Bishop Announces New Chaplain for Rockwell House Campus Ministry
St. Louis, March 23, 2022
The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, announced the calling of the Rev. Hope (Hopie) Jernagan as Chaplain of Rockwell House Episcopal Campus Ministry in St. Louis.
"I am delighted that Hopie has accepted this position and am excited for the future of our campus ministry in St. Louis," Bishop Johnson said.
Rockwell House serves the campuses of Washington University and Saint Louis University, but also welcomes all area college students (undergraduate or graduate). The ministry and many members are Episcopalian, but all students are welcome to engage in the food, fun, and fellowship at Rockwell House.
The ministry has a worship service and dinner each Sunday evening, a community dinner each Wednesday evening, and offers support, prayer and more for area college students.
Rev. Hopie began serving as Interim Chaplain of Rockwell House last summer and now continues as the ministry's permanent Chaplain. Rockwell House will be celebrating this new ministry as part of its 20th anniversary celebration on April 24, 2022.
Learn more about Rockwell House Episcopal Campus Ministry and read Rev. Hopie's bio here:
Biography: The Rev. Hope Welles Jernagan
Hope Welles Jernagan (Hopie), is an Episcopal Priest, ordained in 2008. She is a graduate of The General Theological Seminary, and received her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis. While a student at Washington University, Hopie was an active participant at the Rockwell House, and was part of the original group of students to first occupy the house. Hopie discerned her call to ordained ministry as a student at the Rockwell House.
In 2007, Hopie served as the summer chaplain at Camp Beckwith in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, which ignited her love of chaplaincy. Hopie’s first role in ordained ministry was as chaplain to the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, a 6-12 grade private school in Jacksonville, FL. She is the recipient of the Bishop’s Cross Award in the Diocese of Florida for her pastoral handling of a school tragedy. After five years as chaplain, Hopie and her family moved to St. Louis. In 2015, Hopie became the Executive Director of Magdalane St. Louis, a residential community for women survivors of trafficking, exploitation, and addiction. She stepped down in 2018 to begin her own business as a communications and graphic design consultant for churches and nonprofits.
From the beginning of her discernment to ministry, Hopie has been passionate about ministry outside of the parish. She has always felt most at home working with teenagers and young adults, and believes that spiritual development is an essential element in human development. Hopie is married to The Rev. Luke Jernagan and has three elementary-aged children. In addition to these loves, Hopie also loves her gym, cooking, traveling, and laughing.
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