The Officers and Vestry of Christ Church, Harwich Port are pleased to announce the call of The Rev. Donna L. Foughty to be our Sixth Rector.
Our new Rector describes herself as a typical Northern New Jersey baby boomer kid whose childhood was punctuated by “duck and cover” during the Cold War days, baseball greats Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, the Mickey Mouse Club, trips with her Dad to NYC museums, the World’s Fair of 1964/65, the Amazin’ Mets, and leadership in Girl Scouts.
While attending Ramapo College of New Jersey she met her husband Mike and they were married in 1974. During Mike’s Air Force career, son Patrick was born in 1979 and Elizabeth followed in 1984. During this period Donna began theological study with courses in Education For Ministry and Clinical Pastoral Education as well as a summer seminary education in South Dakota.
Donna was ordained to the diaconate in 1987 with ministry focused on serving Americans assigned to NATO and Europe. When she and Mike returned to the States her ministry involved pastoral care to sick and terminally ill Native Americans in Rapid City, S.D.
When Mike was reassigned to the DC area in the early 90’s Donna completed a Masters of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary in 1995. Another tour with the Air Force transplanted them to Grand Forks, North Dakota where her ministry centered on the recovery efforts after the flood of 1997. In 2002 Mother Donna was ordained to the priesthood. Her experience in ordained ministry has included being a minister at the historic church that George Washington helped found, successfully holding together a parish that had been deemed “terminal”, and mentoring a future Bishop.
Mike is retired from the State Department, his second career. Their children are leading professional lives and raising families. Their daughter Elizabeth, son-in-law David and grandchild Eleanor live in Arlington, Ma. Their son Patrick and his wife are in transition with the military.
Donna and Mike are excited about moving to Cape Cod from their home in Alexandria, Va. and are “looking forward with great joy to be engaged in the ministries that God has given us and Christ Church to do together.” They will be living in Harwich Port.
Both the Vestry and the Search Committee are grateful that this call to serve with Donna in mutual ministry is moving on to the next step in our journey. We will announce a beginning date for slowly phasing back to worship, service, and fellowship at Christ Church when we know more from the Diocese and the State of Massachusetts. It has been a challenging time during this pandemic but we believe it is also a very exciting time to be greeting our new priest who brings a rich ministry, deep faith in God, patience and care, and a sense of humor to our community.
With faith and gratitude to God for our new beginnings together, Deborah N. Aylesworth and Jane Romer, Wardens
May 10, 2020
Our sign at the parking lot door was lovingly restored by Todd Woolley who took the wood apart and re-stained it as well as painted the flag and gold letters. Our Rector’s name and scallop shells are the artful carving of Dave Truesdale. Thanks to both generous parishioners.