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[Back to index of May articles] St. Timothy’s rector retires after 20 years By Charles Dervarics After a 40-year outreach ministry from Central America to the nation's capital and a rare health care challenge that stirred the emotions of parishioners citywide, the Rev. Dalton Downs is retiring as rector of St. Timothy's in Southeast Washington, D.C. But he is not giving up his commitment to social justice. "I believe the Gospel is a social Gospel," said Downs, rector at St. Timothy's, a predominantly African American congregation, since 1986. Over the years, that activism has prompted Downs and many of his parishioners to challenge apartheid, reach out to inner-city youth and offer their church as a central hub for social and family services. During his 20 years at St. Timothy's, Downs has pursued an active ministry that included after-school child care, a child development center, a senior citizen program and, occasionally, participation in peaceful protests in downtown Washington. "We have pursued an empowering outreach with our community," the 70-year-old Downs said recently. That philosophy has worked particularly well with youth, he said. Upon arriving at St. Timothy's, Downs realized that relatively few young people attended services. He soon established a policy for representation by youth and young adults on the vestry, with both groups selecting their own representatives for the governing board. In a short time, church membership among both groups began to grow steadily. "We must have youth and young adults in the church," he said. The policy is one way to promote what he calls an "inclusive ministry" that fosters close relationships among families, the church and the community. Downs himself was an unexpected beneficiary of this philosophy in 1995. In failing health and needing a heart transplant, he was offered the ultimate gift of life from a parishioner who died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Tests showed that this heart was an appropriate match for Downs, and he received the transplant within hours. At the time, experts said it was only the third case of a directed heart donation on record. About 300 parishioners and friends held a vigil the night of the transplant. "That's the type of spirituality that exists in this congregation," he said. The story drew local and even national attention, and Downs continues to speak out today on the benefits of organ and tissue donation. A native of Nicaragua, Downs spent his early adult years in Panama as a certified public accountant before receiving a call to the ministry. He earned a masters of divinity degree in Puerto Rico at the Episcopal Seminary of the Caribbean and was ordained a priest in 1965. He later moved to the United States, serving at two inner-city churches in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked extensively on social issues in a low-income neighborhood. "It's important to take the church into the lives of people where they live," he said, and his tenure there reflected that belief. Among other goals, he helped establish an affordable housing coalition that developed $29 million in new residential units for families in Cleveland and Toledo. Seeking a new challenge after 14 years in Ohio, he brought his family to Washington, D.C., to work with 3,000 refugees who had fled Cuba in makeshift boats during 1979 and 1980. As a federal government employee, he spent most of the next six years at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, ministering to the needs of refugees and serving as a training officer for clinical pastoral education. As part of his training responsibilities, he prepared dozens of clergy to become chaplains in prisons, hospitals and hospices. This work paid off when he was called to St. Timothy's in 1986 and began to counsel his church family. Downs also organized an active group of lay ministers who joined him in extensive outreach to parishioners. "I believe in the mission of lay ministers, and I am willing to delegate," he said. St. Timothy's 325 parishioners span 23 different nationalities, he said, and the mix has provided an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. Aside from supporting child care and social services, church members have counseled local tenants and families in need and provided volunteer support to Bread for the World, So Others Might Eat and other organizations. "The church needs to be on the cutting edge," he said. "Sometimes it must stand up for unpopular causes." Within the diocese, he has served on the Central America Committee and bishop search commission and was co-chair of the diocesan Peace Commission. He also was co-chair of the Maryland Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs. St. Timothy's parishioners are celebrating Downs' ministry with three days of festivities; a Diocesan Farewell on April 28, an event with youth and young adults on April 29 and a Congregation Farewell on April 30. After retiring at the end of April, Downs said he will spend more time with his wife, Ana Jo, and sons James and Roberto. But he doesn't plan to take it easy for too long. He plans to do some consulting work in clinical pastoral education and will continue to speak out for organ donation. "I don't see myself sitting around," he said. [Back to index of May articles]
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