Who is Jordan Haynie Ware from Jeopardy?

Jordan Haynie Ware is an Anglican priest, rector, archdeacon, author, and podcaster based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Known for her leadership within the Anglican Church and her public work as a writer and speaker, she has built a ministry centered on preaching, justice advocacy, community engagement, and interfaith collaboration. She currently serves as Archdeacon for Justice in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton and as Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church.

Ware has also gained attention through her writing and podcasting about theology, faith, and culture. Her work often connects Christian spirituality with broader social issues such as racial justice, reconciliation, and community-building. Her appearance as a contestant on Jeopardy highlights a career that bridges church leadership, scholarship, and public conversation about faith.

Church Leadership in Edmonton

Jordan Haynie Ware has served as Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Edmonton since September 2017. As rector, she leads the parish’s worship, pastoral care, and community outreach. The role involves preaching, spiritual leadership, and supporting the congregation’s engagement with the surrounding neighborhood.

In September 2020 she also became Archdeacon for Justice in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton. In this diocesan leadership role she works with clergy and congregations to advance initiatives related to justice, reconciliation, and community engagement.

Her ministry has emphasized collaboration and community-building. She has worked to develop partnerships across faith traditions and to encourage dialogue among religious communities on issues affecting the wider public.

Ware’s ministry also acknowledges the historical and cultural context of Edmonton, which sits on Treaty 6 territory. Her work has included efforts to engage in reconciliation with Indigenous communities and to encourage respectful relationships between churches and Indigenous peoples.

Justice Advocacy and Community Initiatives

A major focus of Ware’s work has been racial justice and interfaith collaboration. Together with Black members of her congregation, she helped co-found Faith Spaces | Safe Spaces, a multi-faith network dedicated to racial justice and reconciliation.

The network brings together people from different religious backgrounds to discuss social issues, share resources, and work toward community understanding. Initiatives like this aim to foster dialogue and cooperation across faith traditions while addressing contemporary social challenges.

Ware’s broader ministry emphasizes neighborhood organizing and building connections between churches and the communities they serve. Her approach often combines traditional pastoral work with community engagement and advocacy.

Her leadership within the Diocese of Edmonton reflects this focus on justice-centered ministry and collaboration across diverse communities.

Candidate for Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia

Jordan Haynie Ware was announced as a candidate for election as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia in Washington state. Candidates for episcopal leadership are typically clergy with significant experience in parish ministry, teaching, and diocesan leadership.

The Diocese of Edmonton referred to her with the ecclesiastical title The Ven. Jordan Haynie Ware, which is traditionally used for archdeacons in Anglican church structures.

Her candidacy reflects recognition of her leadership within the church and her emphasis on preaching, team-building, and justice-focused ministry. The role of bishop involves overseeing clergy, supporting congregations, and guiding the spiritual direction of a diocese.

Early Life and Religious Formation

Ware was born and raised in Texas in a family connected to the mainline Protestant tradition. During her time as a student she became involved with the Episcopal Student Center at the University of Texas at Austin, where she began identifying with the Episcopal Church.

This experience shaped her path toward ordained ministry within the Anglican tradition. She later became one of the first women ordained in the former Diocese of Fort Worth, marking an important milestone in the evolving leadership of the church.

Her early religious experiences and education helped shape her theological perspective and commitment to ministry.

Education and Theological Training

Jordan Haynie Ware completed her Master of Divinity in Anglican Studies at Yale Divinity School between 2010 and 2013. Her academic performance included a reported grade average of 3.82.

During her time at Yale she was active in several student organizations and theological initiatives. These included Young Women Seminarians, the Episcopal Evangelism Network, the Yale Committee on Community Engagement, and Seminarians for Reproductive Justice.

She later continued her professional development through leadership training programs. In 2024 she completed a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

She also studied Foundations of Christian Leadership at Duke Divinity School between 2023 and 2024, further expanding her leadership training within church and nonprofit contexts.

Ministry and Professional Experience

Before moving to Canada, Ware held several roles connected to ministry and academic institutions. From July 2013 to August 2017 she served as Associate Priest for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at All Saints’ Episcopal Church.

During her seminary training she also worked in several pastoral and academic positions. These included roles as Seminarian at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chapel Minister at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and Magee Fellow at Dwight Hall.

Her ministry experience also included a Chaplain Intern role at Children’s Medical Center and an Academic Affairs Office Assistant position at Yale Divinity School.

Earlier professional experiences included working as a Missioner with The Panama Project, an Acquisitions Intern at Yale University Press, a Human Resources Coordinator at Carlson Restaurants Inc., a Bookseller at Barnes & Noble, and a Volunteer Teacher of English as a Foreign Language with the United States Peace Corps.

Writing, Podcasting, and Public Theology

Jordan Haynie Ware has developed a public profile through writing and podcasting about theology and church life. She is the author of The Ultimate Quest: A Geek’s Guide to (the Episcopal) Church, a book that connects Christian theology with themes from fantasy and geek culture.

Readers have credited the book with helping guide some individuals toward baptism and confirmation within the Episcopal Church.

She also co-created and co-hosts the Two Feminists series of podcasts. One of the most widely known programs in the series is Two Feminists Annotate the Bible, which explores biblical texts through feminist theological perspectives.

The podcast has helped thousands of listeners engage with scripture in new ways and reconsider their relationship with the Bible.

Ware’s writing frequently addresses theological themes such as confession, forgiveness, vulnerability, repentance, and pastoral responsibility.

Languages, Skills, and Personal Life

Ware’s professional and personal skills include preaching, liturgical design, music, and language study. She has studied several languages including Spanish, French, Ukrainian, and Koine Greek.

Her creative abilities include piano, flute, and singing, all of which can contribute to worship and liturgical leadership within church communities. She also completed the Preaching Excellence Program II in June 2016.

Jordan Haynie Ware lives in Edmonton on Treaty 6 territory with her spouse, Derek Ware, who works as a science museum educator. They share their home with Hobbes, a retired racing greyhound affectionately described as the church’s “designated church dog.”

Outside of ministry, her interests include reading, communal singing, tabletop roleplaying games, hiking, horses, and baking.

Name: Jordan Haynie Ware
Location and Residence: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Treaty 6 territory. Originally from Texas, United States.
Profession and Jobs: Anglican priest; Archdeacon for Justice in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton (since September 2020); Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Edmonton (since September 2017); candidate for election as the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, Washington; author and podcaster.
Gender and Sex: Female
Age and Date of Birth: Not publicly listed
Nationality and Ethnicity: American by birth and later resident in Canada
Education and School: Yale Divinity School, Master of Divinity in Anglican Studies (2010–2013). Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate (2024). Duke Divinity School, Foundations of Christian Leadership (2023–2024).
Relationships and Family: Married to Derek Ware, a science museum educator. Lives with her spouse and their retired racing greyhound Hobbes.
Biography and More Details: Anglican church leader focused on justice, reconciliation, and interfaith collaboration. Serves as Archdeacon for Justice and Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Edmonton. Co-founder of Faith Spaces | Safe Spaces, a multi-faith initiative addressing racial justice and reconciliation. Author of The Ultimate Quest: A Geek’s Guide to (the Episcopal) Church and co-host of the Two Feminists podcast series including Two Feminists Annotate the Bible. Ministry emphasizes preaching, community engagement, and social justice within faith communities.