Finance. All three Canons will report directly to the Bishop. Canon Beth plans to start her new role as of Feb. 23, allowing time for overlap with Canon Gwynn before the latter’s retirement. Bishop Susan Brown Snook said, “We are excited to welcome The Rev. Beth Scriven to our diocese, and we will be glad to put her gifts to work here in our diocese, supporting our congregations and their ministries.”

The Rev. Beth Scriven was ordained a priest in 2008, after attending Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and Smith College. Since that time, Beth has served as an interim rector, parish associate, college chaplain, and church plant vicar, ministering in small, medium, and large congregations and in times of both stability and transition. In each setting, the heart of her ministry has been to accompany individuals and groups through discerning who God is inviting them to be as disciples of Jesus, called to love and serve a hurting world, and how to live that out in ways that will bring joy and life for today as well as for the next 5-50 years. She brings training and experience in Commission on Ministry work, preventing sexual abuse and harassment, and the College for Congregational Development, and served as a Deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of Missouri in 2018-2021, including being elected as the deputation chair in 2021. She sees her ministry specialties as relational leadership, discernment, leadership development, preaching, and conflict resolution.

Beth is a born and bred Midwesterner, raised in the Cleveland area by two public school educators, but eager now to get to know the beautiful and varied geography of our southern California and Arizona region. She grew up deeply engaged in church, Girl Scout camp, public education, and the Cleveland tradition of loyalty to local teams, no matter the heartbreak. In her life outside church, she loves cooking for people, listening to the Indigo Girls, repeatedly watching Heartstopper, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The West Wing, and laughing at anything and everything.

Beth writes, “I look forward to getting to know the people and congregations of EDSD over the coming months and joining you in living out your vision of Courageous Love.”