Vicar Search

Dear Buck Mountain Episcopal Church Congregation,

For some 10 months we have been offering a prayer “We pray for our next priest whose name is not known to us but is known to God.” Well, I am thrilled that our prayers have been answered and we have called our next Vicar! The following is his story that he would like to share.

The Rev. Will Lee grew up in Earlysville and is delighted to be returning! He attended Stone Robinson and Agnor Hurt Elementary Schools. More recently he graduated from Duke Divinity School with a Masters of Divinity and certificates in Anglican Studies, Preaching, Faith-Based Organizing, Advocacy and Social Transformation. Prior to Divinity School, the Rev. Lee studied at William and Mary receiving degrees in kinesiology and psychology. While at William and Mary he was “running from God’s call to ordained ministry.” Inevitably God caught up with him while he spent a year in the Episcopal Service Corp building houses with Habitat for Humanity (and singing poorly in St. Stephen’s Choir in Harrisburg, PA. He returned to Charlottesville to explore his call while working for PACEM, the Haven and the City government before leaving for Duke. His wife, Stephany, has put up with him for 9 years with amazing patience even though he continues to leave dishes in the sink and swipe cookie dough from the mixing bowl. His boys Noah and Christopher keep him tired and delighted with wall-to-wall train tracks and cul-de-sac bicycle obstacle courses. He does not get to go mountain biking as often as he would like, but still finds time to enjoy God’s creation every day. He has a special love for Ezekial, Hymns 636 and 304, and a really good coffee hour.

The Rev. Lee is currently a Diocesan Intern serving at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cary, NC. He will be at Buck Mountain on November 15 to meet the congregation. On November 22 he will be back in NC for the Diocesan Convention. He will begin serving at BMEC on November 29 and December 6. The Rev. Lee will be ordained in North Carolina on December 12 and will remain in NC to celebrate his first service as an ordained priest on the 13th. He will return to BMEC as our Vicar on December 20. Prior to his ordination, while he is here, he will serve alongside a supply priest.

The Vestry wants to thank the congregation for their prayers and patience. We also thank the Discernment Committee for their prayerful work getting this congregation to this point. I would also like to thank Mother Mary for her service as our Interim Priest-in-Charge.

Peace,

Rob Michel
Senior Warden

“Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks, receives. The one who seeks, finds. The one who knocks, enters.” (Matthew 7: 7-8)