Info about me

Autobiographical Statement-- Joyce Beaulieu


Family background. I am the middle child of five children, an older brother (deceased) and sister, and two younger sisters. We grew up in Lomax, IL, on a farm owned by my grandfather (and his grandfather), which my father farmed. My mother worked in clerical positions and later was a postmaster. My brother and sisters and I were surrounded by family: Five aunts (three of Mom’s and two of Dad’s sisters) and my paternal grandparents all lived in within twelve miles of the farm. My parents were killed in a six-fatality auto crash in 1980, which catalyzed the binding of strong ties among me and my siblings. My primary relationship with my partner Molly sustains me daily with love and support, including the support of my vocation to the priesthood.

Important events and turning points. The most significant event in my life was the death of both my parents, my brother’s 12 year-old son and a favorite aunt in an automobile crash, which occurred a couple of weeks before I started a doctoral program in health policy at the University of Michigan. Our parents’ deaths have drawn my siblings together in meaningful and loving ways. We rely on each other for emotional bolstering in both times of celebration, such as graduations, weddings and retirements, and times of individual or family challenges, such as the diagnosis of breast cancer in our younger sister and the sudden death of our oldest sibling, Ron. I maintain our family farm with my older sister.

After confirmation in the Episcopal church, another very significant moment in my life was my experience of realizing that God made me exactly who I am and loved me just the way I am. “Coming out to God” brought me wholeness of spirit, created deeper integrity in my relationships, and made available to me the overwhelming unconditional love of my parish and my family. I was honored to be asked by my rector, and supported by the bishop of Lexington, to convene an Integrity chapter. Being convernor of Integrity opened my eyes to the prejudice and abuse experienced by many LGBT people, from their families, coworkers and employers, and in some cases, from their churches.

Prior work in the church and community. In the Methodist church I attended until age 18, I was very active in the youth group, taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday school classes, and sang in the youth choir. I have served in two Episcopal parishes as lay leader in both administrative and liturgical roles. I have sung and played guitar with contemporary music choirs. A graduate of Education for Ministry, I have served as an EFM mentor. I completed my Clinical Pastoral Education in hospice.

As a professor in health policy, I was a specialist in rural and long-term care systems, teaching health professionals, and doing research and consulting. I was a member of several state and national health policy organizations, in rural health, gerontology, and public health, working on various committees. I served on the editorial board for the Journal of Rural Health and reviewed scientific papers for many other professional publications. I was the director of the Lexington-Fayette County Indigent Care Task Force, a coalition of public and private organizations that studied the problem of health care for low-income and uninsured individuals. I have two edited books in rural health systems, and numerous publications, encompassing a range of topics, from long-term care system evaluation to public health indicator research.

As a priest in the Diocese of Lexington, I was elected to the Camps and Conference Board, and was a chaplain for girls’ summer camp. Continuing my interest in long-term care, I have served on the board of Faith in Action: Elder Outreach and, briefly, as a volunteer chaplain for AIDS Volunteers of Lexington.

Priestly roles. In my capacity as campus missioner for the Diocese of Lexington, I coordinated activities for young adults in the diocese, including a Theology on Tap program that invited area priests to speak at monthly meetings; worked with students at colleges where there was no Episcopal campus presence; and provided parishes with resources to reach out to campuses in their communities. I was priest-in-charge at St. Alban’s, a small parish with a mission to work with the campus of Morehead State University. During my time with that parish, two students were brought into the church and several adults received the rites of baptism or confirmation.

Personal traits. The gifts I bring from my professional career are writing, teaching, and administration. I am flexible, while maintaining basic ethical and moral tenets. I am extremely well organized and focus on good process for good outcomes. I always strive to keep lines of communication open and to help groups of people to work together even when they may differ in their opinions. I have done some continuing education in family systems theory in the church. I believe that all baptized Christians are leaders, evangelists and pastoral caregivers, and encourage parishioners in their particular gifts for use in furthering the kingdom of God.

Issues of church and society about which I am concerned. On the issue of sexuality, which so divides the Anglican Communion, I am hopeful. I believe that when we treat people as individuals and not as a “category,” we draw together the body of Christ in ways that are the most healing and loving. I work with LGBT Episcopalians as a priest who happens to be one of their number. I have heard several clergy speak of the problems inherent in the church “being in the marriage business,” and would hope that the issue of same-sex relationships would be encompassed in an overhaul of the church’s role in blessing of committed couples of all sexual orientations.

I continue to be concerned with the devastation of addictions on individuals and families. I believe that faith-based communities have much to offer the spiritually-based 12-step programs, as well as much to learn from these programs, which are transforming the broken lives of many.

On a third issue, I believe the church could be more visible in their work for peace and justice, especially in the area of health care. While peace and justice activity is sometimes not popular politically, we need people of vision and courage to help each of us live out our baptismal covenant to work for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being.