Showing posts with label clergy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clergy. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

New Call for the Rev. Canon Albert Ogle

Dear friends at St. Paul’s

After a long summer of supplying in Palm Springs this summer, I am looking forward to preaching this coming Sunday (October 5th) at the 8 a.m. service (the one with the non-four legged friends on St. Francis Day!). We will announce an important transition regarding our shared ministries - I have been called by the congregation of St. Peter’s church, Lithgow as their XXX1st Vicar. The parish is about 90 minutes north of New York City and half of congregants lead active professional lives in Manhattan. So it is a wonderful honor to be called to this historic and vibrant community. The ministry also permits me to focus half my time on developing an East Coast office for the St. Paul’s Foundation with networks at the United Nations in NY and the World Bank in Washington DC. (Download press release here.)

After living more than half my life in California, this is a very big move.  

Over the six years I have shared in ministry with you the cathedral, it has been such an inspiration to share in the liturgical and outreach ministries of the parish. I also loved celebrating many marriages in this sacred space and the idea for the creation of the St. Paul’s Foundation, as many of you know, was inspired within your midst. I am grateful to all who supported this challenging work and for the members of our Board of Directors, Susan Guinn, Lindy Miles, Gary Voice and newly elected David Reicks who will ensure the San Diego Chapter of the Foundation remains on the cutting edge of helping good people like Angeline Jackson and Maxensia Nakibuuka. I am also grateful for Jim and Mary Keely for representing the Foundation on the Outreach Committee and ensuring this international ministry will continue.

There will be a cocktail reception for me and Maxensia (who returns to Uganda the next day) at Heat Bar and Kitchen on Tuesday 7th October from 6-8 p.m. and I hope you can join us and ensure the international ministry we share will continue to save and improve living conditions for LGBT people and allies. You may make reservations HERE.

An additional treat for the cathedral congregation (when I preach my final sermon on Sunday, November 16th) is to have Ugandan Bishop Christopher and Mary Senyonjo with us once again.

Without the support of this community, we would never have been able to support these courageous champions for justice and peace. I give thanks to God for what we have achieved together and hope the maturation of the Foundation with robust leadership on both coasts, will translate into greater resources and services for the most marginalized LGBT people on the planet. Thank you for all your love, prayers and support and as one of your own Canons. I look forward to returning from time to time to report on my new parish family in Millbrook (a beautiful spot in the Hudson Valley) as well as our international family. Please pray for us.

Blessings,

Rev. Canon Albert J. Ogle
Vicar of Lithgow

Friday, July 5, 2013

Meet Colin and Laurel, our new curates

Ordination, 2013
We're home!

 That's how it feels to return to the Cathedral as its newest members of the clergy. After moving to San Diego from Washington, D.C., we first came to St. Paul's for the Blessing of the Animals service in 2007. What a sight! We decided quickly that any church comfortable enough with itself to allow dogs to sit on the pews was the place for us.

Although we had been attending an Episcopal church in D.C. the year before, we were not well-versed in the Anglican tradition, or confirmed members. We enrolled that winter in the "What Is An Episcopalian?" course, and were confirmed the following Easter (2008). A year later, we both began the formal year-long discernment process for holy orders, a blessed adventure that changed our lives and our address: we next found ourselves in small town Sewanee, Tennessee for a three-year seminary education.

Since we hadn't yet had our fill of life-changing events, we thought we'd add a child to the mix; our daughter Robin was born in 2010 at the end of our first semester. Seminary turned out to be a wonderful place to become parents. Robin spent her first two years in a loving community of teachers and friends who knew her and her parents well. For our part, we developed quite a sophisticated spreadsheet detailing when each of us was in class, studying, and watching the baby!

We spent our two seminary summers in San Diego doing our required parish internships at St. David's and All Souls and our clinical pastoral internships with a local hospice program. We passed our comprehensive General Ordination Exams in January (which involved three and a half days of testing!), and were delighted by the Cathedral's warm celebration of our deaconal ordination this April.

