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Email Kelsey Kemp
 I am a Political Science and Religious Studies Senior at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. I was born and raised in Lubbock, TX-- the Diocese of Northwest Texas. After graduation from OU, I plan on attending law school. I am a cradle Episcopalian and very active in the Episcopal Church. I have attended two General Conventions, one as an Official Youth Presence in 2003 and the last as a deputy from Northwest Texas. Additionally, I currently serve on the Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development, which has been quite a learning curve. I developed close ties with The Episcopal Church during high school through working with my church camp, the Bishop Quarterman Conference Center. There is no doubt that I have developed most of my best friends from working with the church.
I am not sure if my stories are “amusing,” but as far as my ministry with the Church is concerned, I have devoted so much time to the Church that it seems reasonable that I would want to work for the Episcopal Church throughout my life time. At present, I have found the largest challenge to be incorporating all I want to do with the Church with all I want to do in undergrad. Seminary was and still is an option, but not until after I accomplish my goal of earning my law degree, which I have wanted to do since I was eleven. Probably the funniest thing about me being so involved in leadership roles within the Church is that-- as my beloved home parish priest Mother Jo Roberts Mann can tell you--when she tried to get me involved when I was in junior high, I told her that I most definitely was NOT interested in attending EYC! Luckily, she did not give up and finally talked me into attending a weekend event at the Bishop Quarterman Conference Center. As they say, the rest is history, as I have been involved with the Episcopal Church ever since. I cannot stress the opportunities that I discovered through the Church; it helped me become the person I am today. The Church also helped me discover that working within the church, in whatever capacity, is one of my main passions. Looking back, perhaps the best thing I have learned thus far is to not resist the path in which you are supposed to take—take chances and listen to those around you who know you better than you know yourself.
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