Wise County Episcopalians take first steps toward a worshiping community

Nine Episcopalians gathered on Friday, February 6, 2015, to take their first steps toward forming a worshiping community in Wise County.

Wise County is approximately 923 square miles, with a population of close to 60,000. Its county seat is Decatur, which is also near the county’s geographical center.

The meeting took place over lunch at the Canteen restaurant in Boyd and consisted of introductions, discussion of what type of Episcopal presence might be most appropriate for their needs, and plans for some next steps.

The process got started in the fall, when Mrs. Ellen Whitley, who with her husband Mark, wrote to the diocese through the “contact” feature on the diocesan website to seek support for Episcopalians in Wise County. Whitley said she had been greatly missing the spiritual support of a church community and finally decided to reach out. “It was gnawing at me; I felt like God was telling me to get up and do something, so I decided to send an email. I thought, ‘There’s got to be something they can do for us out here.’ and I knew God would lead the way.”

Ministry Support and Communications Officer Tracie Middleton responded to that first message, and Bishop Rayford B. High, Jr. followed up with the Whitleys by email and phone and then made a visit to their home in November. On his return, he asked Middleton and Ms. Elinor Normand, who was then chair of the Congregation Development Committee of the Executive Council to follow up with another visit.

More discussion led to other interested people getting on board with the idea of exploring an Episcopal presence in Wise County, including Mr. Gregory Anderson, who operates Simple Truth Farm near Rhome and attends St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Keller/Southlake, Mrs. Lydia Hiatt, who has taught for many years in Boyd, the Rev. Bruce Coggin, and the current and former deans of the Northern Deanery, Mr. J.D. Todd and Ms. Marsha van Etten deChant.

Participants in today’s gathering plan to contact a few more people, consider possible meeting locations and formats, and get together again in the near future to continue clarifying their plans. The group closed with Noonday Prayer, offering prayers of thanks for this new possibility and asking guidance for its future.

“Just like a baby, you have to take a first step,” Mr. Whitley noted.