Deborah (Deb) Tickell has joined the staff of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut as its new Northwest and Southwest Region Missionary. Her desk is located at The Commons in Meriden and her expected start date is December 13.
Deb presently resides in Surprise, Arizona with her wife, Emilie Finn (an Episcopal priest). Together they founded the Emmaus Episcopal Church community, where Deb currently serves as the Lay Missioner responsible for liturgy planning, leading worship in person and online, and serving as a regular officiant and preacher. She also is a facilitator of diocesan anti-racism training and a catalyst for the establishment of a committee for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and ministry. She has extensive experience working with youth, serving as a youth director at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Litchfield Park, Arizona, for nearly a decade.
A Connecticut native, UConn graduate, and lifelong Episcopalian, Deb was baptized at St. Thomas’s Church in New Haven and was a parishioner at St. Mark’s in Bridgewater for many years. She is the mother of two young adults and also is a “pet mom” to a beloved cat and dog. She is very happy to be returning to Connecticut. “I am excited because this position draws me back to my hometown, to the congregations that raised me, and to the dozens more I will serve,” Deb said. “To my friends in Connecticut and surrounding areas and to those I have yet to meet, I can’t wait to connect and reconnect and begin this next phase of life with you!”
“I am grateful to Deb for her ‘yes’ to serving as our new Region Missionary for the Northwest and Southwest Regions,” said the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Mello, Bishop Diocesan. “Deb has a deep passion for supporting the ministry of all the baptized and for helping to foster relationships between people and communities to better serve God in the community and witness to the transformative love of God. ECCT will be well-served by Deb’s experience and passion.”
I’m excited about this new chapter for the Northwest and Southwest Regions and for all of us in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut as we begin a new ministry with Deb Tickell,” said the Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan. “Deb brings strong entrepreneurial gifts and a passion for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut that will complement and strengthen our commitment to deepening and broadening our passion for sharing our love of the Lord.”
Please join us in welcoming Deb to the staff of ECCT, and Deb and her spouse to the Diocese.
Contact Deb (after 12/13):
dtickell@episcopalct.org
phone ext: TBA