Honoring Two Special Women from the Diocese of NC

The Rt. Rev. Anne Elliott Hodges-Copple, VI Bishop Suffragan of North Carolina

On February 22, 2022, the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, bishop suffragan of the Diocese of North Carolina, announced she would retire at the end of 2022.

“I can’t believe nine years have passed since I was elected bishop suffragan, almost 35 years since I was ordained,” said Hodges-Copple. “I started this journey when I was a new mom with a three month-old, and now I am a grandmother with two grandsons. What an adventure this journey has been. Just as I felt called first to become a priest and then a bishop, so now I feel called to start a new chapter. My husband is also retiring this year, and we are excited to share the same definition of ‘weekend’ for the first time since we were a young married couple.”

Hodges-Copple has served within the Diocese of North Carolina her entire time in active ordained ministry. Ordained a deacon at Chapel of the Cross in 1987, she served five years in parish ministry before becoming the Episcopal Chaplain to Duke University in 1992. In 2005, she became the rector of St. Luke’s, Durham. She was elected the Diocese's sixth bishop suffragan and the first female bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina on January 26, 2013, at the 197th Annual Convention. She was consecrated on June 15, 2013, in Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University in Durham.

“I had really never considered the vocation of bishop until I read the profile prepared by the search committee in 2012,” she said. “As I read it, all of a sudden I realized I had energy and experience in the areas being prioritized for the next bishop suffragan. I just thought I could be part of the conversation.”

“The impact of Bishop Anne’s leadership in this diocese will resonate long after her retirement,” said the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. “Her passion for justice coupled with her creative energy around the formation of new communities that embody the gospel values of beloved community can be seen across our diocese. A voice for those whose voices have been ignored, Bishop Anne has lifted up and championed the people Jesus calls us to stand for and with – ‘the poor, the oppressed, and those in prison.’ And her deep care for the congregations of our diocese has created a legacy of love.”

Hodges-Copple and her husband, John, have three adult children and two grandchildren, all of whom live close to the couple’s Durham home. Following her retirement, Hodges-Copple looks forward to spending time prioritizing the vocations of wife, mother and grandmother.

Lisa H. Towle Recognized as the Diocese of NC's ECW "Distinguished Woman" by the National ECW

The ECW of the Diocese of North Carolina is pleased to name Lisa H. Towle as Distinguished Woman. Lisa served as President of the Board of National Episcopal Church Women from 2015-2018. Before that, from 2012-2015, she was secretary of the National ECW board. Prior to that, she helped lead the church women of the Diocese of NC through years of change, first as head of Christian Social Ministries for 3 years and then as president for 12 years.

Lisa, now a wife, mother, and grandmother, lived in many communities in the U.S. and abroad thanks to her father’s career with the U.S. Army. No matter where she’s lived, Lisa is a doer. After graduating with a degree in journalism, she won awards for her work, including faith-related reporting. She’s been recognized for her leadership of a non-profit focusing on arts and history. And she completed the Education for Ministry program, developed by the School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee.

Listing of all Distinguished Women for 2022: