The Rev. Thomas Skillings Called as Transitional Rector

We are very excited to announce that, with the blessing of Bishop Deon, The Rev. Thomas Skillings will be an integral part of our transitional team beginning July 10. Rev Skillings will work with Grace Church through the entire transition process. As shared previously, Mother Ginny will also be a vital part of the transitional team through at least August 28. Read more about Rev. Skillings, in his own words, below:

Dear People of Grace Church,

I am so grateful and excited to be called to journey with you as Transitional Rector for the next year or so. Let me start by sharing a little about myself.

I started my professional work in the church as a youth minister before attending Yale Divinity School. Following my ordination in 1989 I served as an associate with a focus on youth ministry and small groups. I then served as rector of a small church where we worked together to renew the ministry and vitality of a congregation that had experienced a contentious fracture of the parish.

For 19 years I had the joy of serving as rector of St. Paul’s in Burlingame, California. We worked together in those years to nurture an accepting and empowering community. We engaged in new and evolving ways of deeper soul work and education, established a thriving choir school for children and youth, incorporated a Tongan worshipping community into our parish and deepened our service to the larger San Mateo County community.

Over the last few years, I have been deepening my own vocation to be a listener (although I have not yet perfected this!) and deepening my work with people clarifying their own vocations and calling. I am a trained facilitator prepared by the Center of Courage and Renewal and I am developing opportunities for retreats here in the Midwest.

Last year my wife Julie accepted a call to serve as Associate Rector at Holy Communion Parish in University City. And so, this native Californian moved East and is now discovering the wonders of St.
Louis. We love it here! And our move has the added bonus of being nearer to our son Elliot, a Junior at Mizzou studying strategic communications.

As we work together in the coming year, I pray this will be a time of discovery and growth for the Grace community, and that I can bring gifts that will support a meaningful time in the life your parish. I look forward to getting to know you individually and as a community. I especially look forward to hearing how the Spirit has been moving in your life together, and discerning where you might be going next as you seek a new Rector.

Peace,

Thomas