The Rev. Dr. Stefanie Taylor
Head Chaplain, Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
With 13 years of experience as a chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Stefanie Taylor began her journey as a curate and assistant chaplain fresh out of General Seminary. Initially, she was not enthusiastic about the chaplaincy aspect due to her personal experiences in youth ministry, which often felt underfunded and laden with unrealistic expectations. These experiences left her feeling overwhelmed, lonely, and hopeless, leading her to believe that she would never work in youth ministry again.
However, she quickly discovered that school chaplaincy was different from her past experiences. Unlike typical youth ministries, schools are well-funded and supported, with students required to attend and often enjoying their time in chapel. Chapel services are integrated into their daily schedules, eliminating competition with other activities like sleeping in or sports tournaments. This environment allowed students to worship freely at school and opened a new world for Stefanie to answer her true calling: to be a priest for the world, not just within the church.
Stefanie says, “I am called to give sacraments to those whom God puts in front of me, whether that be my daughter’s dance teacher, the stranger on the corner, the nurse in the waiting room, or the young people and their families who meet me at school every day. God wants access to them all, and God wants them to feel like they have access to him as well. For many, creed, conformity, and allegiance get in the way of that access. As a school chaplain, I get to highlight the gifts of the church without membership. I get to teach about God from many different lenses, and I get to say prayers over the grave of a person who never set foot in a church; I get to put Christ’s body in hands that have not declared allegiance, and I whisper Christ’s love into the ears of all who want to listen.”
For Stefanie, school chaplaincy is a delicate dance that blends her love and devotion to the church with her love and devotion to those God mentions in John 10:16: “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Contact | stefanie.taylor@hies.org