The Reverend Winnie Varghese is a leading voice in the Episcopal Church, known for her commitment to social justice. Born in Dallas, Texas, with family roots in Kerala, India, her dual heritage and experiences as “Other” inform her ministry. A 1999 graduate of Union Theological Seminary in NYC, she was shaped by liberation theology. Ordained in 2000, she courageously navigated the church as a queer woman of color, advocating for greater acceptance and inclusion.
Her career includes serving as Episcopal Chaplain at UCLA and Columbia University, and as rector of St. Mark’s in the Bowery, a progressive New York congregation. At Trinity Church Wall Street, she advanced justice and reconciliation initiatives as a priest on staff.
After a pastorate in Georgia and being chosen as a candidate for the episcopacy, she made history when she was appointed the first woman Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City on July 1, 2025. Varghese speaks out on LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and immigration, believing faith communities must actively engage with societal challenges.
