Spotlight on abuse: Episcopal priest Leslie Steffensen

By | March 26, 2022
Leslie Steffensen Unethical Priest
Kirk Steffensen threatens parishioner

Kirk Steffensen threatens parishioner

the Rev. Leslie Steffensen serves as Canon to the Bishop Suffragen of the Armed Services and Federal Ministries. A former Navy officer, Steffensen was ordained in 2012 by Virginia bishop Shannon Johnston. In 2015, while serving as assistant rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria Virginia, Steffensen retaliated against a parishioner who filed a clergy disciplinary complaint seeking mediation with the parish rector, Bob Malm. This retaliation took the form of fabrications about “suspicious activities” in her response to an employment background check being conducted on the parishioner. Subsequently, her husband, Kirk Steffensen, a senior vice president with Corvid technologies, threatened the parishioner’s husband’s job. Despite these issues, Leslie Steffensen serves on the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Disciplinary Committee.

To date, neither Leslie nor her husband have accepted responsibility for their actions, nor offered an apology.

Full disclosure: Anglican Watch editor Eric Bonetti was the parishioner who filed the original disciplinary complaint.

Leslie Steffense, sneaky, dishonest priest

Leslie Steffense, sneaky, dishonest priest

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Heather

Awful, nasty behavior. Bullies in vestments. Such a disappointment to find so much beauty in the Episcopal worship services, but then such ugliness behind the scenes.

Toucan

I know…in some ways, TEC represents the very best of what religion can do for people, but in others…well, sadly this seems to be a troubling trend.

Toucan

I am really happy we have begun to discuss this in the “abuse” spotlight. I can’t speak for other denominations, but when I worked for an Episcopal cathedral, I felt the gaslighting and psychological abuse was absolutely terrifying.

Eric Bonetti

I am so very sorry about your experience.

No pressure, but if you ever want to share your experiences, let us know.

Stinkbomb

I hope you will let me post this:

I would call Leslie and her husband two pieces of shit in a toilet, but I am not in the mood to be kind.