The Rev. Ashley Cook
Interim Pastoral Associate

The Rev. Ashley Cook is currently serving as interim priest. Please feel welcome to reach out to the church office to schedule a time to visit with her, ask questions, and find out more about being a part of loving and serving others well for Jesus through this warm, joyful, deeply spiritual, and welcoming community of Jesus-followers at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church and School.

Rev. Ashley's core beliefs include centering all things around Jesus Christ and God's saving grace; supporting and equipping lay ministries; developing partnerships that create and sustain healthy and safe communities for all people; and in all we do, respecting the dignity of every human being while embodying the mission of the Church to restore all people to unity with God and each another in Christ.

Rev. Ashley's passion includes elevating the voices and stories of others as evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in the world, discovering and encouraging use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in each individual, and pursuing God's call to seek and serve Christ in all people.

With 15 years in ordained ministry, and 25+ years in her professional life and lay ministries, Rev. Ashley has represented the northeastern area of The Episcopal Diocese of Texas, for-profit and non-profits in Lufkin and across east Texas, while serving on boards, committees, and through volunteerism. Her work as a priest a non-profit leadership developer draw from deep relationships of trust formed over many years with teams and community stakeholders, and from broad career experience on the ground in local journalism, child advocacy, community education, and hospice chaplaincy. She has trained and taught thousands of people, including children, at-risk parents, community groups, congregations, non-profit staffs, and multidisciplinary teams. Rev. Ashley is an experienced media spokeswoman and presenter to local, state, and national audiences, although her favorite times include listening to personal stories of faith over a cup tea in locally owned coffee shops and gathering places.

Rev. Cook and her husband of 35 years have two grown children and enjoy working around their 1945 cottage under the yellow pines in Lufkin.