https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/bishop-paul-marshall-1947-2024/
In my life, I have few regrets and do not dwell much on them. From time to time I admit to reflecting on what might have been when reminded of something.,
Last week I learned about the passing of the first bishop of the Episcopal Church (REC) who licensed this Luthern pastor to serve as a priest in a diocese.
In 2002 I was bi-vocational and rostered in the Slovak Zion Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We had elected Pastor Wilma Kucharek as bishop, and Bishop Paul participated in her installation, thanks to our ecumenical partnership.
I had known Bishop Wilma before her election and had heard of Bishop Paul. We had all been in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, they far longer than me. After the service ended I introduced myself to Bishop Paul and said I would like to pay him a visit; he readily agreed.
At that meeting, he told me I would be licensed to serve as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem (PA). My family lived about 75 miles away from Bethlehem and since there was not anything for me to do right then I was encouraged to check with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania; Bishop Paul's name opened some doors there due to the high regard people had for him. I was about to sign a contract to be an interim rector when the Arm,y deployed me to Germany in early 2004.
Bishop Paul asked me to read the galleys of his biography of Samuel Seabury, the first American Episcopal bishop. I was pleased to do so.
As things turned out, Bishop Paul and I did not have much contact afterward. My family and I moved to South Carolina (they first, then I came when my deployment ended. I followed what he was doing, and was thankful for how he helped me. I have been licensed in the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and have enjoyed the extension to my ministry.
In the fullness of time, we shall meet again and I will thank him in person.
Links to my books:
https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county
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