The Rev. Susan Anderson-Smith is Associate Rector for Justice and Reconciliation at St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York, and Interim Executive Director of Crossroads Community Services, Inc., St. Bart’s non-profit that unites the community in the fight to end hunger and homelessness. She is Co-founder of Imago Dei Middle School in Tucson, AZ, a tuition-free, Episcopal middle school for economically disadvantaged children, where she served as Chaplain and Religion teacher from 2006-2017. Prior to that, the Rev. Anderson-Smith served St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church, Tucson, AZ, as Associate Rector, coordinating aspects of liturgy and worship and developing innovative and alternative worship experiences.
A native of Vicksburg, MS, the Rev. Anderson-Smith grew up at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church where she sang in the choir and served as the first female acolyte. She was very active in parish and diocesan youth programs, and served as both a counselor and Permanent Staff member at Camp Bratton Green. The Rev. Anderson-Smith attended the University of Mississippi on a band scholarship and received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She holds a Masters of Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School where she served as Liturgical Coordinator of chapel worship.
The Rev. Anderson-Smith has served on the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy and Music in the Diocese of Washington, and the Transition Team for the Election and Consecration of a Bishop in the Diocese of Arizona. She has been the liturgist and clergy presenter for the 2007 East Carolina Religious Arts Festival, and the 2008 and 2015 Mississippi Conference on Liturgy and Music.