Priest-in-Charge Search

Our Priest-in-Charge

The Rev. Robert H. Blackwell

The Rev. Robert “Bob” Blackwell was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama, where he married his childhood sweetheart “Kay”. They have been married for 43 years and have 3 married children and 6 grandchildren. Bob is a graduate of Auburn University, and Nashotah Theological Seminary. He has served as a parish priest in the Diocese of Alabama for the past 37 years, as well as being a missionary in Damascus, Syria where he served All Saints Episcopal Church for the Diocese of Jerusalem. After retirement, 7 years ago, he has served as Interim Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, Fairfield, AL, Christ Church, Pensacola, FL., and as interim associate rector at Holy Trinity, Auburn, AL. He is also enjoying time with his grandchildren, traveling, fishing, and eating out! Bob and Kay have made their home in Cullman, Alabama, but are enjoying their time on Edisto Island serving as interim priest in charge at the Episcopal Church on Edisto.

The Episcopal Church on Edisto has paused its search for a new rector in order to complete additional discerning on our part and review our profile and OTM information.  We hope to have new documents ready for posting in early 2023. 

We have learned a great deal from those clergy who have served as interims and supply to our congregation.  A few things we will be looking for in the priest who will take us into the next chapter of our lives:

  • We love sermons that challenge us to think about the scriptures and how they relate to us today in our daily lives. Also, a little humor goes a long way!
  • A Pastoral Care philosophy that begins with building relationships before you are needed at the hospital.
  • It is important that you live among us and participate in the Edisto Community.

This is a very exciting time for The Episcopal Church on Edisto.  At the Diocesan Convention in November 2022, we move from Mission status to a Parish and the legal issues that have kept us from determining our future have been resolved.  We now need someone who will help us discern a path and then lead us forward!

If you are interested, please feel free to review our previous Parish Profile.  If, after reviewing the material, have discerned a call to join us, please contact the Diocese’s Canon to the Ordinary, the Reverend Canon Philip Linder, for more information by email at plinder@episcopalchurchsc.org or by phone at 843.259.2016

Our Priest-in-Charge

The Rev. Robert H. Blackwell

The Rev. Robert “Bob” Blackwell was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama, where he married his childhood sweetheart “Kay”. They have been married for 43 years and have 3 married children and 6 grandchildren. Bob is a graduate of Auburn University, and Nashotah Theological Seminary. He has served as a parish priest in the Diocese of Alabama for the past 37 years, as well as being a missionary in Damascus, Syria where he served All Saints Episcopal Church for the Diocese of Jerusalem. After retirement, 7 years ago, he has served as Interim Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, Fairfield, AL, Christ Church, Pensacola, FL., and as interim associate rector at Holy Trinity, Auburn, AL. He is also enjoying time with his grandchildren, traveling, fishing, and eating out! Bob and Kay have made their home in Cullman, Alabama, but are enjoying their time on Edisto Island serving as interim priest in charge at the Episcopal Church on Edisto.

The Episcopal Church on Edisto has begun its search for a Priest-in-Charge.  We have enjoyed our year of Bob and Kay Blackwell’s interim ministry, but the time has come for them to return to Alabama to begin the next chapter of their spiritual journey.  In the year they have been with us, they have taught us a few things we will be looking for in the priest who will take us into the next chapter of our lives:

  • We love sermons that challenge us to think about the scriptures and how they relate to us today in our daily lives. Also, a little humor goes a long way!
  • Pastoral care begins with building relationships before you are needed at the hospital.
  • It is important that you live among us and participate in the Edisto Community.

This is a very exciting time for The Episcopal Church on Edisto.  We are poised to move from a Mission to a Parish in the near future and the legal issues that have kept us from determining our future have been removed with the recent Supreme Court decision.  We now need someone who will help us discern a path and then lead us forward!

Our Search Committee is made up of the following members:

  • Mr. Jim Gettys – Chair
  • Mrs. Barb Houston
  • Mrs. Kathy Kuntz
  • Ms. Jean Murray
  • Mr. Doug Overbey
  • Mr. Taylor Skardon
  • Mr. Steve Stemkowski

If you are interested, please feel free to review our Parish Profile, OTM, and proposed budget.  If, after reviewing the material, have discerned a call to join us, please contact Jim Gettys at email.