Project Rising Sun

Janet E. Johnson, MD, MPH and Diane Johnson, Co-Founders

Board of Advisors

Carol Kolinchak, JD | Stephen Bradberry | Leslie Lawrence, MD | Carlene Couper | The Reverend William Terry

The Reverend William Terry

Reverend Terry is currently Priest-in-Charge of two churches, St. Anna's Episcopal Church and Grace Episcopal Church. Both churches are located in the heart of New Orleans . Fr. Terry is a native son born in New Orleans in 1951 and is a graduate of Fortier High School . He served in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam War after which he graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Degree . Fr. Terry enjoys two Masters Degrees one in Pastoral Studies , from Loyola University , emphasizing theological praxis and another as a Master of Divinity from Nashotah House Seminary. Fr. Terry is married and has three children (one deceased a victim of violence) and is now a grandfather. The Terry's live in the upper 9 th Ward of New Orleans.

Fr. Terry is a second vocation priest in the Episcopal Church USA having been in private business for over twenty years owning and operating insurance firms with over $15,000,000 in gross revenues. In his latest enterprise Fr. Terry has encouraged a sense of social justice at his two parishes. St. Anna's has been recognized by CitiBusiness for two consecutive years as Innovator of the Year in St. Anna's Mobile Medical Mission and St. Anna's Latino Apostolate.

Building a community of faith that is engaged in the real world Fr. Terry and his pastoral team have also established many collaborations in the community often ‘warehousing' them at one of the two churches. These collaborations include: The Awesome Girls program for young African American women; The Roots of Music for inner city youth; work with Rising Sun drum circles; a community food pantry; host to several 12 step groups; host to the Mid City Neighborhood Association; and notably work with the Victims of Violence as symbolized by St. Anna's “Murder Board” which was featured on CNN.

Fr. Terry has also received certifications in Child Boundaries, New Church Planting, and clinical/pastoral education as a chaplain to cancer patients. Fr. Terry fully supports the work of Rising Sun and its goals and objectives.