The Rev. Sara Oxley has been called as the new rector at Good Shepherd, Maitland, and looks forward to her new role. She will begin on Aug. 1 and said her celebration of new ministry service will occur later. “I can’t wait to start at Good Shepherd and see what God has planned!”
But Oxley hasn’t always been a priest or even a member of The Episcopal Church. Prior to ordination, she worked as a registered nurse in Indiana and Florida hospitals, a deaconess, and the manager of training and research for World Relief and Human Care in The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
Nurse Sara Oxley at Dr. Philips Hospital in 2018 | Photo courtesy the Rev. Sara Oxley
Her Master of Arts in pastoral ministry from Nashotah House in Nashotah, Wisconsin, isn’t her only master’s degree. She also holds a Master of Science in nursing from the University of South Florida, a Master of Science in health care ethics from Creighton University and a Master of Arts in religion from Concordia Theological Seminary. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Purdue University.
Oxley’s call to the priesthood came as a big surprise. “At the time, I was in nursing education and health care ethics,” she explained. “I felt the call to be a deacon. But when I spoke to the Parish Discernment Committee, one member asked me if I wanted to begin the discernment process of becoming a priest. I looked at my husband and said, ‘I don’t think you would go for that.’ He said, ‘You’ll do it if God wants you to.’ While I was at Nashotah, it became clear that I was supposed to do this.”
She was ordained into the sacred order of priests on Aug. 16, 2019.
After ordination, Oxley served as assistant rector for Church of the Ascension, Orlando, taking on many roles. “I developed and taught Christian formation and Eucharistic classes,” she said. “I supervised and directed the children’s ministry coordinator and youth group leader. I provided pastoral care, was involved in healing ministry as a member of the Order of St. Luke healing ministry and volunteered at Dr. Phillips Hospital as a chaplain. I coached and encouraged ministry heads and implemented church planning software.”
In January 2021, she became the priest-in-charge at Ascension. “Bishop Brewer asked me to remain in leadership to guide the parish through this challenging time,” she said. “I rebuilt the parish following COVID and stabilized the parish for its new rector.”
Oxley was most recently the interim rector at St. Mark’s, Cocoa. The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, former bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida, appointed her to a transitional ministry there in August 2021. She also served as the acting head of school for St. Mark’s Academy, leading the parish and the school community to wholeness and high academic standards.
(L-R) The Rev. Sara Oxley and her husband, Les, (C) with their daughters, Lois (L) and Lydia (R), who is married to Nolan (far R) | Photo courtesy the Rev. Sara Oxley
“In a parish-wide healing process, the parish implemented structure, policies and procedures for the church to prepare for its permanent rector,” she explained. “I miss St. Mark’s. It was a great learning experience, and I will continue to pray for and love them.”
In addition to her priestly duties, Oxley was elected as a delegate for the next General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which will take place in June 2024. She has been a member of the Standing Committee for the diocese since January 2022.
Since the summer of 2021, she has also provided coordination and support to the ministry of the Rt. Rev. Patrick Augustine, missionary bishop in the Diocese of Bor, South Sudan. She participates, through an interpreter, in the weekly South Sudanese Diaspora worship conference call. She is also the founder and leader of the Central Florida Women Clergy group. She and Les, her husband of 32 years, have two daughters, Lydia and Lois.
“I am so blessed to have a call to serve at Good Shepherd!” Oxley said. “I am excited to see what God has in store for the church. I just hope I can get out of his way and let him do what he wants.”