Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has appointed the Rev. Fred Thompson as Chaplain to Retired Clergy and Spouses for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. In this role, Rev. Thompson will provide systematic and intentional support for retired clergy, their spouses, and surviving spouses. Working collaboratively with regional deans, he will convene a team of clergy from across the diocese to provide local pastoral support and assist him in the development of programs for retired clergy and spouses.

“I am grateful that Father Fred has graciously accepted my invitation to serve the diocese in this role,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “His experience, particularly as a hospital chaplain, will be especially helpful in providing pastoral care to beloved members of our diocese, while also creating opportunities for engagement and involvement.” 

The Chaplains to the Retired Program is a Church Pension Group (CPG) program designed for every diocese in The Episcopal Church. Each diocesan bishop is encouraged to appoint a Chaplain to the Retired, who provides important pastoral care and resources for retired clergy, their spouses, and surviving spouses in a variety of ways, including:

• Providing local pastoral care and support for spouses and beneficiaries,
• Hosting gatherings, and
• Keeping in touch through regular communication.

From its inception, the program’s goal has been to promote wellness and a pastoral presence among clergy when they leave active ministry. The bishop’s appointment is for a two-year period.
​
Reverend Thompson has been serving as interim priest-in-charge at St. Mark’s, Charleston since June 2021. He will complete his service at St. Mark’s on Sunday, July 30, to begin this part-time role. He will continue to serve as chaplain at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). 
​

The Rev. Dr. Adam Shoemaker, rector of St. Stephen’s, Charleston, has joyfully called the Rev. Will Berry to serve as associate rector, with the blessing of Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley. As a member of the clergy team at St. Stephen’s, Rev. Berry will share the pastoral and liturgical leadership of the parish, with special oversight for the ministry to children, youth, and college students. He will join the staff on August 15, and preach at all services on Sunday, August 20.
 
Rev. Shoemaker shared the news by email with the St. Stephen’s congregation on Monday. “Will’s call comes at the conclusion of a nationwide search where his gifts and heart for justice clearly distinguished him amongst several qualified applicants,” said Rev. Shoemaker of the call. “He has my full confidence and the unanimous support of both a small search committee of parishioners I formed to assist me in this process and our vestry.” Read the full announcement at this link.  
 
Rev. Berry and his wife, Catilin, look forward to moving to the Charleston area with their 20-month old son, Thomas. “I’m so excited to serve the community at St. Stephen’s and to join the Diocese of South Carolina,” said Rev. Berry. “I immediately felt a connection with St. Stephen’s passion for inclusion and justice, and with their commitment to spiritual formation for all ages. As a parent of a little one and as someone with a background in youth and young adult ministry, I know how vital ministry is to the next generation. I also love the creativity that comes with supervising and engaging with those ministries, and I’m excited to join St. Stephen’s and to serve in that capacity!”

Ordained to the priesthood in 2019, Rev. Berry currently serves as priest-in-charge of the Church of the Resurrection in Lexington, Kentucky. His prior experiences in ministry were as the associate for young adults and families at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington and as the ministry assistant and missioner at St. Mary’s House, the Episcopal chaplaincy to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In his announcement to St. Stephen’s, Rev. Shoemaker spoke highly of Will, noting that “he is a warm, outgoing, compassionate soul and a lover of music who plays multiple instruments.”
​
While St. Stephen’s has been looking to fill this position on their staff, the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Shaffer has served as interim associate rector since June 1. He will continue to serve in that role through September 3.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1822 as a racially-integrated congregation that to this day strives to be “a house of prayer for all people.” The congregation believes strongly in partnering with justice-minded organizations and with groups of people who offer empowerment, care, and dignity, as well as comfort and safety, to vulnerable individuals and families in the community. The church is located at 67 Anson Street in downtown Charleston where they offer weekly services each Sunday at 7:45 am (Holy Eucharist), 9 am (family-friendly Holy Eucharist), and 11 am (Choral Eucharist).