Reflections of The Rev. Canon Gerry Walcutt

Greetings from the leadership and members of Gerry’s professional association, The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, gathered for their annual meeting in Kansas City. Several of us just came from there. Gerry is being remembered by the Association today in their memorial service.

Gerry focused most of his professional life as pastor and priest in the work of this organization. His gifts were known and received with gratitude by students, colleagues, and those who received his care.

He began his journey in CPE shortly after he completed his academic theological education in the early fifties, first at the penitentiary on Ryker Island in New York with Armen Jarjorian and continued it at Columbus State Hospital with Bee Clark. He was certified by the Council for Clinical Training in the mid fifties, and began his career as a CPE supervisor at San Antonio State Hospital. In 1962 he moved to Pittsburg and served as a parish pastor and counselor at Community Methodist Church until 1965. He then moved to the women’s prison in southern California. After several years there he served for a shorter time at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, and then worked for a few years in a drug and alcohol treatment center with his former student and friend Jim Rhoads. He served for many years at Sharp hospital in San Diego, did some work in Hospice, and in his “retirement” continued to help several centers. He consulted with many programs and students in the Pacific region.

Over the years he served this Region of the ACPE in many capacities, on the Accreditation Committee, the Certification Committee, (both more than once) and in several other capacities. For the last several years he has loved his work in pastoral care at this Cathedral, while he continued to connect with the Pacific Region of the ACPE. His intention was to be at the national ACPE meeting in KC this week, and instead was called home.

Gerry was much more than his career. He was a family man who loved his three daughters intensely. Always we heard the stories. In the seventies his middle daughter, Debbie, was killed in an auto collision, and Gerry’s grief was profound. He continued to be closely connected with Diane and Laurie and their spouses, and he delighted in his grandchildren. And Gerry was a sailor. Many of us many times sailed the waters off shore, and he was generous in sharing his joy and pleasure of his lovely sailing boat.

Under and beyond the remembrances of his life is the depth of his caring and his character. The Gospel for today speaks of the Good Shepherd, and in many ways describes my impression of how Gerry lived his life. We who knew him as an educator, friend, and colleague also knew him a caring pastor. Five to seven minutes I was given for remembering Gerry today, which is of course not enough. But brief is better than too lengthy, so I’ll wrap up with a story and a prayer.

The story is from when I and dear friend Mike Walsh were students with Gerry at CIW. Gerry was between his ordination as a Methodist Minister and an Episcopal Priest, and was not authorized to celebrate Eucharist. I was a Lutheran Pastor serving a parish not far from CIW. So Gerry asked if I would preach and celebrate Eucharist at the prison on Easter, and I agreed. The Lutherans and Episcopalians were still 20 years from agreeing that they could join in Eucharist, but neither Gerry nor I considered that a problem. But I did tell Gerry that Lutherans celebrated Eucharist with wine, not the grape juice that was the preferred agent for Methodists (and, I’m sure, prison officials). Gerry managed to move the powers that be, and we brought wine in for the celebration. When it was time for communion, we were surprised at the number of women coming forward to receive. Only later did we learn that after receiving, the earliest recipients went back to the others and whispered “Get some! It’s real wine!”

Forty years later Gerry and I would remember that event and laugh.

And the prayer: I remember old Simeon in Luke’s Gospel who greeted the newborn Jesus with the prayer that the Church has adopted as the Nunc Dimitis. And so I paraphrase:

Lord, let your servant Gerry depart in peace, according to your promise. His eyes have seen your salvation, and he has shared it with many, as a teacher in the church and in the world, among students and colleagues, with family and friends. He has been a light to lighten many among your people.

So let him depart and rest in peace. Amen.

by Art Schmidt