Our Rector Search

The Rev. Monica Whitaker is a cradle Episcopalian who, like her two sisters, was baptized by her father who served for more than 30 years as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Rev. Monica has served as Rector for St. Andrew’s in Sedona since January 2017. She appreciates the ministry of all the baptized, and encourages seekers and believers of all ages to explore their spiritual gifts in service of God’s mission in the church and the world. Locally, Rev. Monica has collaborated with Northern Arizona Interfaith Council to address affordable workforce housing, and with PFLAG and Unify Sedona to support LGBTQIA2S+ people.

Rev. Monica earned a BA in Music from Kalamazoo College in Michigan, a Master of Arts in theatre management and a Master of Music in vocal performance, both from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In 2014, Rev. Monica earned a Master of Divinity from Church Divinity School of the Pacific after working for 25 years in marketing for various industries including professional theatre, home furnishings, and civil engineering. After ordination, Rev. Monica served in San Mateo, Calif., as Associate Rector for Transfiguration Episcopal Church and Lower School Religion Teacher for Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew.

In early 2016, Rev. Monica was honored to baptize her grandson, Ben, in what is now Saint Matthew’s Chapel. Her daughter, Isabella, and son-in-law, Kyle, live in Gilbert with their son, Benjamin, and pets Monkey and Jack. Her sisters, Maria and Martha, live in Albuquerque and Tucson.

As co-chair of the Anti-Racism Committee for the Diocese of Arizona, Rev. Monica helped create the revised curriculum, train a team of facilitators, and lead cohorts of clergy and lay leaders to discern their ministry in Becoming Beloved Community. Rev. Monica currently serves on the diocesan Council for Native American Ministry which is preparing for the 2024 Listening & Healing Pilgrimage as the Church continues her journey toward reconciliation and healing the intergenerational trauma of the Indian Boarding School Era.

A fourth-generation Chinese American, Rev. Monica explores her multiracial heritage and ministry through regular gatherings with Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries and AAPI Leaders. Along with communal worship and private devotional prayer, Rev. Monica enjoys connecting with God through hiking, music, swimming, and listening to audio books. She is blessed to share her home with two cats, Mario and Felipe.

Rev. Monica thoroughly enjoyed meeting the leadership, congregation, and staff on Consecration Sunday, and is thrilled to be called to serve as Saint Matthew’s fourth rector. She would like to thank the Search Committee and Vestry for their faithfulness, dedication, and perseverance during the rector search. She is grateful to other members of their households who gave up some of their family time to support the search process, and appreciates Fr. Colville and Sylvia for their ministry and leadership during the interim. Rev. Monica looks forward to joining Saint Matthew’s faith community on February 1, 2024.