Somehow, of all the places in the diocese we could have ended up -- from Yuma to Lake Elsinore -- we find ourselves back at the Cathedral, the place where in large part this odyssey began. Our titles will be "curate"; curacies are a time for apprenticeship after seminary, and the positions are traditionally supported partially by the diocese, as is the case for us. That means we hope to be involved in every aspect of parish life so that we can continue developing our preaching, liturgical, pastoral, administrative, and teaching skills. Thank you in advance for helping us learn!

That said, we will have somewhat different focus areas. Laurel will be devoting significant time to Christian formation for all ages, while Colin will spend much of his time with the Cathedral's Spanish-speaking congregation.

Please introduce yourselves when you see us -- we're looking forward to getting to know you as we settle back "home" at St. Paul's.

The Revs. Colin and Laurel Mathewson

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Getting to know you: the Rev. Canon Joan Ford

We're starting a new series to introduce the "retired" clergy who serve St Paul's in so many different roles.   This biography of the Rev. Canon Joan Ford comes in part from a profile written by Phil Darby.

Canon Ford arrived in San Diego some 14 years ago, from Northern California by way of London, where she was Director of Telecommunications for the Anglican Communion. Canon Ford has a wide-ranging professional and personal background. Married at the age of 20, she spent many years raising four children and volunteering in the community. Once the children were grown, she decided to complete her half-finished college education, and enrolled at Stanford, where she received her A.B. in Psychology, and her Master’s and Ph.D. in Sociology.

Joan with her children Anne, Dave, Chris and Rich
While still a student, Canon Ford worked at the Institute for the Future, a think tank which specialized in studies of communication technologies, especially the (then) fledgling fields of computer and video conferencing. After graduation, she taught in the Sociology department, and formed a company, Target Technologies, that produced a a newsletter about Artificial Intelligence for the Silicon Valley community. About the time that Target Technologies was asked to merge with another company, Joan felt the call to the priesthood.

After ordination, and jobs as curate and interim rector, Canon Ford served for almost five years as rector of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, a parish in an inner city, mostly minority neighborhood of San Francisco.

Her experience in technology led her to a position in telecommunications in the Anglican Communion office in London. While there, she helped form plans for establishing effective telecommunications systems for provinces around the Anglican Communion. She was also co-chair of telecommunications for the 1998 Lambeth Conference. After three years in England, Joan decided that she would like to live in a temperate climate, and after reviewing options in San Francisco, decided to settle in San Diego, where she became a Priest-in-Residence at St. Paul’s.

In 2000, Joan was made Canon for Communications at St. Paul’s, with the charge of forming effective means of connecting to the rest of the Anglican world, both locally and globally, through print and electronic media.

After “retirement” in 2006, Joan took a 3 month break, then returned to St. Paul’s, to become the Canon for Outreach. We have many outreach programs happening, including our “flagship” project, Dorcas House, our foster home for children of jailed parents in Tijuana, MX. She says, “St. Paul’s has felt like home from the very beginning, and I am honored to be a part of this wonderful cathedral.”

Joan shares a house with longtime friend and fellow priest Canon Dorothy Curry, dog Sandy, cat Bella, some koi and goldfish, and any kids and grands who happen to be in town.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Sermon: a Martha and Mary Moment

This is the text of the sermon by The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas, 18 July 2010

Today‘s Gospel reading from Luke tends to make women feel uncomfortable. Because there really aren’t that many stories about women in scripture, we tend to pay close attention to those that do, but this one cuts a little close to the bone. I think it is safe to say we would all prefer to sit at Jesus’ feet to be able to listen to what he has to say and simply take in the miracle of his presence.

And someone also has to make dinner. Let’s face it, one of the things you don’t hear in this story is any of Jesus’ disciples saying, “Martha, why don’t you go ahead and join Mary, we’ll take of things.”

