Meet the Priest JESSICA HARRIS BABCOCK The new rector of St. Mark's, Marco Island
thriving parish. It was on one of these trips that I realized what God was calling me to do and I thought, “This is actually insane. Drop everything and go to seminary? Really?” On that particular trip I remember asking a dear friend who happened to be the church secretary, “What would you think if I told you I want to be a priest?” Her response was, “Honey, you don’t want to do that. It’s the worst job ever!” Thankfully, I didn’t take her advice. Q: You met your husband Dwight while doing overseas Peace Corps work. Are you able to incorporate some of what you learned in your parish ministry?
Q: Is there a particular moment of childhood in the church that you remember well? A: There are two moments that stand out: one was my confirmation. I remember how intimidating the Bishop was in his tall mitre, and that his hands felt very heavy as he prayed over me. The second would be my youth group. EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) was a big part of my life growing up and I’m still in touch with my youth minister, who is now 93 years old and ends each phone call with, “Remember, Jesus loves you!” These experiences are clear opposites: we would do well to ask ourselves, “How do our youngest members see and experience church?” Q: Do you remember when you had your first call to ordained ministry? A: I led our Cuba Mission for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville as a layperson. Over a 20-year period, our church assisted in the rebuilding of a small church in Itabo, Cuba that was abandoned after the revolution: today, it’s a
A: My husband Dwight and I met while serving in the Peace Corps in the Marshall Islands, a small country in the North Pacific. We joke that our relationship can withstand anything because we saw each other at our absolute worst during those two years—dengue fever, dysentery, you name it, we had it! But even at the young ages of 22 and 24, we were called to serve others and to love and appreciate learning from people from other cultural backgrounds. That call is still alive and well over 30 years later, as we continually incorporate overseas mission into our ministries. There’s nothing we love more than taking a bunch of Episcopalians on a mission trip, changing their perception of the world’s people and religions. Q: As a lifelong Episcopalian, how do you think we can better encourage new churchgoers to appreciate our liturgy and worship styles? A: We have something very special in the Episcopal Church – our liturgical traditions – but we do a poor job of teaching the theological meaning behind them. The more we can enrich the worship experience by incorporating education into our services and teach “why we do what we do,” the better. Q: What energizes you most about the Episcopal Church these days? A: I’m proud of my church, both here in Marco Island and nationally. I can honestly say that we’ve dealt with some tough issues and we’ve come out stronger. I’m energized by the open and inclusive nature of our denomination and our ability to live together in love while still valuing our differences. Unity is critical as we “strive for justice and peace among all people” and together learn to “respect the dignity of every human being”. 7
