Della Wager Wells ’18 M.Div.

Before YDS, I was a public energy finance partner in a large corporate law firm, representing governmental joint-action agencies in the acquisition, financing, operation, and hedging of their electric generation and natural gas supply assets. I was also an urban chicken farmer and an active Episcopal laywoman.

During my time at YDS and Berkeley Divinity School, the ecumenical worship and music in Marquand Chapel moved me deeply. I would never have known that if I had attended a strictly denominational seminary.

I am honored to be appointed the 2018-2019 Porter Fellow, which means that I will spend the next academic year at St. George’s College in Jerusalem, providing administrative, teaching, and pastoral support to participants in College programs, assisting with worship at St. George’s Cathedral, and working with Jerusalem Peacebuilders, a reconciliation ministry focused on Palestinian and Israeli youth.

I will serve in this role as a missionary of The Episcopal Church, so this summer I will continue to work as a pastoral assistant at St. Michael’s in Bristol, Rhode Island, while attending missionary and Arabic language training. God willing, I will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on August 25, 2018, at Christ Episcopal Church in Westerly, Rhode Island.

May 1, 2018