To know Christ and to make Him known

April 21, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s:

We write to you with great news that will bring the mixed emotions of joy and sadness. 

Father Dan has accepted a call to be the next Rector of All Saints Church in Dale City, Virginia.  All Saints is the home of The Right Reverend John Guernsey, Bishop of the Anglican Communion Network for the Diocese of the Holy Spirit, which serves the Mid-Atlantic states.  John’s responsibilities far exceeded his ability to run both a diocese and a church (which he has tried to do for the past several years) and so for almost a year now, they have been searching for his successor.

After much thought and prayer Dan accepted this call.  It was clearly a match of all the gifts we have seen develop in him over the years and he is ready to face the challenges of this new position.  It is this kind of news that we as a body need to celebrate with the Morgan’s as they launch into this new adventure.  It is also sad to say goodbye to a family that is so much a part of who we are.  We will make sure we take ample time to celebrate with them before they go.

What does this mean for St. Paul’s in the future?  It means that just as God has called the Morgan family away, so too, He will provide for our needs and call us into a new era of ministry here.

All Saints Church is much like St. Paul’s:  it is a “three streams” ministry of catholic, charismatic and evangelical.  And like us, All Saints is important to the life and welfare of the changing and growing dynamic of The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Communion in North America.  There may well be more strong points of connection between our churches as we seek to plant churches, train leaders, grow spiritually, and live joyfully as God’s ambassadors to a lost and broken world.

It has been said that St. Paul’s is a battleship like an aircraft carrier, as it trains, develops, and deploys leaders in the church.  All Saints is positioned to be just that kind of deployment station as well and we need to stay linked to others who function in the same way we do.

We are blessed to have had Dan for eleven years now, and we will be blessed to see what God has for him in the years ahead.  Stay tuned for an opportunity we will plan sometime in the weeks ahead to celebrate the Morgan’s new adventure.  They will be with us this Sunday so don’t miss the opportunity to wish them well.

Blessings and Peace,

Christopher                                       Dan

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton                                          The Rev. Daniel C. Morgan

Rector                                                                                     Associate Rector

471 Mansfield Ave.

• Darien, CT 06820

203 655-8773 • fax: 203 655-7831