The practice of hospitality was a particularly important one in the ancient Hebrew culture. We see this in our first reading, when the Lord, in the guise of three men, appears to Abraham. The first thing Abraham does is to arrange for their comfort by having Sarah prepare cakes, something she does without hesitation.

So for Mary to not assist Martha in providing for the comfort of their guest would not only be seen as inconsiderate but almost culturally taboo.

But when we look at Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels, we see breaking taboos was usually the least of his concerns. His words to Martha, are gentle but clear, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

People often see this story in terms of black and white: Mary is right, Martha is wrong. But to look at it so starkly, I think misses the point. It’s not what Martha is doing is wrong but there is something taking place at that point in time which is more important and her attention would be better spent there.

There is much to be said for righteous activity, whether it is based on cultural expectations such as hospitality, righting a wrong, advancing the Gospel in the world, or taking care of people we love. All of these things are not only good but necessary.


But activity, even righteous activity, without reflection or time set aside to enjoy and appreciate what has been accomplished, can become an idol in and of itself, causing those who are always busy to sometimes think less of or even resent others who do take time out for reflection, rest, or just plain quiet.

So, looking at the story of Martha and Mary in this light, it is not so much about activity or business vs. listening and taking in the word of God but rather about putting these things in proper perspective, in their proper place.

Which includes learning to appreciate what I would call Martha and Mary moments.

I have talked about my marriage before so I won’t reiterate all the fascinating details but the Reader’s Digest version is this: Skip and I were going to be married in June of 2000 before I was ordained. But when I realized my health insurance would end a couple of months prior to that date, we moved it up to December of 1999 so I wouldn’t have to pay a lot of money to cover those months.

So that fall with me in New York beginning my last year of seminary and Skip in San Diego recovering from his first, and somewhat unexpected, open heart surgery, we planned our wedding to take place at a friend’s house when I came back to San Diego for winter break.

On the day before my wedding, I bought my dress and shoes, and stopped at Costco to pick up drinks and food for the reception. Later in the afternoon, Skip and I met with John Chane, who was dean of the Cathedral at the time and was going to marry us, to talk about our service. And then in the evening we made dinner for our families.

It wasn’t until the next evening when I was at my friend’s house getting ready that it hit me I was getting married. Soon. Like in 30 minutes. I briefly considered passing out. However, as that didn’t seem like a good option I somehow managed to hold it together.

But when we assembled in the living room for the ceremony, and I looked at all the people there—people we loved and had been so helpful in making this day happen, I had, or I think more accurately was given, a profound Martha and Mary moment. I was old enough to know marriage can take work, but at the same time, savor what was happening right then. I felt such joy and gratitude in that moment, and ready to take on the next steps in our lives together—knowing some would be easier than others.

Martha and Mary moments are found in all marriages or lifelong committed relationships, but in those in which one or both of the persons in it are people of faith, the rhythms of those moments are often felt, if not more deeply, then at least differently because they provide openings to see God at work in our lives in ways we wouldn’t see otherwise.

We may be distracted by many things but God will show us the better part and it will not be taken away from us.

But there is something else at work also. For those of us who are Christians, we cannot overlook the importance of how our faith communities help us to recognize this better part—to see Jesus and be Jesus for each other and the world. As Paul says in his letter to the Colossians,
“Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible . . . all things have been created through him and for him.”
We are created to love God and to love each other. And it is often in our most intimate relationships—intimate in body, mind, and soul, we see the image of the invisible God and begin to understand the depth of God’s all encompassing passion and love for us.

This Cathedral community has been abundantly blessed, and continues to be blessed, with many couples who are in loving, committed long term, Christ-filled relationships. Their presence is an amazing witness of what the better part looks like.

But, we have not been able to formally bless the relationships of our LGBT members—a situation which has caused great pain for many here and diminished the ability of all of us to find and proclaim the image of the invisible God, an image often found in the relationships of our LGBT members and friends because they know some things about fidelity and steadfastness in the face of hardship those of us who are straight cannot fully appreciate.

