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[Back to index of March 2008 articles]
Washington Window St. Mary's Episcopal Church WW: When most people think of St. Mary’s, they envision a small jewel sitting in the middle of Foggy Bottom. How else would you like people to think of St. Mary’s? WHEELER: Well, certainly there is this rich tradition and history. And part of the history that is still there today is this component of community. One area of my background is in membership growth and this is our major emphasis right now. Our vision is to grow St. Mary’s physically, in terms of membership, financially and spiritually; continuing to have the strong presence of an active church centering on its relationship with God and taking the good news of the Gospel beyond the walls of the church, into the community. WW: What relationship does St. Mary’s have with George Washington University, which is such a major force in your community? WHEELER: We have an outstanding campus ministry director who has done a tremendous job with the program for many years. This ministry is extremely important to St. Mary’s and plays a vital role in the positive relationship we have with the community as a whole. Our George Washington campus ministry, Canterbury Club, meets every Tuesday evening at St. Mary’s. Many GW students attend Sunday services regularly, and we provide a scholarship for eligible GW students each year [This years's deadline in March 30, 2008]. Some of this ministry is shared in partnership with St. Paul's K Street, which provides valued resources as well. This campus ministry is an excellent example of what I see as our forward movement, our having an active and vibrant presence in the community. WW: Reaching out to the community in ways that relate to specific needs. WHEELER: Well, historically, St. Mary’s has been one of the stronger components in the diocese, so outreach comes very naturally to us. For instance, I sit on the board of directors of St. Mary’s Court, a retirement community across the street, and once a month, I do a service for the residents. We do not limit ourselves to the immediate neighborhood. In this city, there are many opportunities for outreach, and we are beginning to explore what outreach opportunity really speaks to us, whether it might be programs for the homeless, outreach to a local high school or involvement with the Washington Interfaith Network. And, of course, all of our outreach is centered on our true mission, which is spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. WW: Evangelism seems to be very important to you, a priority mission. WHEELER: It’s important for me and it’s important for the church. It is a key component toward being able to grow St. Mary’s. There are certainly some direct and indirect ways to focus on evangelism. We definitely want to get out and spread the word that St. Mary’s as a church is trying to grow and become more active, but at the same time we need to continue to grow a base where we continue to build a group of people who want to be part of that growth. I also believe that youth ministry is a form of evangelism. Reaching out to the youth of today, their parents, grandparents, friends, are all venues to build and grow a community of faith. Youth ministry also happens to be another area in my background and a strong passion for me. Since my arrival at St. Mary’s, we have already been able to build our youth ministry through Church School, with a tremendous increase in numbers for youth participation. WW: Is St. Mary’s more of a commuter parish right now? WHEELER: We have some members who come from the immediate neighborhood, some from other parts of D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and then some who commute from Gaithersburg, farther out in Virginia, and even as far as Fairfield, Pa. WW: I always find it heartening that people will come so far. It seems a strong commitment to a particular church. WHEELER: That’s the beauty of St. Mary’s today. It currently has extremely hardworking, dedicated people who are committed to the true mission of the gospel and also to the church being a venue to spread that mission and message. Youth, outreach, evangelism, increasing membership, growing financially and spiritually – all these components are important in our efforts to build on our history and move forward. [Back to index of March 2008 articles]
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