Hicks was trained locally to serve St. Paul’s, Bear Mountain

By Christie M. Wills

St. Paul’s, Bear Mountain, was packed for the ordination to the priesthood of the Rev. Phyllis Hicks. Hicks is the first member of the Monacan tribe to be ordained a priest and the first Native American woman to be ordained a priest in Virginia.
“Thanks be to God!” said Hicks after the service. “I’m so glad this day has come.”
Hicks was first asked to consider discerning a call to the priesthood by Bishop Heath Light in the early 1990s following the retirement of the Rev. Deacon John Harraughty, who had served St. Paul’s for nearly thirty years.
Health concerns had caused Hicks to proceed more slowly toward ordination. She completed most of her preparation locally with mentors in what was formerly called the “Canon Nine” process. While Hicks prepared to be ordained, the Rev. B. Lloyd has served St. Paul’s as supply clergy.
“Bishop Light asked me to serve for three-to-six months and I’ve been there nearly 16 years!” joked Lloyd.
Carol Gallagher, the first indigenous female to be elected a bishop in the Anglican Communion, preached at the Dec. 2 service. St. John’s, Bedford deacon Kay Waff, whose mother was part Cherokee, hosted Gallagher, whose ancestry is also Cherokee. Waff described the event as a “beautiful church family celebration.”
The ordination service itself was made part of the regular Sunday morning service at St. Paul’s. Hicks’ brother-in-law, Herbert, and Monacan tribal chief Kenneth Branham were readers. Missioner for Native American Ministries Janine Tinsley-Roe attended the service representing the wider Episcopal Church. Hicks was escorted into the service by members of the St. Paul’s vestry. Assisting and celebrating in the service were Bishops Light and Powell.
Among the gifts Hicks received were a stole made by indigenous women in New Zealand given by Native American Missioner Tinsley-Roe, a stole made by Native-American women in New Jersey from Gallagher and a large-print bible given to Hicks by her tribe.
Now that she is ordained, Hicks will take over the primary role of celebrating Sunday services at St. Paul’s. Even though Hicks had been serving her community throughout her preparation for priesthood, she hopes that she’ll be renewed in the Holy Spirit to reach out to others both in the tribe and in Amherst County. “I’m praying for more closeness among us,” said Hicks.
This winter, as they do every year, the Monacans will prepare their young people to participate in the annual Monacan powwow. Held on the third weekend of May in Elon (about 10 miles northwest of Lynchburg), the powwow features the storytelling, dancing and regalia of the Monacan tradition. It also features demonstrations of dancing and traditional clothing from other tribes across the country.

To learn more about the Monacans, visit monacannation.com.