Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

St. Christopher parish in Kingsport welcomes rector

On Sunday, November 16, St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Kingsport welcomed its new rector, the Rev. Dr. Howard J. Hess.

Hess came from St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church in Aiken, S.C., where he had served as associate and assistant rector since his ordination in 2000.

After a distinguished career in government and university social services, Hess decided to enter the priesthood and attended Yale University Divinity School. While there, he was chosen as the Henry Hallum Tweedy Scholar of 1999-2000.

During his tenure at St. Thaddeus, Hess developed and led the parish's Stephen Ministry Program and the adult and youth Alpha programs. He also planned and led the first parish mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2002 and again in 2003. He served on several Diocese of Upper South Carolina boards, committees and councils.

Bishop Charles von Rosenberg conducted a Celebration of Ministry service on Jan. 11, making Hess St. Christopher's third rector. A reception followed.

Hess' wife, Peg, is director of the doctoral program for the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She teaches in the area of child welfare services.

Both Hesses have published a number of professional papers and books. Their son, Jeremy, is a resident in Emergency Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, and their daughter, Kristen, is a special education teacher for autistic children in Gwinnett County, Ga.

photo by Tom Tipton

Spouses of clergy gather at convention

Annie vonRosenberg, wife of Bishop Charles vonRosenberg, gathered clergy spouses for her sixth annual luncheon held during diocesan convention — this year at Galloway’s in Johnson City on Feb. 7. “The clergy spouses’ luncheon is a good way for me to get to know spouses of the clergy and for them to know each other,” she said. Seated from left above are Gail Wilcox, St. James, Greeneville; Roslyn McGee, Nativity, Fort Oglethorpe; Virginia Garrett, Annunciation, Newport; Ann Choyce, St. Timothy, Signal Mountain; and Martha Cooper, St. John, Johnson City. Standing from left are Lucy Frye, St. Andrew, Maryville; Larry Spear, St. Francis, Norris; Annie vonRosenberg; Haven Temple, St. Martin, Chattanooga; Jerry Seavey, Resurrection, Loudon; Karen Mills, Good Samaritan, Knoxville; Michael Keene, St. Stephen, Oak Ridge; Evalds Jekabsons, Bristol; and Russ Henley, St. Joseph the Carpenter, Sevierville.