On July 15, 2015, The Reverend Tommy J. Dillon, II, will begin his new position as the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church. His first Sunday leading worship will be July 19. The Rev. Dillon will become the second permanent Rector of Grace Church, succeeding The Rev. William R. Harper, who retired on April 26, 2015, after 20 years of service.
The Vestry of Grace Church voted unanimously to call Rev. Dillon after receiving the same endorsement from the church’s Call Committee. About the choice, Nate Thomas, a founding member of the church and Chair of the Call Committee, said “Grace Episcopal Church, with the assistance of the Diocese of Olympia, conducted a nationwide search to find the replacement for our retiring Rector. Rev. Dillon stood out as someone who will lead Grace in defining where we can grow as a community, while respecting the traditions that we have built over the last 23 years.”
About his new position Rev. Dillon said, “I am extremely excited to begin my tenure at Grace Church. It is such a spirited, prayerful, inclusive, and welcoming congregation, which has a rich heritage built on the hard work of its parishioners for over two decades. I look forward to listening with the Grace community for the ways God is inviting us as a congregation to be a joyful, compassionate, and healing presence—not only within the walls of our beautiful sanctuary but also on Bainbridge Island, in Kitsap County, and beyond. I love to ask the question, ‘What is God’s dream in this place?’ I know that as we discern this question together in the years ahead, what unfolds will be extraordinary.”
This Sunday Rev. Dillon will be welcomed with a southern-themed coffee hour immediately following the 9:30 a.m. service. Members of the Bainbridge Island community are welcome to attend.
A Celebration of New Ministry will take place at Grace Episcopal Church on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia will bless the new pastoral relationship. The Rev. Paul Fromberg, Rector of St. Gregory of Nyssa Church, San Francisco, California, will preach.
Before moving to Bainbridge, Rev. Dillon was the Rector of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in San Francisco for over nine years. Prior to that, Rev. Dillon was a pastor in his home state of Louisiana. Rev. Dillon has earned a reputation for creative, inclusive, and inspirational ministry that is grounded in a powerful faith.
Grace Episcopal Church was established on Bainbridge Island in 1992. Since then, Grace has become a lively congregation of more than 400 families. In its early days, Grace’s founders embraced four defining values: inclusion, service, discovery, and gratitude. Grace combines Episcopal traditions with modern language, creative liturgy, and diverse music. Parishioners come to Grace from all backgrounds, seeking community, a deeper knowledge of God, and a safe and welcoming place for their children and teens to grow into young adulthood. Sunday services are at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
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Photo courtesy of Grace Church.
