Meet the Deacon BILL GILMORE, ST. MARY'S Q: How did you meet your wife Susan? A: My wife and I both served in the Army and were stationed on a small base in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany, called Dolan Barracks. I was assisting on a rifle range and was responsible for picking up an ambulance and a medic each morning. Sue was the medic and we got to know each other driving to and from the rifle range. Q: How did you find and join St. Mary's when you moved?
Current and former clergy at St. Mary, Bonita Springs. From left, the Rev. Bob Douglas, rector of St. Mark Tampa, with the Rev. Bill Fauple, current priest-in-charge; Gilmore and the Rev. Michael Rowe, recently retired from the parish as rector.
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he Rev. Bill Gilmore moved to Southwest Florida in 2000, and for the next 15 years he worked with his brother in the construction materials supply field. They built a house, and began attending St. Mary’s. He later began the discernment process for ordination to the diaconate of the Episcopal Church. After the attending diocesan School for Ministry, he spent an 18-month internship at St. Hilary’s in Ft. Myers. He was ordained in December of 2018 and was assigned back to St. Mary’s. In addition to his duties there, he also performs services once a month at Church of the Good Shepherd in Labelle. He began working at First Presbyterian, next door, after he began attending St. Mary’s; creating a partnership between the two churches and becoming one of a rare breed of neighboring churches where there are no parking disputes. Q: Did you grow up in the Episcopal Church?
A: My mother-in-law moved to Bonita Springs in the ‘80s and we would take our military leave (vacations) in Bonita Springs and would occasionally visit St. Mary’s when we were here. After I retired from the Army, we built a house in Bonita in 2006 and started attending St. Mary’s. Q: When did you decide you wanted to take the next step and become a deacon? A: I don’t know if I could give a specific date. There had been a desire for a deeper service in Christ for several years. Interest in ordination in the diaconate started when Father Durning visited Saint Mary’s in 2015 and spoke to a group of us about Deacons in the Episcopal Church. It was strengthened during discernment, and by the second year in the School of Ministry, it was truly imprinted in my heart. Q: How have you managed the increased preaching and activities since Fr. Rowe retired from the parish? A: I have not had to face that much of an increase yet, mostly because of the stay-at-home orders. Thankfully, I was already experiencing an increase in preaching as we prepared for Father Rowe’s retirement. Q: How have you adapted to the technology needs at the church during this time?
A: I was very young when my family moved to California. I was baptized in a small Episcopal church in Palmer Springs, Virginia, but I do not remember anything about the church. My parents and grandparents are buried there.
A: It is a continual learning curve. I feel that we have adapted well with live streaming and posting services online. I am fortunate to have many very adept technicians around me that can provide me sound advice and guidance in the use of technology.
Q: When you moved to California, where did you attend church?
Q: You manage the Presbyterian church facilities next door. How do you manage both?
A: The Church I remember best was St. Elizabeth, located in Linda Vista, San Diego.
A: The Presbyterian Church and Saint Mary’s share a wonderful working relationship as brothers and sisters in
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