| CLERGY
NEWS
The Rev. Brad Smith ordained
priest,
is assistant at St. Andrew, Maryville
The Rev. Bradford Smith was ordained to the priesthood Jan. 31 at St. Andrew, Maryville.
“I am deeply grateful to the Diocese of East Tennessee, to the people of St. Andrew’s, and to St. John’s Cathedral who have all supported Deb and me,” he said.
Smith served as a transitional deacon at St. Andrew and now is assistant priest to its rector, the Rev. Martha Sterne. The next few months are likely to present challenges with Sterne on sabbatical and the new parish house nearing completion.
“My immediate plans include settling into this new role at St. Andrew’s and living as fully as possible into the gifts of the community,” Smith said. “As we’ve taken this exciting step together, I know we’re embarking upon a wonderful adventure with God.”
St. Francis, Norris, rector setting priorities
By the Rev. Susan Elizabeth Speir
Rector, St. Francis, Norris
St. Francis and Susan Speir are a good match. As a lifelong Episcopalian, former art teacher, parent and curriculum writer, I bring gifts of ministry to St. Francis that are much needed at this time. Also, I am very excited by the level of energy and commitment from the parishioners. They love their history, their church, their location and each other. All these together provide fertile soil for leadership.
My first and foremost concern and desire is Christian Formation. I am committed to raising the level of education for all ages.
Another area in which I believe this parish is called is in outreach. Norris proper counts about 1,400 residents (about the size of the parish I just left in Charlotte). But we find half or more of our parishioners live outside the city limits. Because we are blessed with people from areas all around the greater Knoxville area, I see a potential for touching many lives outside our own community.
My hope is to help raise the consciousness of parishioners to concerns of those less fortunate within close proximity. We have several people who are involved in the Appalachian Ministries program with our diocese. I believe those ... will be in the forefront of bringing this issue more directly into our midst.
St. Francis is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country that I have seen. My personal spirituality has always been one of celebration of the richness of God’s creation. To me then, a call to a place named for the saint in whom we remember a love of creation is to be in the place where I can best thrive in my own spiritual journey.
Challenges for me and for the parish are most certainly linked to how we would like to grow. People are open and hungry to be fed and grow strong in their faith, no question. But whether we will grow in numbers or size of building is yet to be seen. In its recent history, parishioners thought they would build a new facility more visible to the highway. However, that vision did not come to fruition. It will be my challenge to assist the people of this parish in their discernment for the future of this place.
At this time the only thing I would change in my life would be to have our children live closer.
My husband, Larry, is highly committed to his new position as the Operations Manager at Andrew Morton’s, a gift store in Knoxville. Newly married last November, Larry and I enjoy spending off time together exploring the local area and resting in the beauty of our new environment. We are at home here, grateful, and we know God’s presence.
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