Mother Ginger Bennett followed her faith to cultivate compassion and care in Waynesboro
By Robb Helfrick
When Reverend Doctor Ginger Bennett came to Waynesboro’s St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in February 2026, she brought a diverse background and a kind soul. Called to lead the historic church at the corner of Broad and Second Streets, the woman entering her first pastorship arrived from the Gettysburg area.
However, Bennett spent her prior life living and working across the country. Born in Alabama, she has lived in 13 states, and while serving in the United States Air Force, Ginger was stationed in South Korea.
Rev. Bennett wasn’t familiar with Waynesboro before working here but was immediately impressed by the town from her first day at St. Mary’s. “It’s an amazing community,” she said. “The people here have a strong faith, and that’s one of Waynesboro’s many blessings.”
While Rev. Bennett took a multi-faceted and circuitous road to Waynesboro, one aspect of her belief system has remained a common thread throughout her life. “My faith has always been important to me.”
When she first joined the Air Force, Bennett found herself in a training program she hadn’t anticipated. With an Associate’s Degree, she was the highest-ranking member entering her class, but her recruiter mistakenly submitted the wrong job code for her military assignment.
She recalled attending her first class and being told she’d be learning to drive tractor-trailers. “I told them I was in the wrong class.” Then she smiled. “But I learned quickly when the Air Force says you’re in the right class, you’re in the right class.” Undaunted, Ginger learned to drive big rigs and buses. She was later stationed at prestigious Edwards Air Force Base in California and Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C.
Bennett left active service in 2003, but her time in the Air Force instilled an appreciation for working in a team environment. “It was a tight-knit community,” she said. When she ventured into the civilian workforce, Ginger found elements of that atmosphere working for the federal government.
Bennett worked for the Department of Energy and then followed with a stint at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She served as a paralegal there in Marine Resource Management. “Caring for creation connected me to the work, but I was called to do more.”
After completing a Master’s Degree in English, Bennett felt a tug away from government work. Living in the D.C. area, some friends from church planted a seed; maybe she should consider the seminary. Gettysburg’s historic Lutheran Seminary was recommended, and Ginger sat in a few classes. “I immediately felt a strong connection,” she said.
Reenergized in her faith, Bennett first tried to attend the seminary while continuing her government work in Washington. But as her new religious schooling flourished, she kept moving closer to Gettysburg. She finally committed to settling there and left her government job behind. “I felt I had connected all the dots.”
After graduating from the Gettysburg seminary, Bennett served at Shippensburg’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She also retained her military ties, serving as an Air Force reservist. Ginger worked at a VA Medical Center during a Chaplain Residency. She also completed an internship at Hershey Medical Center. “It was important for me to walk with Veterans.” She knew firsthand that many veterans suffered illnesses tied to their military careers.
As Bennett neared the end of her internship, the Bishop of her Episcopalian Diocese mentioned a job opening at St. Mary’s in Waynesboro. “She thought it would be a good fit for me, and I trusted her,” Bennett said.
After meeting with local church leaders, all agreed it was a suitable match. Rev. Bennett officially arrived at her new post this past winter. In May, she completed her Doctorate of Ministry.
Now known as Mother Ginger within the Episcopal family, Bennett came to Waynesboro with ambitious goals. Celebrating and sharing her faith was always a top priority. St. Mary’s had established services and instruction for adults and children to strengthen their Episcopalian beliefs.
However, with her work in other facets of society, Mother Ginger wanted to “strive to be a spring of living water to God’s family, welcoming friend and stranger alike.” The church also had a wealth of outreach programs, and some of those were established by one of her predecessors, Mother Linda Watkins.
Watkins’ leadership at St. Mary’s over 17 years inspired Rev. Bennett and strengthened her commitment to helping others. “Community is extremely important to me. How we care for each other and connect with each other is a vital part of my mission,” Mother Ginger said.
St. Mary’s has a multitude of community-driven programs. These activities include hosting a blessing box to share food and snacks and providing donations/volunteer hours at the New Hope Shelter. The church also delivers supplies to the local food bank and collects clothing and household goods for families in need. The newest program provided summer art classes to children, and it was a great success.
Fellowship is another important aspect of St. Mary’s family and neighbor-oriented programs. “Ladies Who Lunch” and “Men Who Munch” are monthly meetups at local restaurants. Mother Ginger believes that many social activities for adults provide relief from isolation. “When you bring people out to these fun events, you’re meeting that need.” St. Mary’s also hosts Lenten Soup Suppers on Wednesday evenings.
Perhaps because she previously worked in multiple business sectors, Mother Ginger has explored new civic connections through Waynesboro’s Rotary Club. She recently delivered a speech to the group and has established relationships with its members. “It’s a good place for me to connect with others in the community, to hear what the needs are, and where I might be able to help.”
All these programs and activities show Mother Ginger’s and St. Mary’s commitment to performing good works not only on Sundays, but every day of the week. Bennett said she constantly asks herself: “How are we caring for others? How are we investing ourselves in the community in different ways?”
Mother Ginger has enjoyed working with other area churches to pool resources and coordinate community efforts. “We all believe in God, and we all believe in caring for our neighbors.”
In an increasingly polarized world, Rev. Bennett said she will hang a sign at the church that describes St. Mary’s inclusive spirit: “Love your neighbor who doesn’t look like you, who doesn’t act like you, who doesn’t vote like you.” Mother Ginger has enduring faith in human nature. “I believe that people are acting and making decisions with the best of intentions.”
Since arriving in Waynesboro, the town has confirmed Bennett’s philosophy. “Waynesboro is a lovely community,” she said. “People care about each other here.” Still, Mother Ginger envisions improving local life with future Waynesboro programs that will continue to bring people together. “I’m a priest for the church but a pastor for the whole community.”
