St. Paul's New Rector:
Michael Miller Hadaway, Jr.
Fellow Parishioners,
On behalf of the Vestry, I am pleased to announce the hiring of our next rector, Father Michael Miller Hadaway, Jr. Fr. Mike comes to us from the Church of the Good Shepherd in Buffalo, New York.
As you know, our Search Committee, chaired by Lynn Bickley and otherwise consisting of Becky Taylor, Karin Cowperthwait, Earl Runde, Sev Miller, Terry Lovell and Frankie Mayo, has diligently engaged in both search and discernment for the better part of two years. Both a strength and a challenge of St. Paul’s is that we present a different profile from many other churches. We have always believed that when we found the right person, the enthusiasm would be mutual.
We ranged far and wide in our search, and – wouldn’t you know it? – found someone with broad experience and local connections. Fr. Mike’s father was from Chestertown, and Fr. Mike, who grew up on the Western Shore, visited St. Paul’s as a young person. Many of us know members of the extended Hadaway family. In addition, his middle name is not coincidental: Mike is a direct descendant of Michael Miller, an original Vestry member who sold the land that St. Paul’s sits on to the Church. A case of back to the future.
Fr. Mike and his wife Mother Elizabeth will arrive in early July and live in the newly refurbished rectory.
I have attached a letter that Fr. Mike has written to all of us.
Thanks to all of you for your support of the process that has led us to this exciting outcome. I believe that it is a testament to our collective faith that we are a stronger congregation for having continued to look forward in a time of uncertainty.
Mtr. Eleanor, who has played an integral role in keeping us optimistic over the last year and a half, will be with us until early July, so we will have plenty of time to express our thanks to her.
In the meantime, please feel free to communicate with and welcome Fr. Mike and Mtr. Elizabeth, and also take a moment to thank God for leading us to this terrific conclusion.
With best regards,
Eric Schless, Senior Warden
from Michael Miller Hadaway, Jr.