Our New Rector
A Letter of Introduction from our Senior Warden
Dear Emmanuel Family,
Throughout our transition period, we have prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and it now seems as though the Holy Spirit has been with us all the way--and with our prospective rector as well! The Vestry is very pleased to announce that The Reverend Morris King Thompson, III, currently Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Meridian, Mississippi, has enthusiastically accepted our call to become the next Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Morris was the unanimous choice of both the Search Committee and the Vestry. He comes highly, highly recommended.
Morris refers to himself as a second-generation Episcopal clergyman, his father having served as Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana for many years. He and his wife Emily are parents of Mack, a third grader and Liza, a first grader. Both parents are looking forward to having their children in the nurturing environment of Episcopal Day School.
A graduate of Mississippi State University and Virginia Theological Seminary, he also served as curate of St. Paul’s in Columbia, Mississippi where among many other things, he oversaw the implementation of the Godly Play curriculum and directed Christian formation for all ages. Much in his experience has pointed him toward Emmanuel, and his greatest strengths seem to be in pastoring, preaching and stewardship.
Our new Rector’s start date is tentatively Wednesday, August 23. We have been richly blessed during our transition by The Rev. Bill McCreery’s time with us and certainly during the last year with the ministry of Rev. Canon Pat Grace as our well-loved Interim. And now the Vestry and I are excited to welcome Morris, Emily, and their children to Emmanuel and to look forward to our future together.
Faithfully,
Wayne Robbins, Emmanuel Senior Warden
Meet the Thompsons
Emily, The Rev. Morris King Thompson, III, Mack (8), and Liza (6).
Dear Emmanuel,
It brings me great joy to accept the vestry’s call to become your next rector. Since late March of this year, my wife, Emily, and I have been praying for discernment in the call of your next rector. The hopes of our prayers were confirmed each time we met with the search committee and the vestry. We were touched by the warmth of your community.
You are an entrepreneurial parish that has birthed and maintained ministerial organizations for decades: the Thrift Shop, Coalition for Human Care, Penick Village, Literacy Council, and Episcopal Day School. These organizations show how much you care for your community. Within the parish, you care for each other through well-organized, committed pastoral care, fun fellowship, holy liturgies, and undeniably, beautiful music. It’s obvious that relationships are important to you. I look forward to being a part of that. My joy will be to hold these ministries in love, to strengthen them with relationship, and then, with you, ask the question, “What is next? Where does our curiosity take us?” That will be our journey together.
Emmanuel, I love my vocation. I find joy in the art of listening, preaching, the sacraments, and approaching the future of our Church with creativity grounded in holy stewardship. I want to share the story of God’s love with you. I am a second-generation Episcopal clergyman, following a father who loved every day of his ministry. My parents, alongside the parish of my youth, taught me to love the church. Emily and I hope the same for our children, Mack (8) and Liza (6).
Over the next six weeks, we will be saying goodbye to a parish that has loved us for seven years. We will be packing, moving, starting school, and settling into the Sandhills we will soon call home. Through it all, we will continue our prayers for you. I ask you to pray for us as well. We can’t wait to meet you!
Grace and Peace,
Morris+