Our Rector, the Rev. Dr. Giovan King, is from North Carolina.  Her Masters of Divinity is from Harvard Divinity School and her Doctorate is from Virginia Theological Seminary. Giovan was ordained in 1984 at the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles (the first woman ordained and to serve that Church).  Her Masters of Divinity thesis was on “The Gospel in Hawaii and Micronesia.” Giovan has written two hymns that appear in Hymns for a Pilgrim People and published two books, A City Built on a Hill and Running the Race from Greece to Albania, the latter related, in part, to her experiences as a marathoner raising funds for Christian missions. She has a passion for world mission, having been on mission trips to Mexico, Argentina, Albania, and Haiti. 

​Giovan has been awarded the Billings Preaching Prize and the J.J.Russell Preaching Award.  Previously, she served in the Diocese of Los Angeles at churches in Los Angeles, San Marino, and Laguna Niguel. Giovan was the Presiding Judge of the Ecclesiastical Court while in the Diocese of Los Angeles.  In Hawaii, she has been President of the Disciplinary Board, Chair of the Commission on Ministry, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, Chair of Constitution and Canons Committee, on Commission on Finance and Administration and Diocesan Council.  She has also taught in the local clergy formation programs. But, her focus remains on our ohana here at St. Christopher’s, where we seek to know God’s love and share that love with all people.

Giovan and her husband, Tom, have three sons, one an alumnus of ‘Iolani, where he played varsity water polo and basketball. In their free time, Tom and Giovan enjoy playing tennis, biking, traveling, and dancing. And, Giovan also enjoys paddling with Hui Pakolea, an outrigger club in Kailua.