Janet Vincent is the rector of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Northwest Washington. Before moving to the District five years ago, she served in White Plains, N.Y., only 25 miles away from Ground Zero. On Sept. 11, 2001, she rang church bells to call people to gather, and watched the church fill with mourning souls. In the weeks that followed, she found herself ministering to those who had lost loved ones and comrades, often visiting the scene of the attacks to accompany those who retrieved body parts, to bless remains and to comfort firefighters. She spoke to The Washington Examiner about that tragic day and what she has learned, 10 years later. Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?
I’m a Christian. What I most appreciate about Christianity is our belief in a God who takes on human flesh and shares our experiences, including human suffering, and who offers us a way of transformation and peace-building.
