Bishop Brian Cole announces the next Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Joe Woodfin. Please join us in welcoming Rev. Woodfin to the diocesan staff as he begins his work on September 1, 2024. For a transcript of this video, please scroll to the bottom of this post.
Letter from the Rev. Joe Woodfin
Dear friends,
It is a deep joy to be joining you again, and to serve as Canon to the Ordinary. Bishop Brian’s trust in calling me to assist his ministry is humbling, and I am grateful to him. East Tennessee is home for me, so relocating here is a true homecoming. And the fact that Carly Woodfin and Luke and Maggie have an opportunity to relocate to Chattanooga at the same time is a double blessing.
I am looking forward to reconnecting with many of you, and getting to know many more of you in the coming weeks and months.
It is a challenging time to be followers of Jesus and Christians and Episcopalians. But every challenging time also brings opportunity. My conviction is that the future is full of opportunities for us to minister with boldness and compassion to a world that desperately needs to know that God is love. The purpose statement of the Diocese–”reconciling all things in Christ”–positions us well to tell that good news together. I am glad to be a partner in that work.
In one of the most oft-quoted bits of his Four Quartets, T.S. Eliot says: “And the end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first time.”
I have a sense of what Eliot means. It will be good to arrive in East Tennessee, and know the place.
With thanks, I am
Yours faithfully,
The Rev. Joe Woodfin
Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. I have some exciting news that I want to share with you. The Reverend Joe Woodfin is returning to the Diocese of East Tennessee to serve as our next Canon to the Ordinary.
Now, let me say a little bit about the process that got us to this exciting moment. I am so grateful for the Reverend Canon Michelle Bolt and her work as our Canon to the Ordinary for so many years. Last year, when she discerned it was time to step away, I’m grateful that Jerry Askew stepped in as Interim Canon to the Ordinary. He’s done great work for us, and I’m grateful for Beverly Hurley Hill and Jerry Askew as they helped me in the process of interviewing the next Canon to the Ordinary. We had several good folks apply. We had several folks from across the country express interest, and it turned out that someone that we knew from East Tennessee was ready to return to East Tennessee.
Joe has been serving as the rector of Saint Peter’s in Fernandina Beach for the last three years, and the Woodfin family have discerned a desire to return to East Tennessee. So Joe, Carley, Luke and Maggie will be returning to this diocese and on September 1st, Joe will step into this role.
The Canon to the Ordinary in this diocese helps with transitions and parishes, works to expand engagement in all kinds of leadership roles, and helps to encourage vitality and growth and development and parish ministry. A key member of the staff, Joe Woodfin was a valuable part of Saint Paul’s, Chattanooga, served on the standing committee, a trusted colleague with lay folk and clergy here. We’re excited to welcome Joe back. He’s a native of South Pittsburg and a graduate of the School of Theology.
So, on September 1st, you will see Joe in this new capacity. Keep Joe and Carly and Luke and Maggie and their family in your prayers. Continue to pray for the staff that serves you and serves the ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. It’s a joy to serve as your bishop, and it will be a joy to consider what’s next as we continue to imagine the possibilities of ministry in this place.
Thank you.