Clergy
Rector
Rev Lisa Saunders Ahuja
The Rev. Lisa Saunders Ahuja was ordained to the priesthood in 2007 at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square after graduating from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity.
She has served churches in Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and Texas. Before moving to Washington D.C., she lived in Australia for four years, and served as a chaplain in Anglican schools there. In January of 2020 she returned to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington to serve here at St. Thomas’ Parish as the Priest in Charge. In October 2020 she accepted the call to serve as our rector. She and her husband Salil are delighted to be part of this vibrant community.
Clergy in Residence
Susan Walker
The Rev. Susan Kennard Walker, M.A, M.T.S. was ordained in 2012 as one of the first three deacons in the diocese of Washington. Before retirement, she served St. Stephen and the Incarnation and Misa Alegría parish while working in affordable housing for seniors. Her interest in the process of aging and spiritual growth that can enrich the later years led her to collaborate on a curriculum for the study of aging and spirituality, The Path Ahead, sponsored by Seabury Resources for Aging and the Washington diocese. Susan is a trained spiritual director, retreat leader, and teacher of contemplative prayer practices. During the pandemic she began an online Christian meditation group which continues to meet weekly through St. Thomas’ sponsorship.
The Rev. Linda M Kaufman, fixing things since 1954.
Linda has a fierce love of justice; in her career she embodied that love in her work to end homelessness. Using humor, compassion, and the awesome ability to tell stories, she could move a group of people to do things they never thought possible. Her forty-year commitment to doing justice galvanized into a joyous and steely resolve to end homelessness, refugee injustice, and white supremacy. Working with Rainbow Railroad and Food Justice DMV are her current passions. Linda served briefly as interim here at St. Thomas’ in late 2019 until the start of the pandemic. She returned to join us in the late fall of 2023. Should she ever retire from justice work, Linda plans to be a barista making exquisite though fleeting foam art on espresso drinks.
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