The Vestry of St. Stephen’s and the Vine Episcopal Church is pleased to announce we have hired The Rev. Dr. Teresa Mithen Danieley as our part-time Transitional Priest-in-Charge. Her first day will be October 1, 2025.
“Teresa brings many years of experience in leading a parish in worship and community outreach,” said Senior Warden Susan Fazio. “We are very excited to begin working together to support and grow St. Stephen’s and the Vine!”
Pastor Teresa has spiritual roots at St. Stephen’s – she attended her first Happening (youth spiritual retreat) at St. Stephen’s in the 1990s, was a seminarian preacher here in the early 2000s, and has served as a supply priest with us in recent years. She grew up near the church, just off S. Florissant, near the Normandy Animal Hospital.
“My life’s work has been to help people and organizations (religious and secular) act faithfully on the values they proclaim,” Pastor Teresa said. “Demonstrating agape love with glad and generous hearts and acting as the Lord’s hands and feet to all whom we meet – that is what being the Church means to me.”
Pastor Teresa has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago, a Master of Divinity degree from General Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eden Theological Seminary.
Community activism is an important part of Pastor Teresa’s life. She serves as the St. Louis Champions Organizer at Missouri Jobs with Justice and is the Missioner for Public Advocacy in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. She also volunteers with the Mann Elementary School PTO, Metro Trans Umbrella Group Pantry Deliveries, Faith Aloud, and the Yale Club of St. Louis.
“One of my dear friends, a Canon to the Ordinary in another Diocese, encourages congregations to think about increasing their AWE – Average Weekly Engagement – rather than ASA – Average Sunday Attendance, which is a brilliant frame for ministry, in my estimation,” Pastor Teresa said. “What is the current AWE of St. Stephen’s? What could it be? I would be eager to explore this together.”
Pastor Teresa served as the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in the Tower Grove neighborhood of St. Louis for 12 years, and most recently has been a Priest Associate at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in St. Louis. Her role as part-time transitional priest with St. Stephen’s and the Vine will be for two years, with potential for renewal or extension at that time.
Special thanks to members of St. Stephen’s Vestry, who functioned as the Discernment Team in hiring the Rev. Dr. Teresa Danieley.
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people, we thank you for bringing us your servant Teresa, who you raised up to be a pastor in your Church and feed your flock: give abundantly to her the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that she may minister in your household as a true servant of Christ and steward of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.