Back from Ponte Vedra Beach

Christ Church Episcopal in Ponte Vedra Beach offered a gracious and vibrant welcome during my recent visit, and I was deeply impressed by the energy of this thriving parish. It was a joy to be with their rector, the Rev. Tom Reeder, whose seasoned, thoughtful leadership is clearly shaping a dynamic and outward-looking community. I was especially proud to reconnect with our alum, the Rev. Amy Slater, now serving as Senior Associate Rector, and to see how fully she has entered into the life and ministry of this congregation.

I had the privilege of preaching at two services, sharing in the rhythm of their Sunday worship and sensing the depth of engagement in the congregation. Between services and in conversation afterwards, I spoke about the pilgrimage we are planning for September to England, outlining how time in that landscape of Anglican history can nourish and renew contemporary ministry. The enthusiasm with which people received this vision left me hopeful about the ways such a journey could strengthen the already rich spiritual life of the parish.

Throughout the visit, I was struck by how Christ Church embodies a generous, hospitable expression of the Episcopal tradition—alive in worship, serious about formation, and committed to service beyond its walls. The collaboration among Tom, Amy, and their colleagues models the kind of shared leadership that helps a parish flourish in complexity and change. I left Ponte Vedra deeply grateful for this community, carrying with me a renewed sense of hope for the wider Church inspired by their faith, vitality, and vision.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.