People On The Move: Rev. Justi Settling In

St. Thomas Episcopal Congregants Say She Is Aptly Named

The 150-year old St. Thomas Episcopal Church has a new rector, Rev. Rebecca Justice Schunior. She is known as Rev. Justi, and congregants at the historic church at 2201 Dexter St, say she is aptly named.

As a child, she thought that war was a bad idea, and she should work for peace. As a teen she volunteered at Headstart, a homeless shelter, and Amnesty International, and worked with an anti-gun violence group. She went to St. John’s College in Annapolis, and continued on to Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. She was ordained in 2009.

A native North Carolinian, she credits her husband Andrew with teaching her how to have fun and a lighter heart while working to change the world. A friend suggested she look at St. Thomas because of its history as a social justice church. St. Thomas went through an 18-month search process, attracting candidates from all over the U.S.

“I have strong ideas about what it means to follow Jesus and make changes,” she says.

St. Thomas is a multi-generational, multi-racial church, with an active GLBTQ membership and a tradition of fine music, including traditional Anglican, spirituals, and gospel. During the summer, a single Sunday service is held at 9 a.m. In the fall, the double service schedule resumes, at 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.