Photo: Bishop Brian Cole (top center) stands surrounded by recent ordinands (from left to right) Rev. William Simerly, Rev. Sean McEwen, Rev. Sarah Hess, and Rev. Brian Austin, PhD
On the crisp Saturday morning of January 13th at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Signal Mountain, the Rt. Rev. Brian Cole and four East Tennessee seminarians gathered with members of their communities to celebrate their ordination to the transitional diaconate, the next step in their formation as priests. In the intervening time, Bishop Cole, with the help of the Commission on Ministry and local clergy, has worked to place each of the newly ordained deacons.
The Rev. Brian Austin, PhD, from St. James Episcopal Church, Knoxville, was recently named the deacon administrator of Church of the Annunciation in Newport, Tennessee. Austin states, “There are many things that excite me about working with the beautiful people at Annunciation—their graciousness, their commitment, their openness, their kindness. But perhaps the quality that really stands out is their tenacity in maintaining their witness through a variety of challenges, even persevering through COVID-19 without having a regular clergy person. This tenacity is a sure sign of the depth of their dedication to living and sharing the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement in Newport. With that kind of commitment, there is great potential for building their witness into something even more powerful. I am thrilled to be able to work with this team of servant-leaders toward that end.” Austin currently serves as Professor of Philosophy at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Upon his ordination to the priesthood, he will serve as priest-in-charge at Annunciation.
The Rev. Sarah Hess, originally from the Diocese of Tennessee and later Grace Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, has been called to serve as curate at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where she will serve alongside another East Tennessee native, the Rev. Josh Hill. Hess said, “I cannot adequately express the great joy and gratitude that I am feeling. Serving God and God’s people as an ordained person has been something I’ve discerned for many years. I am sad to leave the Diocese of East Tennessee and Sewanee, but I’m so excited to learn, grow, and be challenged in new ways in a first call with the St. Alban’s community!” Hess’ curacy is being funded by St. Alban’s Episcopal Church with additional support from the Diocese of Maine and the Diocese of East Tennessee.
The Rev. Sean McEwen, from Grace Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, has been called to serve the community at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Maryville, Tennessee. McEwen said, “St. Andrew’s is a parish with a heart for welcoming the stranger, growing in discipleship, and serving their community. I am inspired by their Love In Action program and their commitment to serving their LGBTQ+ siblings. I could not be more excited to be joining them in ministry, and I am so grateful to Mtr. Amy Bradley, Bishop Brian Cole, and the Diocese of East Tennessee for making this curacy possible.” There he will serve with the Rev. Amy Bradley.
The Rev. William Simerly has been called to serve at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Farragut, his home church. “I am most excited about partnering with them in ministry at this particular time because they are experiencing a lot of growth and I look forward to continue my formation which will now be taking a more hands-on approach,” Simerly said. He will serve alongside the Rev. Brett Backus and the Rev. Bo Davis.
The Diocese of East Tennessee is supporting both McEwen’s and Simerly’s curacies through our aided curacy program. “I am grateful for our commitment to raise up and bring back clergy to serve in our parishes. The aided curacy program allows us to invest in the next generation of ordained clergy,” Bishop Brian Cole said.
Invitations to their ordinations will be published at a later date. All are welcome to attend and celebrate with us in their continued ministry.