Dear friends,
On a sunny February morning, I sat in a co-op in North Austin waiting to have my very first meeting with the associate rector of St. David’s. We had agreed on lunch, and on a place, but we didn’t actually set an exact time. While waiting, I enjoyed some iced tea, wondering if I would recognize her when she arrived. No wondering was necessary, because eventually I saw a striking, tall woman with bright red hair, dressed in black with a clergy collar on, wearing a large St. David’s name tag. When we spotted one another, our first encounter was filled with laughter about how we had left out such a basic detail as the time we were to meet. For the next nearly five years, both of these things would mark my friendship and working relationship with Katie Wright: lots of laughter and omitting simple, but often important, details.
In a church the size of St. David’s, staff transition is a normal part of our common life. We all know it and expect it, but somehow when it happens we are surprised or taken off guard. I have certainly always known Katie had all the gifts and graces to be the rector of a large parish, but when it was clear she was being called to be the rector of St. Matthew's, I was taken off guard a bit. Katie’s gifts and graces are numerous, and I have grown to know them and depend on them. Now the prospect of her not being here, not being right next door, not being my go-to partner in ministry is surprising-but-not-surprising. It makes me enormously proud of her, and sad and lonesome at the same time.
God has called Katie Wright to be the rector of St. Matthew’s here in Austin. This is good and holy and true. She was born for this work and will do a splendid job with our neighbors up the road. At the same time, we will feel her absence in deep and profound ways. What I know as much as anything is that both of these things can and will happen at the same time.
The process is underway to find a priest who feels called to join our work at St. David’s. I trust God entirely on this. I know for sure God is interrupting someone’s sleep right now, planting vague images of our magnificent parish in that person’s heart. We need not be afraid, nor worry about the work getting done. I’ll keep everyone posted on that process.
Therefore, between now and Christmas, we can turn our attention to Katie Wright, and tell her important things. We love you. We love your family. We appreciate you for all the ways you have ministered to us behind the altar, in classrooms, hospital rooms, living rooms, cemeteries, city parks, and everywhere between. Friends, please take the time to tell her how you feel. And don’t leave out the details.
God’s peace,
