Announcing our New Rector Elect

Announcing

our

Rector

Elect-

The Reverend Jody Burnett

Dear St. Paul’s Parish Family,

I have the great privilege of writing to inform you that after a months-long search performed by the search committee, the vestry has elected a new rector for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. I am overjoyed to announce that The Reverend Jody Burnett has accepted a call to serve as rector of St. Paul’s.

Jody Burnett comes to us from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, Mississippi where he has served as rector since 2016. His leadership at St. Peter’s has been nothing short of remarkable, and we are filled with hope and optimism at his arrival in Mobile. Below you will find a letter of introduction from your new rector and a photograph of Jody, his wife Julia, and their two children, Stewart and Virginia.

We look forward to welcoming Jody and Julia and their children and to worshipping with them at their first service on July 14. I know all of you are excited to meet and learn more about The Reverend Jody Burnett and his family. Until then, I hope you will join me in extending heartfelt appreciation to the search committee. The search process involved several months of meetings, interviews and reflection as the committee engaged in prayerful discernment. The vestry is confident that the Spirit has led us to Jody Burnett, and he to us.

I also want to thank all of you for your patience and prayers over the last year. Such seasons of change present both challenges and opportunities for growth. You have remained faithful, and for that we are grateful.

Finally, I would be remiss not to express my deepest gratitude for the leadership of our interim rector, The Very Reverend Johnny Cook, as well as The Reverend Brad Clark and The Reverend Lydia Johnson. I also give thanks for the enduring faithfulness of our church staff during this time of transition. We are so thankful for each of them and their ministries.

Thanks be to God!

Medford Roe

Senior Warden

Dear friends in Christ,

I’m thrilled to announce that I have accepted your vestry’s call to serve as your next rector, and I’m honored and humbled by the sacred trust you’ve placed in my leadership. Even as my family and I grieve and say goodbye to a community that we’ve loved and called home for eight years, we are brimming with excitement for this next season of life and ministry with the good people of St. Paul’s. It will be my great privilege to lead the work of the gospel in the Spring Hill community and beyond.

I believe God has directed our paths together throughout this process of mutual discernment. From the time I first read your parish profile, I’ve been inspired by your joyful and generous commitment to Christian love and service and convinced that my vocational strengths and interests align naturally with your congregation’s vision for continued growth. Through the course of my interactions with your search committee and vestry over these last several months, I developed a clear sense of both chemistry and call. I now feel strongly that the Holy Spirit is leading me to help direct the gifts and energy of your parish into the next era, building on the rich history of St. Paul’s.

By way of introduction: I am married to Julia, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works in private practice, and we have two children, Stewart (8) and Virginia (4), who are both excited to enroll at St. Paul’s School in the fall!

Julia and I wish to extend a special word of appreciation to the search committee and vestry, as well as to the bishop and diocesan staff, for their extraordinary kindness and helpfulness as they’ve worked to ensure a smooth and graceful search process.

My plan is to conclude my ministry in Oxford on Sunday, June 16, and then have a few weeks to rest and relocate. I look forward to beginning my time and tenure at St. Paul’s on Monday, July 8, and I’m eager to meet you and begin partnering and growing with you in faith and discipleship.

With love and gratitude,

Jody+