But a Martha and Mary moment is now upon us.

Approximately two weeks ago, Bishop Mathes sent a letter to all clergy in the Diocese saying he will permit the blessing of same gender relationships in churches in this Diocese, under certain conditions.

Among them, parishes wishing to do blessings must engage in a parish wide study of the issue such as the one found in the Holiness in Relationships Task Force Report and submit a letter or resolution to Bishop Mathes from the vestry, or in our case Chapter, indicating support for their clergy to do blessings. We have done both and Bishop Mathes has said we may proceed.

It is a Martha moment because there is still work, righteous work, to be done in order to accomplish full inclusion—not the least of which is working towards marriage equality. But in terms of doing blessings, at this time there are additional requirements for same-gender couples.

And it is a Mary moment as well because we are finally able to witness to the world, what the fullness of loving relationships, grounded in faith look like; as well as celebrate the love of the couples who come to have their relationships blessed. They will fill this place with a profound joy, a holy joy.

And it will happen. As Bishop Paul Marshall says so beautifully in his book, Same-Sex Unions, Stories and Rites:1
[t]o bless a union is to ask God to make it an experience of the kind and intensity of Christ’s love, both for the couple and also for all who are touched by their life together. Thus blessing a union is not to wish it good fortune or merely to give thanks for it, although both certainly occur: it is to set it aside for a holy use, to perceive it to be grace-bearing, to expect God to use it.
So today, mindful of the righteous work still to be done, let us not be distracted by many things but sit at the feet of Jesus and give thanks for the innumerable grace-bearing ways God will put to holy use all the unions blessed in this sacred space. We are witnesses to the new creation and this moment, this holy moment will never be taken away from us.


1Paul V. Marshall, Same-Sex Unions, Stories and Rites (New York: Church Publishing, 2004), p. 62.

Proper 11/year C
Genesis 18:1-10a
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42

Friday, July 16, 2010

Integrity honors Rev. Canons Andrew Rank and Barnabas Hunt

From Integrity's blog:
At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of Integrity, a resolution was passed honoring the dedication of the Reverend Canons Andrew Rank and Barnabas Hunt to creating a fully inclusive church. As members of the Society of St. Paul, they joined Integrity in 1995 and have been major supporters of Integrity’s work to ensure the sacraments were available to everyone, including the ordination of LGBT candidates and the consecration of openly gay or lesbian bishops. A formal presentation will be made to the brothers on Sunday 18th July at the 10.30 a.m. service by Canon Albert Ogle who serves on the Integrity Board as Vice President for National and International Affairs.

Monday, July 5, 2010

That First Day

On July 1, 1958, Gresham Oregon was a small farming community of 5,000 people about twelve miles east of Portland, Oregon. That morning, at age twenty, I became a novice in the Society of St. Paul at our first Mass at St. Luke the Physician Episcopal Church in the town where the founder of our Order, Fr. Rene Bozarth, was Rector. After a simple breakfast downstairs in the parish hall, the brothers walked next door into our newly acquired nursing home that would be there after known as St. Jude’s Home.

Our founder chose St. Jude because he was the patron of incurable disease and impossible causes. Back then nursing homes were different than they are today. The first White House Conference on Aging wasn’t called until 1961 which led to licensing, and the beginning of the long term health care industry. Fortunately, Oregon was ahead of most states because it already had regulations and administrator licensing.

As we entered the home I was a bit overwhelmed with the odor, chaos and decrepit condition of the equipment. The first thing our founder, Canon Rene Bozarth, SSP, did was hang a crucifix inside the main entrance of the building for all to see. As we walked down the hallway an old man put his arm around his wife as they stood in the door way of their room. He said, “We’re going to be ok mother, the Church is here. We are going to be all right.”

I began my religious life as an orderly caring for my assigned number of chronically or terminally ill or developmentally challenged men. It was one of the most humbling and most spiritually significant experiences of my life. I can still remember the faces and names of some of those men.

