Disciplines of the Beloved Community

The Rev'd Dr. Ellen Francis is an Episcopal priest and life-professed member of the Order of Saint Helena (an Episcopal religious order). She is originally from New York City and currently lives in North Augusta, SC. She was married to an Iranian for 10 years and lived most of that time in Iran. She returned to the US with her son in 1978. Following 9/11, she participated in two women’s delegations to Afghanistan. Following these trips, she helped to raise awareness of the situations confronting Afghan women, and volunteered with a women’s support organization in NYC. She was also a volunteer with the Iran project of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and has been a co-leader and participant in four peace delegations to Iran. She lobbied in Washington, gave presentations, and wrote articles about building a peaceful future with Iran. She has been involved in interfaith relations, in one way or another, for 50 years. She is currently coordinator of the Interfaith Fellowship of Augusta, and a member of the Progressive Religious Coalition (PRC) and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Peace Alliance. She is a co-founder of the CSRA Women’s Interfaith Network.