WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Waynesboro Rotarians learned how Mother Ginger Bennett experienced a widely varied life that brought her to become the priest in charge at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and a reserve chaplain in the Air Force.
As a child of a military family and then a service member herself, Mother Bennett attended 23 schools, including four high schools and has lived in 13 states, plus South Korea.
Her journey in faith started early in life, and she said a strong belief in core values has formed a bedrock on which to build her life. A belief in community is one of her key core values.
“I see community in God,” she said. “We all need each other, like it or not. And we are all called upon to be stewards of the Earth.”
Her faith tradition has included time in Pentecostal, Methodist, Lutheran and Episcopal churches. She was ordained at the United Lutheran Seminary in 2020 and recently received her doctorate of ministry.
Along the way she has driven heavy vehicles in military service and worked for the federal government in the Department of Energy, Department of Government Ethics and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She has been a captain in the Civil Air Patrol and is currently a reserve chaplain in support of active-duty military personnel.
She said her belief in community and wide experience of faith traditions led her to Rotary membership.
“If I can help you in any way, I’m here to serve you,” she said.