Our first monastery was a simple three bedroom house a few blocks from the parish church and nursing home. The bedrooms were converted to a work room, infirmary, and guest room respectively. The small dining room was also our library. We made the double garage into a dormitory with plywood partitions dividing the space into six “cells” or little rooms with a heavy canvass curtains in the front for privacy. Each brother had a small, used army cot, straight back chair; a knotty pine chest of drawers, a writing table and a small metal wardrobe for all his worldly stuff. The garage door was sealed to keep out the rain and wind. But, anyone familiar with Western Oregon weather will know that is not easy to do in the winter. So it wasn’t unusual in the winter to occasionally step into a puddle or even an angle worm after a stormy night upon rising in one’s cell to the waking bell and prayer.

We rose in silence every morning (5:30 am) to the ringing of the Angelus, a prayer based on the Gospel of St. Luke and recited in monasteries morning, noon and at evening.

The next thing our founder did was give staff members a raise. He was a member of the Multnomah County Welfare Commission and had a passion for social justice, which was why we acquired the nursing home: to make a wrong thing right in the name of Christ. As the weeks passed, we replaced the worn out, despicable equipment and furnishings with brand new beds, mattresses, chairs and linens. It was quite a sight to see volunteers with pick up trucks hauling away junk from the back door while trucks unloaded new furnishings through the front door.

At the same time we had the opportunity to rent a small house and yard next door to the nursing home. That meant on our free time, the brothers cleaned up the yard and made it into a garden so residents could enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and views of Mt. Hood as well as a picnic now and then. By October the parish chapter of the Daughters of the King had formed a “Blue Lady” auxiliary of women and a few men who visited patients, helped them with personal needs and mostly became friends since many residents had no families or visitors. Some who lived at the home came next door to church on Sunday.

Little did I know that first day on July 1, 1958 as I sat exhausted on my bedside after Compline, I would be writing this blog more than fifty years after or have any idea the adventure God had planned for me, Barnabas and all the many brothers who became part of the Society of St. Paul.

If you would like to know more about the history of the Society of St. Paul click here.


Captions
Parish: St. Luke the Physician Episcopal Church in Gresham, Oregon was where the Society of St. Paul began on July 1, 1958. St. Jude’s Home, which no longer exists, was to the left across the driveway.
Rock: An outdoor Labyrinth Garden was dedicated in 2006 honoring the brothers and sisters of the Society of St. Paul and their ten years of ministry in Gresham. Click on image for a closer view.



The Rev Andrew Rank SSP is a Canon of the Cathedral

Saturday, June 19, 2010

St John's Ketchikan needs a new rector


On a recent visit to Alaska, we visited St John's Ketchikan, Alaska, and St Peter's-by-the-sea, Sitka. The retiring rector of St John's asked all the visitors to spread the word that they need a new rector for this small, but friendly parish nestled in this pretty town. Since the Cathedral community is large and we have lots of clergy connections, this seemed a good place to mention it.

As well as fishing and tourism industries, Ketchikan is a great arts community. The congregation is ethnically and economically diverse, not surprising in this very diverse region SO! If you know someone for whom this little parish sounds like a good fit, Spread the Word! Check out the job listing and the church's wishlist. Candidates can contact St John's, Ketchikan directly at 907-225-3680, PO Box 3003, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 for more information.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

A reflection on anniversaries and thanksgiving

I'll preach at St. Paul's Cathedral, San Diego on June 6, 2010, sixty-seven years to the day of my confirmation by Bishop Bertrand Stevens when we were still part of the Los Angeles Diocese. That was June 6, 1943, and the war was a heavy reality. D-Day on the Normandy beaches was a year away.

Also in June of this year I will equal in my retirement years the number of years I served as Rector, then Dean of that same St. Paul's Cathedral. Sixteen years before official retirement--sixteen years since. I wasn't sure what I expected after I retired. I only knew that I was tired of the church merry-go-round, and was determined to keep up my handball game and return to serious piano playing.

