The Rev. Kirsteen Wilkinson

May 2008 --- Greetings! Let me begin by saying I am very excited to be here serving St. Timothy’s as your vicar.  In my conversations with Chris Large, Fr. Myers, and the vestry, and from viewing the website I have learned quite a bit about this parish and find you to be a congregation of deep faith that cares for each other and the surrounding community.

So you will know something about me, I offer this brief introduction.  I am a cradle Episcopalian.  My family moved to the United States from England when I was young and I consider Ft. Wayne, IN my home town as my family has lived there since 1972.  While in Ft. Wayne I attend St. Alban’s Episcopal Church where I was an active member as a youth and young adult.

I graduated from Purdue University in 1984 and moved to Indianapolis where I began my teaching career as a math and chemistry teacher at New Palestine High School.  I attended St. Matthew’s where I met and eventually married Andy Wilkinson.  We have three terrific children:  Rachel is 16 and a junior at Warren Central, Caitlin is 14 and a freshman at Warren Central, and Matthew is 10 and a fifth grader at St. Richard’s School.

In the fall of 1999, after having a conversation with my priest, I began the discernment process for the vocational deaconate.  I met with Bishop Waynick in September of 2000, and as a result our discussion and further prayer and discernment; I understood my vocation to be to the priesthood.  In September of 2001 I began my studies towards a Masters of Divinity degree, on a part-time basis, at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) located in Indianapolis.

I left teaching in 2002 to become the part-time Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Matthew’s while I continued at CTS.  In the fall of 2003, I was the chaplain at St. Richards Independent Episcopal Day School while concurrently doing my field education work at Trinity Episcopal Church.  To complete my degree it was required that I attend an Episcopal seminary so I transferred to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL in January 2005.  For the next year and a half I commuted weekly to Evanston.  I graduated from Seabury in early June and was ordained to the deaconate on June 24, 2006.

In August of 2006 I began my curacy (internship) at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.  While there some of my responsibilities have been:  teaching the confirmation classes, sharing in the teaching of the Adult forum and Lenten programs, leading a Women’s Book Study, preaching and celebrating on a regular basis, planning various liturgical services, and administering pastoral care.

My curacy at St. Alban’s will finish at the end of July so until then I will be serving both congregations on a part-time basis.  As I begin with you here my initial focus will be getting to know each of you and learning what your passions and goals are for St. Timothy’s.  This is an exciting time for all of us and I am blessed that God has called me at this point in my ministry to serve St. Timothy’s.  My door is open and I welcome conversation with each you.

God’s Peace,
Kirsteen+