Nine years ago Clancy Wolliver called for the vestry and search committee to invite me to be your rector. It was a dream come true, and Ellen, our children and I all felt it was God’s calling. Ministering among you at Christ Church has been the most spiritually demanding and fulfilling years of my 29 years as an Episcopal priest. Thank you for your amazing and generous support when my family and I needed you, for your patience when I failed you, and for your steadfast commitment to God and his Word. It has been an honor to serve one of the really great congregations in The Episcopal Church. For my failures and successes, I have loved you, the people of Christ Church.
I’m sure it will not surprise anyone that my decision to take early retirement is because of a crisis of conscience. Even though I was born and raised in The Episcopal Church, it has moved further and further away from the Gospel to which I committed my life and I have concluded that there is no future for me in this spiritual environment.
Jeremiah 3:15 encourages lay people like us: ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.’ We are reminded of how much God blessed us through the 9-year ministry of Chuck and Ellen Collins at Christ Church. We are better individuals, a better couple, and stronger Christians due to the unwavering commitment to teaching and living the scriptures Chuck and Ellen have exemplified. It has been our absolute privilege to be among Christ Church’s parishioners during the tenure of Canon Collins! Chuck and Ellen will both be well-missed, forever loved and held in our highest esteem.