Some energy returned when the Bishop asked me to do temporary duty in a troubled parish, which I did. And the outcome of that was wonderful, life-long friends. Then there followed, for the next five years, interim duty at four congregations, plus several months at the Cathedral when my successor, John Chane, became Bishop of Washington.

I imagine I'm the only retired member of the clergy whose post-retirement equaled the activity of their last cure. What has kept me lively and interested, in spite of the inevitable health issues that come with aging, is the frequent obligation to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament, primarily at the Cathedral as well as our neighborhood parish church. Pastoral care is an ongoing activity in both congregations, partly because I'm the primary pastoral figure of communicants who were at St. Paul's when I became Rector in 1978.

I remember Matthew Fox saying, in a seminar on contemporary spirituality which he offered so many years ago in Chicago, that travel was good for one's prayer life. So Lanita and I did our share, leading a couple of tours before retirement, then really getting into it after retirement: the U.K. Ireland, Italy, Israel, a marvelous sweep through Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany; Russia; and then Ireland once again.

This anniversary month includes my birthday on the 2nd (81), fifty-six years in the diaconate on June 29, and fifty-five years in the priesthood on the same June 29. The Bishop of Olympia who ordained me, Stephen F. Bayne, Jr., did not shrink the one-year diaconate to six months, as so many do now!

Members of St. Paul's Cathedral who read this, as well as many stalwarts of All Souls Parish, Point Loma, know quite well my presence and pleasure to be a part of their lives.

June of 2010 has been a unique time for me to pause and reflect...with thanksgiving.

The Rev James E. Carroll, Dean Emeritus

This year is also marks the 25th Anniversary of St. Paul's becoming a Cathedral. If you have memories or reflections on the journey from St. Paul's parish to San Diego's "Cathedral for the City" send them on, we've love to post them throughout the year. Email your posts to: stpaulblog@gmail.com

Friday, May 28, 2010

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

Thursday, April 8, 2010

In Memory of The Rev. Canon Gerry Walcutt

Dear Friends in Christ,
It is with a sad and grateful heart that I tell you of The Reverend Canon Gerry Walcutt's death. Gerry passed away quickly a day or so after our observance of Easter, a celebration in which he participated. Gerry was born in Ohio, raised as a Methodist, served during WWII, and came into the priesthood of the Episcopal Church in 1969.

Canon Walcutt was one of the great pastors of our region, not only offering the care of Christ directly to those in need but also training hundreds of future ministers in the art of pastoral care through his active and skillful involvement as a Clinical Pastoral Education supervisor. For forty-five years, he served as a pastor in various institutions, including churches, hospitals, prisons, hospices, medical centers, and chemical dependency units.

When he was made a canon of this cathedral, the dean at the time, John Chane, said this to Gerry: "Your honesty in matters pastoral, and your wisdom and skill in the care and the souls of God's people, have endeared you to many, both here at Saint Paul's Cathedral and beyond in the larger world. You have taken up your duties here at the cathedral as colleague, pastor, preacher, and teacher with a grace that affirms us all."

We will miss Gerry terribly and we are blessed to have shared a part of his journey with him. There is a niche in our columbarium awaiting Gerry's earthly remains and a mansion in heaven prepared for his soul. As plans develop for his memorial service we will share them with you; in the meantime, please hold Gerry's family and friends in your prayers.

God's peace,

(The Very Reverend) Scott Richardson, Dean

Friday, March 12, 2010

How Integrity has Blessed Albert Ogle


Did you know our own Rev. Canon Albert Ogle is Integrity's Vice President for National Affairs? In this video, he tells a tale of healing in his journey from Ireland, where he was dismissed from his parish for being gay, to Los Angeles, where he led a ministry in outreach to gay and lesbian runaways. Cross posted with permission from the blog Walking with Integrity.

For a text version, click here.


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Meet our new canons!

