Clergy News: St. Mark's, Charleston

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Shaffer to serve as interim rector of St. Mark’s Charleston, beginning September 10. Father Shaffer, who serves as the dean of the Peninsula Deanery, will complete a three-month term as interim associate rector at St. Stephen’s, Charleston, on September 3.
 
Alphonso Grayson and Bob Waters, the senior and junior wardens of St. Mark’s, respectively, announced the news to the congregation earlier this week, with reassurance that the long-term goal at St. Mark’s remains to call a full-time rector of the historic congregation. “Upon making this decision, the bishop met with us as Wardens to reaffirm her commitment to the ongoing success of St. Mark’s and our search for a full-time Rector,” said the wardens.
 
Father Shaffer looks forward to serving the congregation. “The mission of St. Mark’s, a historically African American Episcopal church with a diverse congregation, is to live and grow in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as reach out, serve, teach and support the parish family and wider community,” said Fr. Shaffer. “I look forward to listening to, loving and ministering with the good people of St. Mark’s, encouraging them not to turn away from who they have been, while at the same time turning their attention to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the historic Radcliffeboro neighborhood of Charleston, in this new season of ministry for all of us in this diocese.”
 
The Rev. Fred Thompson has served for the past two years as interim rector at St. Mark’s. As was announced last week, Bishop Woodliff-Stanley has appointed Fr. Thompson as the Chaplain to Retired Clergy and Spouses for the diocese. His final Sunday at St. Mark’s will be July 30, and the congregation will be served by supply clergy until Fr. Shaffer’s first Sunday on September 10.

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