Purser is New Rector at All Saints', Morristown

by Nellie McNeil
"Yes, you can say the bishop [The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg] has influenced my life," said the Rev. J. Philip Purser, rector at All Saints', Morristown. "He introduced me to my church and to my wife."

vonRosenberg befriended Purser when, as a high school junior, Purser moved to Fayetteville, NC.

We were sitting together in U.S. History class the day John F. Kennedy was killed and have kept up ever since," Purser said.

That friendship first caused Purser to become an Episcopalian.

"Charles invited me and then pestered me to go to Youth Group at Holy Trinity with him.

I was a Baptist, but at Youth Group there were Jews, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists--lots of diversity. So I told him I'd give it a try," Purser said.

That try led to Purser's confirmation during his senior year in high school and to seminary at the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee.

"I presented him for ordination to the diaconate. He read the lessons at my ordination to the priesthood," Purser said.

On one afternoon of their high school days in the 1960's vonRosenberg asked Purser to come along when he drove Kay Autry home. Later at Methodist College, Purser ran into vonRosenberg's former girlfriend Kay. Two days after Christmas four years afterwards, she became Purser's wife. The vonRosenbergs had celebrated the union with a huge party on Christmas Day.

"My coming to Morristown had a lot to do with him too," Purser said. vonRosenberg had advised him of the vacancy at Morristown and had talked to the All Saints' search committee. "Now here I am."

After 20 years at Church of the Redeemer, Greenville, SC, Purser began serving the 469 parishioners at All Saints' on August 3.

He and his wife, a former middle school science teacher, are parents of a son David, a mechanical engineer who graduated from North Caroline State University graduate and lives in Charlotte. Their daughter Mary Hampton is a senior at Clemson University, majoring in recreational therapy.

I came to All Saints' because I was looking for a challenge and wanted the opportunity to serve people who value education and outreach ministry. It seemed like a place for my natural calling--pastoral care," said Purser.

All Saints' Day School, in the process of a building a new school on 37 acres outside Morristown, is now partially housed at the church.

"Everyday children are running up and down these halls. It's helping form minds, bodies and souls," Purser said. "Information about the practice and experience of faith opens us to God's grace. It's exciting to be here."

Purser serves on the Province IV Christian Education Steering Committee. He is also on the board of the National Committee of the Episcopal Council for Christian Education. About the National Committee Purser said, "We constantly work helping people understand the national resources available for local churches."

Now that the Pursers live in a condominium overlooking Morristown and the mountains beyond, he has time to pursue his hobbies--furniture refinishing and portrait painting.

The Pursers are also enjoying getting to know East Tennessee by traveling to such historic places as Rogersville, Sneedville and Jonesborough.

At All Saints', Purser hopes to help develop a sense of community within the diversity of the parish. He wants "to empower the laity of the church." He aims at aiding "in the formation of faith through confirmation and baptism and giving parishioners a sense of discipleship in the community to go out into the world and proclaim the good news of Christ Jesus."

Nellie McNeil is the Upper East Correspondent for the East Tennessee Tennessee Episcopalian.