by David Smart

“Learning to say no.” That is something the Rt. Rev. Robert G. Tharp says he has been doing in the few short weeks since his retirement. However, this time he said yes.

Less than two months after retiring as Bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee he has accepted an appointment from Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold to chair the board of directors of the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief. It is not a full-time job, but very close to it.

“I couldn’t be more delighted that Bishop Tharp will serve as the new Chairman of the board of directors of the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief,” said Bishop Griswold. “He has shared his gifts in the last three years as a board member,” continued Bishop Griswold, “and this experience, as well as his compassionate heart, make him eminently well suited to serve in this key role. I look forward to working with Bishop Tharp in this new way.”

Bishop Tharp, who has served as a member and committee chair of the Fund’s board since 1996, was at the Episcopal Center in New York in mid April when Bishop Griswold asked him to accept the position. After considering the offer for a brief time, he called his wife Ann to discuss this unexpected opportunity with her. “It sounds just like you” he quoted Ann as saying when told of the offer. With the affirmation from her that this job did indeed sound like him, he accepted the position.

Ann Tharp’s endorsement was echoed by Sandra Swan, executive director of the Fund. “I am absolutely delighted,” was her first comment regarding Bishop Tharp’s appointment to the position. Swan, who assumed the role of executive director in late January, went on to say, “I’m new in my position and it will be very heartening to me to have someone who knows the church as well as Bishop Tharp does, who understands international relief and development as well as he does, and who has the energy and enthusiasm for the project that he does. His great sense of humor and sense of happiness at doing this type work is a great asset to the organization as well.”

Bishop Tharp said that he would continue his duties with the other boards on which he currently serves, but he has “assured Bishop Griswold that the Fund will have top priority.”

On accepting the appointment, Bishop Tharp told Bishop Griswold that he viewed the responsibility of the Chair of the Fund’s board of directors to be that of acting as an extension of his [Griswold’s] ministries, to which Bishop Griswold reportedly replied, “and your own.”

Bishop Tharp is already making plans for the executive committee members to work in an area of the world that has been hard hit by natural disaster. He plans to convene an executive council meeting in Honduras in the fall. In addition to conducting the regular business of the committee, members will take hammer and saw in hand to help build either a house or church. By having the executive committee participate in a hands-on effort in the rebuilding of the country, he hopes to develop a greater sense of connection between the committee members, the people of the region, and the rebuilding project itself.
Everyone who serves on the 20 member volunteer board has been appointed for 4 year terms in the past. Bishop Tharp said that the length of the terms will be extended to 6 years beginning with the next group of appointments made by Bishop Griswold. However, when asked how long the board’s chair served, he replied that that didn’t come up in his conversations with Bishop Griswold.

Bishop Tharp reported that one of the top items on the agenda for the June board meeting is a capital fund drive. “This will be a major fund raising campaign, larger than any previous campaigns,” he said. “We are looking at wonderfully increasing fundability to meet some of the terrible needs around the world, both human caused and natural disasters,” Swan commented regarding funding.

Bishop Tharp will continue to work from an office in his home in Knoxville. E-mail, a fax machine, and conferences calls will allow him to conduct the work of the Fund from his home office. However, he will also be traveling to meetings both in the U.S. and in other areas of the world where the Fund is at work.
When asked what he would like to say to the people of the Diocese of East Tennessee, Bishop Tharp replied, “I hope that the passion I have for the Presiding Bishop’s Fund will be infectious and spill over into all the parishes and congregations of the diocese. A great secret of the Episcopal Church is the fund itself and its threefold mission: relief, rehabilitation, and development. I invite everyone to join me in this work.”

Near the end of the interview Bishop Tharp said, “I am still reflecting on my retirement and where it will lead.” Perhaps his new roll will lead him to all corners of the world as he ministers, through the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief, to those who are suffering.