On Sunday, January 24, 2010, the Cathedral will install two new canons. (A “canon” is an honorary title, associated with a cathedral and is conferred upon clergy or lay persons, who have demonstrated certain skills and ministries.)

The Rev Anne B Chisham
I am a native San Diegan and a cradle Episcopalian baptized, confirmed and married at All Saints, Hillcrest.

My husband and I moved to Northern California. When my children were young we returned to San Diego and settled in Point Loma. We joined All Souls’ parish in 1976 and I have a long history there as a lay leader and a Deacon.

In 1980 I cashed in on my lifelong passion for Anglican Church history and tradition and my years as a Travel Agent by forming my own tour company. The tours are designed to introduce interested Episcopalians throughout the US. to our remarkable Anglican heritage by visiting the great cathedrals, abbeys and holy places of England. Out of this experience my call to the diaconate was realized. I attended Episcopal School of Theology at Claremont (Bloy House) and was ordained in December 1992.

I spent my first year as the Deacon at St. Timothy’s, Penasquitos and then returned to All Souls’ in 1994. For the next 13 years I managed and trained the lay liturgy teams, taught classes in Anglican history, served on the Pastoral Care commission and served otherwise where needed. During my years there I also mentored four different EFM groups and served on Diocesan Council.

In September 2007 I joined the staff at the cathedral where I am actively involved in the Pastoral Care committee and offer the occasional forum. As a resident of St. Paul’s Manor I assist the chaplain in the weekly Eucharist services, memorial services, Bible studies and offer pastoral care as directed.

The Rev. Michael Kaehr
Michael was born in 1942 in Decatur, Indiana. He started his “Music Ministry” at age 11 when he started playing organ for his home Evangelical and Reformed Church. He taught Sunday school, and sang in both the youth and senior choirs, as well as being “pres” of the youth group.

After graduating from Heidelberg College with a music major, he began teaching music in high school. He then continued with a master’s degree in music from the University of Wisconsin specializing in voice with secondary interests in organ and piano. He continued teaching in Wisconsin primarily at the Junior and Senior High School levels although he taught in every level from kindergarten through college. He primarily taught classical music voice and choir.

While teaching he was asked as “Mr. Music” to recommend an organist for Easter for a small Episcopal Church. Others were busy so he volunteered. He continued as organist and invited his students to sing. Soon the church had grown to a choir of 40 and the parents joined the church increasing the size from 16 to 100. As part of a life long interest in building, Michael instigated the men and together they built the first restrooms for the 1910 church and a parish hail, and reassembled an 18 rank pipe organ for the church. As time continued he began to feel the call for ministry and when he asked his priest, he was told “The congregation and I were wondering when you would figure it out. We have known for a long time.” Michael says that he kept running from the call but eventually God caught him.

Michael attended Seminary at Nashotah House in Wisconsin and graduated in 1983. He then worked for two years as Assistant to the Dean and was made a Residentiary Canon. In 1985 he became Assistant to the Rector at St. James By The Sea. Then in 1987 he became Rector of St. John’s, Chula Vista: the church and the school. In 199-, the church was arsoned and burned completely. Michael’s experience in building enabled him to work with parishioners in building a temporary church in 40 days. That building later became offices for church and school. Michael’s architectural vision is very present in the building of the neo-gothic church for the parish with an emphasis on beauty, liturgical function, and acoustics. As the new church was being dedicated he had a heart attack that led to his retirement.

Michael served on various diocesan committees, including the diocesan council. Cursillo occupied him for many weekends where he particularly enjoyed being kitchen priest. He also gave a few choral workshops.

In 1997 he married Nancy Olmsted, retired and moved to La Jolla. He was an honorary assistant at St. James By the Sea, La Jolla moving to St. Paul’s cathedral in 2008. In retirement, he has been very active with The Mankind Project attending numerous weekend as a staff member as well as National and International gatherings. Many MKP events also occur at his house. In addition, he keeps quite busy singing in the La Jolla Symphony chorus. Finally, for just fun, he gives a number of weekly voice lessons