New Canon to the Ordinary: The Rev. Gwynn Lynch

I am delighted to announce the call of our canon to the ordinary. She is the Rev. Gwynn Lynch, and she has served in our diocese as a priest for many years, currently serving as priest-in-charge of Grace, San Marcos where her last Sunday will be January 5.

Gwynn’s experience as a priest and lay leader in several congregations over the span of decades, and her extensive service in diocesan leadership, make her an ideal candidate for this position. She served as standing committee president, member of executive council, chair of the commission on ministry, deputy to general convention, and in many other capacities.

Gwynn will begin her new position on January 15 and will serve as the second in command at the diocesan office. She will take primary responsibility for guiding clergy transitions, supporting our governing bodies, and consulting with congregations and vestries on leadership, growth, conflict, and organizational issues. She will serve as staff liaison to our strategic planning team and will assist me in putting our plan into action.

She will oversee our congregational assessment tool surveys, mutual ministry reviews, mediation and facilitation, grant approvals, and other congregational support. As a member of our executive team, she will be an essential part of the decision-making structure on our diocesan staff.

Gwynn is married to Frank Freund. They’ve known each other since they attended high school together in Los Angeles. They have three grown children – Peter, Joey and Caroline. Gwynn and Frank live in Poway with two delightful geriatric cats.

Our search continues for a canon to the ordinary for evangelism and discipleship. That canon will also report directly to me as a member of our executive team. He or she will take primary responsibility for guiding our diocesan ministries of evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and forming new missional communities. We hope to have that person on board early in the new year.

I look forward to having Gwynn join our staff, and working in partnership with her in the years to come. Please join me in prayer and welcome for our new canon to the ordinary.