The Rev. Elizabeth Parker was born and raised in State College, Pennsylvania – home of Penn State and the Nittany Lions!  Liz grew up in the United Methodist Church, then became an ‘engaged’ Christian through the ministry of Young Life, a non-denominational outreach to high school students. Liz graduated from Penn State in 1976 with a BA in Theatre, and then moved to New York City where she became an Episcopalian at Grace Church on 10^th Street and Broadway. 

In 1979 she moved to England to work with Dr. Frank Lake, a British Christian psychiatrist and author of the massive “Clinical Theology”.  Liz joined Dr. Lake’s team of lay people who lived in community and helped facilitate workshops under the auspices of The Clinical Theology Association.

After returning to New York and spending several years working day jobs while auditioning, rehearsing and performing – mostly in off, off, off Broadway productions (think: basement in the Bowery, art gallery in Queens, etc.), Liz got her big break.  Or, as it’s known in religious circles, her call to ordained ministry.

Going to seminary also meant a welcome break from city living.  Liz packed her bags and moved to New Haven, Connecticut to attend Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.  Her favorite subjects included Old Testament, Theology, Christianity and the Arts, and Anglican History.  A year after she arrived she was introduced to Andy Parker, a new student from Lubbock, Texas.  Liz had no idea how to pronounce Lubbock, much less where to find it on the map.  Nevertheless, they were married during reading week in 1987.

Liz was ordained to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC in 1988.  In February of 1989 Liz was ordained to the priesthood at Christ Church, Greenwich, where she worked until Andy graduated.  Liz and Andy first served together in Abilene, Texas at the Church of the Heavenly Rest as assistants to the Rev. David Puckett.  After three years and the births of two sons in Abilene, they moved to Amarillo, where Liz worked as Associate Rector to the Rev. Bill Nix and Chaplain to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.  It was while at St. Andrew’s that Liz was first trained as a catechist for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a work she later helped begin at the day school and brought to St. Timothy’s.

Their youngest son was born in Amarillo in 1994.