Final Posting as a Ministry Developer

I am now facing my last week as the official Ministry Developer for Region 4.  This is a bitter sweet time for me.  I can recall with fond memories when I first arrived in Carbon County.  It was summer time and I finished school.  Kellie was pregnant with our second child.  The fine people of St. Thomas made the rectory available for us to rent.  We spent the first nigh with the heat on because it was one of those famous nights that it cooled down.   I was attempting to catch my breath from the whirlwind of moving and getting settled down.  While Kellie and I got familiar with our new surroundings we would take walks around Rawlins.  Our neighbor rode up on his motorcycle and pointed out that he noticed that we moved in a couple of houses down.  He wanted to welcome me to Rawlins and as he did so, he leaned into us and asked a direct question, “Are you planning on staying around for awhile?”  My response was yes, until they kick me out.  He smiled stuck his hand out and I took it.  It has been a great journey.  I have drank the water of Little Snake River Valley and the winds of the high desert have driven deep roots.  Carbon County has become a part of my soul and being.  As I look forward to the next chapter in my ministry in the Episcopal Church I want to review what has taken place since my arrival so many years ago.  I hope this letter finds you well.

Great picture of St. Luke

Let start with St. Luke in Medicine Bow.  I was recently ordained as a transitional deacon when the Bishop of Wyoming was making his visit to St. Luke in Medicine Bow.  I arrived to read the Gospel and dismiss the people and we regathered for a picnic following the service.  It was that day when I met the leadership of St. Luke, Arlen, Ida-May (I hope I got that spelling right), Lillian, and Alberta.  I also met the Methodist leadership and had a fine meal.  I was asked to preach and preside at St. Luke every “5th Sunday” by the Bishop and so about three times a year I would head toward that direction.  A couple of years ago St. Luke made an important decision to partner with the Bishop's Office through Mutual Ministry and from that point St. Luke received increased support through having the Holy Eucharist twice a month.  One of my fondest memories was a night that I called Arlen to discuss providing Christmas Eve services.  I when I called I was heading to Encampment and I told Arlen that I am looking at Elk Mountain and I don't see it.  He laughed and said, “Well, Doug it looks like we will not be holding Christmas Eve services this year.”  That is the nature of the beast when it comes to Wyoming.  My hope and dream for St. Luke in Medicine Bow is that they become a symbol of hope and resurrection as they face their unwritten future.  There could be a time of sabbath along with a renewal of vitality.  This is consistent with the Gospel narrative.  I now take my leave from the active participation of the conversation about what will take place in Medicine Bow and my relationship with that congregation will change.  However, I know that I will not go far because of the networks of relationships that are in place throughout the Diocese of Wyoming.  I rest assured that I will be receiving regular up-dates from my friends in that part of the state.

Talking about the future at St. Barnabas

The change in St. Barnabas is wonderful.  For most of my time in Carbon County my relationship with St. Barnabas in Saratoga was one of small distance.  I would pass this charming church on my way to St. James in Encampment and I would find myself praying for an opportunity to present itself to enter a formal relationship with this congregation.  My prayer was answered when I received an e-mail and then a phone call from Ralph.  He wanted to get licensed to preach and it was suggested that he give me a call to assist on making this happen.  That began a wonderful a renewed relationship with St. Barnabas. During our time together we wrestled with a difficult pastoral situation in which we all grew in our strength and trust in our Lord.  I also witnessed the arrival of Susan as she was drawn from one ordained office to another.  The future remains wide open as they learn together with the support of the Rev. Jess Smith what it will mean to have a priest in their midst after a long absence.

What a wonderful view of the "New" church.

St. James is a symbol of what it means to have a community pull together and when given the tools and support of a larger church what can be accomplished will inspire others.  There were many Sundays when I would arrive hoping that I was not alone.  I was always accompanied by a smiling face.  The saying, “When two or more are gathered God would be there,” had real meaning.  We would laugh and talk before the service as a means to catch-up, have announcements in the middle of the service and then off to lunch we would go to continue to the conversation.  One major drawback about St. James was it did not have indoor plumbing.  Please note that was said in the past tense.  St. James with the focus of the entire congregation has now a parish hall with running water and that all important bathroom!  I recently visited the church and as I walked about I was caught up in how different yet familiar the place looked and felt.  St. James is no longer the green church on the side of the hill, but the log church and wonderful gathering place,  It was 107 years ago at Christmas Eve when they held their first service and it looks like history will repeat itself as I will be preaching and presiding this coming Christmas Eve service.  Their future looks bright and this small but mighty community has entered the life of the Diocese in vital and meaningful way.

Yes that bow is on my head.  :0)

As I head down the road of memories I find myself driving over Battle Mountain as I head for St. Paul's in Dixon.  My first trip as a Ministry Developer I took that very road and was a bit puzzled and concerned when I saw the sign that I was entering Colorado.  I pushed on and found about a mile later another sign that said I was entering Wyoming.  Whew that was a close one!  The people of the “Valley” have opened their homes and lives to my family.  When I was talking to the late George Salisbury one Sunday morning I placed my hand on my oldest daughter and said that this is the granddaughter of Ed Snell, my father in-law.  George laughed with delight for he knew Ed Snell from many years ago.  Ed Snell would spend his high school summers working for George and so in a meaningful way, I had connections to this part of the state that were established before my arrival.  During our time together St. Paul had a calling for a priest that concluded with out anybody being identified.  The lesson I learned was that God does respond to prayers in one of three ways … no; yes; wait I have something bigger in mind.  St. Paul did not see the not having a priest as a negative and continued to be the church.  With the arrival of our current Bishop, Linda was prompted to follow the calling to be a priest for St. Paul and since entered the process.  This community of faith has shown this priest what it means to be patience.  I watched this community put in a new floor in the parish hall and new carpet in the church without skipping a beat in worship.  St. Paul is a place of deep spirituality and an indescribable strength that draws people in.  They have a saying around the “Valley” when people drink the water they never leave.  Well I have drank the water.

A picture of what happens behind the scene at St. Thomas

As I round my trip in Carbon County roads I am now heading to Rawlins and now I turn to St. Thomas.  We are familiar with the doubting Thomas.  In someways people of St. Thomas had doubts about Mutual Ministry.  They didn't enter this relationship easily, yet when they responded to the call from God, they jumped in with both feet.  They struggled with the decision of the General Convention of 2003 and found themselves strengthened because of it.  St. Thomas stretched my leadership style to become firm in what I believe and showed me the power of grace.  Recently they made a decision that would have an impact on the flow of the liturgy.  I was concerned about the outcome and was prepared to walk them through the decision making process.  I have to admit was I a bit concerned about how that conversation would turn out.  To my surprise and great delight they had the conversation themselves and everybody had their say.  St. Thomas also built a lift and handicap accessible bathrooms, called and equipped a priest, and taught me about leadership in the church.  It was also the location that my middle child was baptized and I was ordained as a priest in the same service.  So, when you hear doubting Thomas, you can smile knowing that St. Thomas in Rawlins has reinvented what it is means to doubt.  No doubt about it; it will get done!


I could add much more, but that is what this blog was about.  When you have time take a moment or two and review the postings and add your own thoughts and memories.  I now take my leave as a Ministry Developer in Region 4.  I arrived fresh out of seminary great on ideas but little experience on what it means to be a leader.  I know look forward to the next chapter of my life with the peace and comfort in knowing that I ran a great race.  Along the way I made great friends and learned many powerful lessons that will serve me well in the future.  As I arrive in Buffalo Wyoming at the first of the year I know that I am still a neighbor of Carbon County and I am proud to call you my friends.