Youth Missioner
Bishop Hollerith calls Ashley Scruggs as youth missioner
The Rt. Rev. Herman Hollerith IV, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia announced that on the recommendation of the Youth Missioner Search Committee, he has called Ms. Ashley Scruggs as youth missioner in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.
A native Virginian, Ashley was baptized and confirmed as a member of Immanuel Episcopal in Old Church and was especially active in worship and outreach ministries as a teenager. For many years she attended and later worked at Camp Hanover of the Presbytery of the James.
Ashley obtained the Bachelor of Arts in religion from the College of William and Mary in 2001. Recruited for the pilot program of the Young Priest Initiative of the Diocese of Virginia, Ashley interned at Grace Church, Stanardsville. She also participated in the Theological Internship in Urban Spirituality at Richmond Hill, sensing a clear call to seminary while in residence.
She received the Master of Arts, theological studies in Old Testament from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond in 2006. Ashley served the community as teaching assistant for Biblical Hebrew, chair of the Awareness Committee, International Student coordinator, and member of the Old Testament Department Search Committee.
Since June of 2006 she has been director of Christian Formation at Old Donation Church in Virginia Beach. Under her leadership, there were significant new developments in programming including a thriving Wednesday night formation program for adults, weekly EYC group, and pub theology group. She has also served the diocese as the chair of the YMT, co-chair of CE-Net, member of the Youth Ministry Transition Team and Safe Church trainer.
Ashley brings significant preaching and teaching experience, as well as skills in administration, retreat planning and pastoral care. Her professional passions include Biblical theology, liturgy design, ecological stewardship, contemplative spirituality and of course youth ministry. Personal interests include poetry writing, gourmet cooking, art history and karaoke.
Regarding her new calling, Ashley recently said “I am both extremely excited and deeply humbled by this great opportunity for ministry. As youth missioner, I am looking forward to getting to know the indigenous gifts and needs of the parishes of our diocese, and working collaboratively together to offer the best quality youth ministry programs and training opportunities.” She added, “I intend to make healthy programs, well-equipped leaders, exceptional worship and intentional mission my top priorities.”
Ashley will officially join the diocesan staff on April 1st of this year. “I am excited by the fact that Southern Virginia is moving forward in its ministry to young people,” said Bishop Hollerith.
Contact Ashley at ascruggs@diosova.org
