News

A Special Meeting to vote on three Vestry positions, three Endowment Fund Committee positions, and an Alternate Delegate to the Diocesan Convention will be held via ZOOM following the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, October 18th. Voting will actually be done by mail, but in order to receive a ballot, one must “attend” the Special Meeting. Roll will be taken at the meeting. If you attend the ZOOM service and stay connected for the meeting, you will be easily identified and will be mailed a ballot later in that week. If you do not normally attend the ZOOM service, but want to be able to be identified as present at the Special Meeting so that you may receive a ballot, you may do one of three things: Join the Sunday ZOOM service by clicking on the link provided via the Doubter email at some point prior to 11:00 a.m. on…

Labor Day marks the giving way of summer to the beginnings of fall, even in the age of “Corona-tide,” and as is the custom of St. Thomas the Apostle, we mark that passage with changes to our liturgy. There are several things that deserve your knowledge and attention. Our Song of Praise will be Canticle 13, “Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers,” which we will initially speak, but in the coming weeks will be sung by all. We will reintroduce the intonation of the psalms, led by a cantor. In conjunction with the book study we are undertaking on Monday evenings (“Caste,” by Isabel Wilkerson), we are reintroducing Prayers of the People composed by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, at the request of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, written specifically to address the issue of racial reconciliation and social justice. And, this Sunday, it…

We are blessed at St. Thomas the Apostle to have so many gifted and talented folk who think theologically! It is of particular benefit to welcome “academia,” those who study, and think, and educate others regarding theology, to be resident among us. In concert with our Bishop and Vestry, I have asked two of our fellow Doubters if they would serve as our “Theologians-in-Residence,” the Reverend Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle and Dr. Mark D. Jordan. Dr. Steve Sprinkle (steve@thedoubter.org) Dr. Sprinkle (Steve) is the Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry at Brite Divinity School on the campus of Texas Christian University. Steve holds degrees from Barton College (B.A.), Yale University Divinity School (M.Div.), and Duke University Graduate School (Ph.D., Systematic Theology). (He did his Ph.D. dissertation under the guidance of theologian Stanley Hauerwas!) Steve is ordained as a minister in the Alliance of Baptists….

With the easing of restrictions, and the expiration of stay-at-home orders by Texas governor Greg Abbott, many are beginning to ask questions about how and when churches, and specifically St. Thomas the Apostle, will begin to reoccupy our property at Inwood and Mockingbird. I want to be clear about several things. First of all, the safety and health of my parishioners and employees is of primary importance. Nothing will be done that in any way compromises the health or welfare of our greatest asset, the body of Christ, our people. Second, we will be guided in our regathering process by the ordinances of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, which we are a fully integrated member. Bishop Sumner has thus far said that no repopulation of properties will occur any earlier than May 10 (the county’s stay-at-home order), and he may extend that date further out, depending on the prevailing science…

It is with great excitement that I announce Allen Junek will be formally joining our ranks as a Doubter as he enters the beginning stages of his journey of discernment toward possible Holy Orders. Allen is finishing his first year of study as a Master of Divinity student at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He procured his double-major undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M University in College Station. Many of you have already become acquainted with Allen due in no small part to the ministry he has already provided in helping St. Thomas step into the virtual world of “televised” ministry. Allen will undertake his supervised ministry year with the Doubters of St. Thomas, and he will have responsibilities under my leadership of developing and fostering a 20/30-something ministry, as well as leading our social media presence, preaching, and several other specific projects. It is exciting…