Who is Jordan Haynie Ware from Jeopardy? Meet the Anglican Priest, Author, and Justice Advocate from Edmonton

Jordan Haynie Ware is an Anglican priest, rector, archdeacon, author, and podcaster based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Known for her work in church leadership, justice advocacy, and public theology, she has built a ministry that combines parish leadership with community organizing and interfaith collaboration. Her roles within the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton include serving as Archdeacon for Justice and Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church.

Beyond parish work, Ware has developed a public presence through writing, podcasting, and speaking engagements. Her work often explores theology, social justice, racial reconciliation, and the intersection of faith with contemporary culture. Her appearance on Jeopardy introduces viewers to a church leader whose work blends religious leadership with media, writing, and community engagement.

Church Leadership in Edmonton

Jordan Haynie Ware currently serves as Archdeacon for Justice in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, a role she has held since September 2020. As archdeacon, she works within the diocesan leadership structure to support justice initiatives and strengthen connections between churches and their communities.

In addition to her diocesan role, she has served since September 2017 as Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Edmonton. The rector is the primary clergy leader of a parish, responsible for preaching, pastoral care, worship leadership, and community engagement.

Her ministry has emphasized team-building, neighborhood organizing, and interfaith collaboration. A central theme of her work has been reconciliation and justice, including engagement with Indigenous communities on Treaty 6 territory, where Edmonton is located.

She has also collaborated with members of her congregation to co-found Faith Spaces | Safe Spaces, a multi-faith network focused on racial justice and reconciliation across religious communities.

Candidate for Episcopal Leadership

Ware was announced as a candidate for election as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia in Washington state. Candidates for episcopal office are typically experienced clergy who have demonstrated leadership within parish and diocesan contexts.

Her candidacy reflects her experience in parish leadership, theological writing, and justice-focused ministry. The Diocese of Edmonton identified her publicly as The Ven. Jordan Haynie Ware, using the ecclesiastical title commonly given to archdeacons in the Anglican tradition.

Her ministry has been described as centered on preaching the Christian gospel while creating space for diverse voices within church communities.

Early Life and Religious Formation

Jordan Haynie Ware was born and raised in Texas in an ecumenically mainline Protestant family. During her university years she became Episcopalian through the Episcopal Student Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

Her connection with the Episcopal Church shaped the direction of her later ministry and theological education. She later became one of the first women ordained in the former Diocese of Fort Worth, reflecting broader changes in Anglican leadership structures that expanded opportunities for women in ministry.

Her path into ordained ministry combined academic theological study with practical parish training and pastoral work.

Education and Theological Training

Ware earned a Master of Divinity in Anglican Studies from Yale Divinity School, completing the program from 2010 to 2013. Her academic performance reportedly included a grade average of 3.82.

While at Yale, she participated in several academic and community organizations, including Young Women Seminarians, the Episcopal Evangelism Network, the Yale Committee on Community Engagement, and Seminarians for Reproductive Justice.

Her earlier connection to the Episcopal Student Center at the University of Texas at Austin played an important role in her spiritual formation before seminary.

In recent years she has continued professional development through additional leadership programs. In 2024 she completed a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She also studied Foundations of Christian Leadership at Duke Divinity School between 2023 and 2024.

Ministry and Professional Experience

Before moving to Canada, Ware served in several ministry roles within the Episcopal Church. From July 2013 to August 2017 she worked as Associate Priest for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at All Saints’ Episcopal Church.

During her seminary years she also held multiple academic and ministry positions. These included serving as Seminarian at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chapel Minister at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and Magee Fellow at Dwight Hall.

Her ministry training also included pastoral experience as a Chaplain Intern at Children’s Medical Center. In addition, she worked in academic administration as an Academic Affairs Office Assistant at Yale Divinity School.

Earlier career experiences included roles outside church ministry, such as an Acquisitions Intern at Yale University Press, a Human Resources Coordinator at Carlson Restaurants Inc., a Bookseller at Barnes & Noble, and a Volunteer Teacher of English as a Foreign Language with the United States Peace Corps.

Writing, Podcasting, and Public Theology

Jordan Haynie Ware has developed a public profile as a writer and podcaster focused on theology and church life. She is the author of The Ultimate Quest: A Geek’s Guide to (the Episcopal) Church, a book that connects Christian theology with elements of geek culture and storytelling.

The book has been credited by readers with helping guide some individuals toward baptism and confirmation in the Episcopal Church.

She also co-created and co-hosts the Two Feminists series of podcasts. One of the most widely known entries in the series is Two Feminists Annotate the Bible, a podcast that explores biblical texts through feminist and theological perspectives.

The show has attracted thousands of listeners and has encouraged conversations about faith, interpretation, and modern engagement with scripture.

Her writing often reflects theological themes such as confession, forgiveness, repentance, vulnerability, and pastoral care.

Theological Interests and Advocacy

Ware’s ministry and writing frequently address topics connected to reconciliation, justice, and ethical responsibility within faith communities.

In one published reflection she discussed the practice of private sacramental confession, describing it as one of the most significant privileges of priestly ministry. She wrote about the Seal of the Confessional, the responsibility clergy carry when hearing confessions, and the pastoral concept sometimes called “holy forgetfulness.”

Her ministry also emphasizes racial justice and reconciliation. Through Faith Spaces | Safe Spaces and other initiatives, she has worked with faith communities across traditions to encourage dialogue and collaboration on social justice issues.

Languages, Skills, and Personal Life

Jordan Haynie Ware’s professional and personal skills include liturgical design, preaching, music performance, and language study. She lists experience with Spanish, French, Ukrainian, and Koine Greek.

Her creative and musical abilities include piano, flute, singing, and worship planning. She has also participated in the Preaching Excellence Program II, receiving recognition in June 2016.

Ware lives in Edmonton on Treaty 6 territory with her spouse, Derek Ware, who works as a science museum educator. The couple shares their home with Hobbes, a retired racing greyhound who is affectionately described as the church’s “designated church dog.”

Outside her professional life, her interests include reading, communal singing, tabletop roleplaying games, hiking, horses, and baking.

Name: Jordan Haynie Ware
Location and Residence: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, living on Treaty 6 territory. Originally from Texas, United States.
Profession and Jobs: Anglican priest. Archdeacon for Justice in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton (since September 2020). Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Edmonton (since September 2017). Candidate for election as the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia in Washington state. Author and podcaster.
Gender and Sex: Female
Age and Date of Birth: Not publicly listed
Nationality and Ethnicity: American by birth and later resident in Canada
Education and School: Yale Divinity School, Master of Divinity in Anglican Studies (2010–2013). Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate (2024). Duke Divinity School, Foundations of Christian Leadership (2023–2024).
Relationships and Family: Married to Derek Ware, a science museum educator. Lives with her spouse and their retired racing greyhound, Hobbes.
Biography and More Details: Anglican church leader, writer, and podcaster known for work in justice advocacy, reconciliation, and interfaith collaboration. Co-founder of Faith Spaces | Safe Spaces. Author of The Ultimate Quest: A Geek’s Guide to (the Episcopal) Church and co-host of the Two Feminists podcast series including Two Feminists Annotate the Bible. Ministry emphasizes preaching, community organizing, racial justice, reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and inclusive church leadership.