The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
January 2007

Linda Watt Named Chief Operating Officer of Episcopal Church

She read the job description "and I knew that was me. I really felt it was a call."

And her call was validated when she was appointed chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church.

Linda E. Watt, retired diplomat and more recently member of the vestry at Grace Church, St. George, Utah, was named to the post by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

She considers herself a life-long Episcopalian "who has been in a choir my whole life."

She brings three decades of diplomatic and management experience to the post. In her last diplomatic assignment prior to retirement, she served as Ambassador to Panama.

"I have spent my whole career listening to varying viewpoints and perspectives and respecting all of them," she said. "I look for common ground where we can all agree."

"Im excited. In Panama I got everyone on the same page, enthusiastically. There are challenges to overcome, but Im optimistic."

"We are a church of thinking people. We are seekers; and we care about each other," she said.

In her new role, officially known as executive director of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, she will assist in overseeing the 200-member staff of the Episcopal Church Center.

"I am now in a learning phase," she said.

"I see the job as an implementer and coordinator of priorities and programs of the presiding bishop and Executive Council, executing those priorities in a good way."

"This is a useful moment to ask the constituencies what they want of the Episcopal Church Center— what do people need. That can define what our services should be, involving all the stakeholders," she said.

She explained that she brings "years of management experience" to the job. "And I like people and problem solving."

"Its a very exciting moment to be associated with the national church. Everyone is excited by Katharine (Jefferts Schori)s leadership," she added.

She described her initial impression of Jefferts Schori as "very serene and profound, focused and pastoral. And a listener."

At the time of her appointment, she was one of two Utah representatives of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation. Like the presiding bishop, she is "an active supporter of the Millennium Development Goals.

"I really believe in the MDG. Its very important. Life overseas makes you aware of the opportunity to work for these goals," she explained.

"Through justice and the power of the Spirit we find out how to use all that to work for a better world. The world needs it," she said.

While in Panama, she noted, she was "outspoken on the issues of poverty and justice."

When she announced the appointment, Jefferts Schori noted Watts "culturally bilingual" skills including fluency in Spanish and her "strong interest in social justice" consistent with the Episcopal Churchs ministry priority of peace and justice framed by the MDG.

Watt and her husband Leo Duncan, also a retired diplomat, have lived in St. George for the past year and a half. They had been in their new home for only three weeks when she saw the job announcement for the position in Episcopal News Service.

Her husband encouraged her to go forward with the application.

He added that while he plans to join his wife in New York part of the time, he will also be returning regularly to their home near St. George.

Watt has bachelor degrees in history and Spanish from Vanderbilt University and a master of arts in Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico.

She has two adult children.

While looking forward to the challenge of her new post, she said she is also looking forward to returning to St. George periodically. She said she enjoys the "tranquility" of the new home.

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