Our parish has been enjoying the leadership of several supply clergy since the departure of The Rev. Parker, including The Rev. Martha Honaker, The Rev. Rick Lawler, The Rev. Mike Tanner, The Rev. Gary Coffey, The Rev. Dan Wall, The Rev. Don Wiesner, The Rev. Chris Thompson, Pastor Katerine Shaner, The Rev. Todd Donatelli, and The Rev. George Greer. We are currently working towards the process of calling new clergy to our parish.
In the meantime beginning August 3, 2025 Christ Church has welcomed a Priest-in-Charge, The Rev. Karla Woggon.
Karla has served in Hickory, NC as Ascension's Rector, head pastor, since August of 2007. She grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and earned a BA in History from Appalachian State University in 1989, an MA in History from Louisiana State University in 1992, and an M.Div. from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in 1995. She was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1995 in the Diocese of Louisiana. Before coming to Ascension, she served parishes in the Diocese of Louisiana and Washington, serving for eight years as the Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in College Park MD. In addition to her work at Ascension, she has been very active with Camp Henry, as a camper, counselor, assistant director, chaplain, and chair of the board for numerous years. She has served as a deputy for the General Convention for four conventions and has been on many Diocesan committees and councils. She has also served on many nonprofit boards in Hickory. She is passionate about preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. She loves to listen to audiobooks and is an avid backpacker & sea kayaker. When not working she loves to be outside immersed in the beauty of God's glorious creation. She is married to Steve Walker and has two grown stepchildren and three grandchildren, all of whom she adores.
Our Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Jose A. Mcloughlin
The Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin was consecrated as the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina on October 1, 2016. Prior to his election as bishop of the diocese of Western North Carolina, McLoughlin served as the Canon to the Ordinary and Chief-of-Staff for the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma since 2008. Ordained in 2005, McLoughlin earned his Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida. Prior to his call to the priesthood, McLoughlin worked in the criminal justice field serving in the State of Florida as a police officer and in the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in various capacities, most recently as the special assistant/senior advisor to the assistant attorney general. McLoughlin and his wife Laurel have been married for 23 years, and together have two children, Alexander, 17, and Alyson, 14. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, McLoughlin is bilingual, enjoys music, playing the drums, and studying 18th century American history.
