Rev Winnie Varghese Becomes First Woman Dean of New York’s St John the Divine Cathedral

Rev Winnie Varghese, a Kerala-born priest, has made history by becoming the 12th dean of the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City, marking the first time a woman has held the position at the iconic Gothic church. Known for her advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues, Varghese authored A Journey of Faith: Church and Homosexuality (2014), which delves into Indian churches’ views on homosexuality and her personal journey as a lesbian Christian and ordained minister. Her friend and fellow theologian, Vinayraj, described her as a revolutionary, noting that she has sparked important conversations about biblical interpretations of gender and sexuality.