Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Proverbs 22:6
I began 2021 full of joy. The announcement on January 2 that our very own, Reverend Joseph Wallace-Williams has been called to be the Rector of the Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany in Philadelphia brought tears to my eyes and a heart full of gladness.
Joe Wallace came to Trinity about 30 years ago as a young child via volunteers at Laurel School. He participated in our Wednesday night dinners, Sunday school, church services, TEEP and EYC. We became his family. Through his school years, we had the pleasure of watching him grow in his faith and bring his many gifts to our congregation. He had many mentors along the way and was formally adopted by a Trinity family, Laura and John Williams.
After graduating from college and before entering seminary, Joe worked on our church staff as interim Outreach Coordinator for a year during the illness of our beloved Outreach Coordinator of 17 years, Dr. Roger Ward. He embraced community ministry and kept Roger’s significant outreach work in our community going strong.
Joe attended seminary at Sewanee and after ordination in 2011, he served as Associate Rector at Grace-St. Luke’s Church in Memphis working especially with youth and young adults, a natural calling for Joe. I recall a time when he and I volunteered for Vacation Bible School at All Souls Episcopal Church established shortly after Katrina in the lower ninth ward. As many know, All Souls was housed in a closed Walgreens. There were no outdoor play facilities, so Joe took a large group of kids to the paved parking lot and created a hopping, jumping, skipping game centered around the parking lot speed bumps. It was so much fun to experience the laughter of these kids with this fun and creative activity.
Joe went on to spend four years as a member of the monastic community, Holy Cross Monastery in New York organizing retreats and mastering the skills of hospitality. He brought these skills to his work at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in St. Louis where he has been focusing on Christian Formation and Evangelism. He was the first African-American and openly gay clergy person to serve that congregation. He has expanded his ministry as a leader in forming partnerships to address the social and economic impact of racism.
In early January, I shared the news about Joe becoming a Rector with several community ministry friends at Trinity who knew him in his youth. Their responses brought a resounding chorus of “Amen”. I told Joe how proud so many at Trinity are at his accomplishments. He responded to me with a traditional African proverb “It takes a village”. During his early years Trinity parishioners gave him love and examples of a life of Faith in God. The soon to be Rector Reverend Joseph Wallace-Williams is giving us so much in return.
Musical Reflection Bind Us Together
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole
body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:
Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation
and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.- Book of Common Prayer p. 256
