The Reverend Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew is the Associate Rector at St. Paul’s.  She graduated summa cum laude from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  She earned a Master in Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Certificate in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.  Dena was ordained as a Deacon in 1988 and as a Priest in 1989.  She later graduated magna cum laude from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia with a Master in Theology.

Dena has served in parish ministry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in San Pedro, California; Holy Trinity Parish in Decatur, Georgia; Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta, Georgia; St. James’ Episcopal Church in Dexter, Michigan; and New Life Episcopal Church in Uniontown, Ohio.  Her areas of special interest are preaching, biblical studies, Christian formation, spiritual theology, centering prayer, family systems theory and Natural Church Development.  Yes, she reads theology for fun.

Dena grew up in a military family and has lived in France, Georgia (three times), Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California, Michigan and Ohio.  She worked as a legislative assistant for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before attending divinity school.  While at Yale she met David Bartholomew and they were married in August 1987.  He is now the Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew and serves as the Association Minister for the Eastern Ohio Association of the United Church of Christ, where he oversees 95 congregations.  Dena and David have two daughters, Audrey and Lydia, both of whom attend Canton Country Day School. 

Dena enjoys exercise (especially power walking), reading, spending time with her family, and traveling.  She always likes to learn something new.  She also has a great fondness for dogs.

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