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A note from the Rector — and a welcome to new staff

By January 18, 2023February 7th, 2023No Comments

Because by canon law, all staff at Episcopal parishes work for the Rector, we cannot hire permanent staff at this time. Those decisions will be made by the next Rector. However, because we will not have enough clergy at present to meet the program and pastoral needs of the parish, I am delighted to announce that two retired clergy will be joining us on a part-time basis for the coming months.

The Rev. Canon Petero Sabune is well-known to some at St. James’, as he was our first Vicar in the early years of my ministry. Having served as the Dean of the Cathedral in Newark, and several parishes within the Diocese of New York, he also had a distinguished ministry in prison chaplaincy. In retirement, he is serving part-time as priest-in-charge at the Church of Sts. John, Paul, and Clement in Yonkers, the parish where he began his ordained ministry. He will be with us on Wednesdays and Thursdays, assisting primarily with pastoral care and engaged in some teaching. He will also be with us occasionally at the 6 p.m. service on Sundays. Petero will join us on February 22.

The Rev. David Cobb has recently retired as the Director of Contextual Education at the School of Theology at Sewanee, TN. Although retired to Florida, he finds himself in New York during this time when his wife, Ruth, is serving as the Interim Director of Admissions at St. Thomas Choir School. Before teaching at Sewanee, David served as a parish priest for over three decades, in Alabama, Chicago, Baltimore and New Haven, Connecticut. He is the editor of the recent revision of St. Augustine’s Prayer Book, published by Forward Movement. David will join us beginning on Sunday, February 12 and will be with us on Sundays and Wednesdays, assisting with our worship services as well as with teaching and administration.

The Rev. Jay Sidebotham will continue in his part-time role overseeing Formation and assisting in our worship services. We are also blessed that Co’Relous Bryant and Calvin Bushman have both training and gifts as preachers, teachers and writers, and we look forward to celebrating and using their gifts in the coming months and years.

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