Welcome Our New Curate by Lou

I have exciting news! On May 15, Garrett Yates will join the staff of St. Paul’s as our new soon-to-be clergyperson. This will resume our practice of having three clergy on staff at St. Paul’s to share in all of the liturgical, pastoral, and programmatic functions of our large parish. Garrett will be with us on a half-time basis, serving most Sundays and normally two days during the week.

Garrett is about to graduate from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and receive his Master of Divinity degree. He is in the ordination process in our Diocese, which is how I first met Garrett, in my capacity as Chair of the Commission on Ministry. We hope he will be ordained as a transitional deacon within the next several months, and to the priesthood thereafter. In the meantime, Garrett will be our lay pastoral assistant, performing many of the same functions as an ordained person, except for those restricted to a clergyperson.

Garrett and his wife, Katie, have been worshiping with us over the past couple of months, and some of you have already met them in church or at coffee hour. Garrett and Katie are newlyweds, having been married on March 21 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Highland Park.

Upon ordination, Garrett will become our Curate. While originally the term was used for anyone who was an assistant pastor, in the Episcopal Church the term has come to mean someone who is recently ordained and is being mentored and nurtured in his or her first call. Many of you will remember that we used the title of Curate to describe Kris McInnes, then Kris Opat, when he joined us. Later Garrett will likely be referred to as Assistant Rector. Garrett is 26 years old and brings with him a knack for connecting with young adults, as well as the gift of connecting well with people of all ages. He is mature and centered in his deep faith in Christ and desire to bring everyone to a closer relationship with God.

Garrett was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Garrett moved to Pittsburgh in the Fall of 2012 to attend Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Garrett studied Classics at Samford University, and during his freshman year began to discern his call to ordained ministry. Garrett was also a high school girls’ basketball coach, as well as an active participant in the young adult ministry at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Birmingham.

Although his family is still in Birmingham, Garrett and Katie consider Pittsburgh their home. Katie is on the staff of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. As Garrett says, “we have enjoyed exploring the city’s eclectic cultures as well as diving in headfirst to the sports culture – Katie the Pens fan, and me the Buccos. We are also the proud ‘parents’ of our dog (a boxer) named Hank. In our spare time, Katie and I enjoy reading, good cuisine, hiking, and taking Hank to the park.”

Michelle and I are thrilled to have Garrett join us, and we are sure he will be a wonderful addition to our St. Paul’s community. We are so appreciative of the Vestry’s decision to allocate the funds so generously given by our parishioners that will allow an even more robust clergy presence to serve the people of our community and beyond. Please join us in welcoming Garrett and Katie to St. Paul’s!

Blessings, Lou+