First woman
named dean of
St. Andrew’s

The Episcopal clericwill assume
her duties at the cathedral this fall

---

By Mary Adamski
madamski@starbulletin.com

The first woman to be named dean of St. Andrew's Cathedral has been appointed by Hawaii Episcopal Bishop Richard S.O. Chang.

The Rev. Ann E.P. McElligott was chosen from three finalists in a process that started with 34 applicants. Although women have been ordained in the Episcopal Church for more than 25 years, she is only the 10th to be selected dean of a cathedral.

McElligott, 54, assumes her duties here in September. She has been the principal of St. John the Evangelist Theological College in Morpeth, Australia, since 1995, one of the first women to head a seminary in the Anglican communion.

She also serves as a canon at the cathedral in Newcastle, Australia. She is active in the church in America as well as Australia, participating as consultant on evangelism, Christian initiation and liturgy.

Born in Minnesota, she spent seven years as a rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Indianapolis. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from General Theological Seminary in New York City and a doctorate in religious education from New York University.

St. Andrew's Cathedral Chapter confirmed the appointment.

The choice ended an 18-month selection process to fill the position vacated in September 2000, when the Rev. Peter Courtney left. The Rev. Rick Vinson was interim pastor.

Search committee Chairman Nat Potter said members of the church were polled to "first try to discern who we were and then what kind of person we need to lead us."

Potter said there were a few objections to the selection of a woman. "There always will be. I can tell you that when her selection was announced on Sunday in church, it was met with applause."