Biography

 

I grew up in DeKalb, Illinois, where my father was a math professor at Northern Illinois University.  I earned a Bachelors degree in Philosophy from Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin.  After college, I spent four years in the army as a field artillery officer.   During that time, I was stationed in Bad Kissingen, Germany, on the old East German border.  After returning to the states, I began pursuing ordination in the Episcopal Church.  I worked as a life skills trainer for developmentally disabled adults and completed a Masters degree in Counseling from Northern Illinois University.  I also met and married Brenda during that time.  Shortly after our wedding, we moved to Berkeley, California (an experience in itself!) where I earned a Master of Divinity degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific.  My first position in ordained ministry was as Assistant Rector of Holy Spirit Parish in Missoula, Montana.  Tim was born in Missoula and is proud to be a native Montanan!

 

 

After two years at Holy Spirit, I became an active-duty Army chaplain, serving units at Fort Lewis, Washington; Friedberg, Germany; Baghdad, Iraq; and Fort Lee, Virginia.  Military ministry is some of the most challenging and most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.  Since moving to South Carolina, I have joined VFW Post 9539 and enjoy the company of other veterans. I’m active in the Spartanburg Country Veterans Task Force to help combat veterans and their families return to South Carolina after deployment.

 

 

Brenda, Tim and I are thrilled to be living in South Carolina.  Brenda plays and teaches cello, and is an adjunct professor at Clemson University and Anderson University while working on a doctorate at USC in Columbia.  Tim is currently homed schooled, and enjoys pursuing his interests in music, choir, and dance.

 

 

 

St. Margaret’s is a warm and friendly community committed to serving our Lord in worship and in our lives.  Please join us sometime; I look forward to meeting you.  You can e-mail me at fatheralan@bellsouth.net.