The Rev. Canon Elise Johnstone, Class of 2005, has been called as the new Priest in Charge at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, in Seattle, WA., starting August 8.

The call marks a return to parish ministry for Johnstone, who has been serving since 2014 as the Canon to the Ordinary of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, in Kentucky.  She previously served as Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity, Georgetown, KY, and the Assistant Rector of Good Shepherd, Lexington, KY.  She has a Bachelor’s in Classics from the University of Georgia, a Master of Divinity from General, and a Doctor of Ministry in Liturgy from the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, TN. 

She has relished serving the Church on local, diocesan, and church-wide levels, serving multiple triennia as deputy and chair to General Convention, as well as serving on the Episcopal-Presbyterian Dialogue and the Board of the College for Bishops. 

Her passions, in addition to her family, are liturgy, music, connecting those in need with resources while showing them they are loved and respected, as well as ballet and theatre.  She is married to Ryan Shrauner, who is a seminary librarian, ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and a native of the Seattle area.