Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) has named the Rev. Kedron Jarvis, who grew up attending St. Thomas’, Columbus, and was ordained in the Diocese of Atlanta, to the newly created position of director of church relations.

Jarvis will be in charge of all the activities and services ERD carries out with churches, including volunteer trips and developing youth and Sunday school curricula, while supporting and encouraging churches to be involved with ERD. "This is exciting because there isn't a blue print," Jarvis said. "I think what ERD is looking for is to have someone who can be out in parishes answering questions and sharing what we are doing in God's name. I will work on how individuals and parishes can partner with ERD to take their ministries outside their walls. Our churches need a point person at ERD. I hope to be that."

Jarvis, a cradle Episcopalian, is a native of Columbus. She went on her first short-term mission trip from St. Thomas at age 13, igniting her passion for sharing God's love through action. While attending the University of Georgia, where she earned her degree in anthropology, Jarvis went through the discernment process in the Diocese of Atlanta After graduation, she worked for Church of the Saviour, an ecumenical outreach-minded organization of small churches in Washington, D.C. From there, she entered seminary at Virginia Theological Seminary, was ordained deacon and priest in Atlanta, and served at Holy Innocents’.

Most recently, Jarvis was the associate rector at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Herndon, Va., where she focused on adult education and mission and led the 137-year old parish on its first international mission trip to Botswana last summer. Her mission experience also includes trips to Mexico, Fiji, the Dominican Republic, and Greece.