Resident Connections

July 2009

The Christ Church Foundations for Spiritual Leadership Clergy Resident Program is one of the Lilly Endowment’s Transition-into-Ministry programs (TiM). TiM is aimed at assisting new clergy in making the critical transition from seminary student to full-time clergy as part of its larger effort to strengthen the preparation of pastoral leaders.

Our New Foundations for Spiritual Leadership Residents

This summer we welcomed our new cohort of two clergy residents. On July 1 R. Justice (Justi) Schunior of Candler Seminary Emory University and Nicholas (Nick) Myers of Berkeley Divinity School–Yale University joined the clergy staff at Christ Church to begin their two year program.

Christ Church parishioners have been deeply involved in this process over the past few months. The Foundations for Spiritual Leadership Steering Committee continues to offer overall guidance and leadership, as we invite other members of the congregation to join us in ministry for the next two years as part of the Mutual Ministry team.

Please join us in prayer as we begin another new year. Thank you for all of the support you offer to the clergy resident program and for the mentoring you provide to the residents as they prepare for a lifetime of healthy, creative ministry in the church.

Clergy Resident Updates

The Rev. Earnest Graham accepted the position of Rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Suffolk, Virginia. Founded in 1642 and located 40 miles outside of Williamsburg, St. John’s is the quintessential small country church. The position is part-time, which allows him to spend time with his son Evan and work on his artistic translations of the Bible. Check out the blog Earnest has at http://lookbothwaysartandfaith.blogspot.com.

Current news from the Rev. Leslie Chadwick - I’m enjoying being the priest-in-charge while my Rector Brad Rundlett is on sabbatical this summer. The parish is filled with strong lay leaders and we’re helping each other out. We’re going to introduce the program Godly Play for our next Sunday School Year. When the teachers asked about it, I was proud to tell them how well it had worked when I’d seen it in action at Christ Church.

Little Jay is now 15 months old, and we’re enjoying hearing the new words he comes up with each day.

I can be reached at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Herndon, Virginia, 703-437-3790 x12.

Update from the Rev. Nicholas Szobota - I continue to serve as Associate Rector for Worship and Adult Faith Formation at St. John's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland, 410-461-7793 x117. I am involved in diocesan-level ministries by serving on the Diocesan Liturgy and Music Committee and through serving on the board of the Maryland Episcopal Clergy Association. From June 2008 through April 2009, I was part of the third cohort of Lewis Fellows through the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. This program gathers clergy under 40 from across denominations for four separate intensive weeks of exploring ministry and leadership in congregations. During the year, we visited congregations in the Baltimore/D.C. Metro area, the Kansas City Metro area, and in Atlanta, Georgia. Home is 410-988-5804, cell is 571-289-3224.

The Rev. Joseph S. Pae, Canon Pastor at The Cathedral of the Incarnation (516-746-2955 x13), shares his wonderful news. I know it's been over a year but I became a dad! My son Ethan was born last year and we celebrated his first birthday in May. Some of my friends already know about this but I thought I would share that news. He is healthy and strong and keeps me very busy...night and day! It's going to be my sixth year at the Cathedral and I feel that I have done as much as I can and it's time to move on.

The Rev. Jenni Ovenstone Smith has been serving at St. John's Episcopal Church located in Ellicott City, Maryland as Associate Rector for Children and Youth, and Chaplain of the Parish Day School, since September 2008. She and her husband Pepper Smith, along with dog Willow, just moved into a church-owned home (next door to the Rev. Nick Szobota!).

Their new address is 3501 N. Chatham Rd.; Ellicott City, MD 21042. They have no land-line, only cell phones: Jenni's is 410-440-6322, Pepper's is 703-577-4030.

Hello, from The Rev. Mpho Tutu - I am still busy writing the book due out next March. I am now attending, and occasionally supplying, at St. Mary's Church in Foggy Bottom. The girls love it. Address information remains the same as before.

From the Rev. Kurt Levensaler - It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that I announce to you that Leighanne, Luke, and I have accepted an incredible opportunity for our family in California - we are planning to move in August.

In late April, Leighanne received what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our family working as a vice president with a new enterprise business software company in the Bay Area. This move will also allow us to be closer to my extended family. After we move to California, I have no immediate plans other than being Luke’s dad and finally doing some of that writing I have always wanted to do. In this opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad, I have discovered the emergence of a new calling – one I didn’t expect but that I feel very pleased and privileged to have.

I ask your prayers for our family as we embark on this new adventure.

From Christ Church to St. Matthew’s – the Rev. Daniel Lennox – headed to Westchester County with Abigail to take the position of Assistant Rector at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Bedford, New York. Abigail and I are delighted with this calling. We are really looking forward to our new adventure. That said, however, we are sad to leave the people of Christ Church!

The Rev. Erika Takacs has accepted a call to become the next Associate Rector for Evangelism and Faith Formation here at Christ Church. Erika will start her new position in mid-July.

Please let us hear your updates by sending them to the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon. Click here to send Jane an email.