Bill Joyner

Bill Joyner was born in Washington, DC (the first of that Joyner line to be born outside Virginia since the 1600s) and grew up in Luray, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia and, after he and Mary Brenda married, went even farther north and received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in applied mathematics. Since she was a Methodist and he a Baptist, they decided on the Episcopal Church! Their daughter Holly, a UNC graduate, was born in Boston, and their son Andrew (UVa) was born in New York, where they lived for 25 years.

After discerning a call to the diaconate during the renewal of the order of deacons in the Diocese of New York, Bill was ordained in 1992 and served as deacon at St. Luke’s, Katonah; St. Mark’s, Mount Kisco; and St. Ann’s, the Bronx. His secular job brought him to Chapel Hill in 1998, and he was happy to be welcomed by the Diocese of North Carolina and the Chapel of the Cross. During the week he works at the Semiconductor Research Corporation in the Research Triangle Park.

As a deacon, Bill is charged to “serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.” He works with the Habitat for Humanity partnership, the social ministry and global missions committees, and the Youth Inquirers’ Class. He leads a special worship service on the third Monday of each month to which people with developmental disabilities are invited – and all are welcomed!

Bill is currently serving as archdeacon of the diocese, helping the bishop and deacons in their parish assignments and ministries.

3/12/09