Sep 29 2006
Peter’s Bio
I have found that one of the surest ways to stop a conversation at a party dead in its tracks is to mention what I do for a living. I have tried to politely rephrase by saying that I work for a non-profit company, I work for a faith-based group, or I’m in life resources, but eventually the truth comes out. I am a priest in the Episcopal Church.
I suppose I come by it honestly though. My father was Presbyterian and my mother was Lutheran, and decided to get married in the Episcopal Church. I was brought up in the Episcopal Church in both New Hampshire and Ohio, before my parents settled in upstate New York. There, I was sent to a Roman Catholic day school from grades six through eight.
My experience at that school was so strong, in both positive and less than positive ways that I decided to enroll at a Roman Catholic college: Providence. After a year in Brazil as an exchange student, I began studying at PC and my love of Rhode Island began.
I wanted to be a teacher, a high school history teacher, and I wanted to stay in the Northeast. But in the early 1990’s, jobs were hard to come by. I eventually returned to New York, and got involved in my hometown church. The door to teaching had seemingly closed, but through my church, I began to think about ministry as a full-time career.
I could lie and say that I was lured by the big paychecks in the church, or that black is my best color. But truthfully, and as simply as it sounds, I felt the ministry was the best way I could please God. In 1998, I traveled to northern Virginia to begin three years of seminary.
Upon graduation, I began work at St. John’s Church in downtown Washington, DC. In the four years I worked there, I met rock stars and television celebrities, I preached to the President and I was introduced to the woman who would become my wife. This past July, I was married to Allison and we now live in the small house directly behind the church.
Working at a small church like Emmanuel presents unique challenges. My days are spent in close contact with parishioners and volunteers. I spend a good amount of time writing sermons or letters, or other communication to people. Time is also spent organizing committees and planning services and events. I enjoy whatever time I can get with the students at Emmanuel Nursery School, as they help me keep my perspective of what’s truly important in life.
At least three days in the week I try to run or practice yoga, or even better, play golf. Allison enjoys cooking, and try as I can to cook for her, she prefers to do it herself. She does let me do the dishes. Her favorite magazine these days is Bon Appetit, and mine is Wine Spectator. This may let you know what we’re currently involved with when we’re not at church.
So while being a priest is something that stops conversations, it starts just as many. And while being a priest is ingrained into my soul, I consider myself a pretty normal person who’s very lucky—some would say blessed—to be at Emmanuel.