The Rev. Maxine Barnett was born in Jamaica. She migrated to America in 1978 to pursue graduate studies in early childhood education. She obtained a Masters degree in Educational Psychology and for 31 years worked as a classroom teacher and administrator at a school in Brooklyn. During that time, Maxine found a church home at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Queens where she served as vestry member, Sunday School teacher, Eucharistic minister and lay preacher. It is in this community that she consciously began to discern the call to ordained ministry.
Mother Maxine’s journey led to studying and living in community at Virginia Theological Seminary. She graduated in May 2015 and then served as curate at the Church of St. Jude in Wantagh. In 2019, she answered the call to become the 5th Rector of All Saints’ Church in Baldwin where she currently serves. She is also serves on several committees on the diocesan level. She is an active member of the Black Clergy Caucus, Chair of the Commission on Ministry, and part of the leadership team of the Creation Care Community.