Meet the Priest

Meet the Priest

THE REV. SCOTT NONKEN

Dean of the School for Ministry in the Diocese of Southwest Florida and USF Chaplain.

Originally from Kansas, the Rev. Scott Nonken moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2010. Fr. Nonken holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Southwestern College, in Winfield, KS, and a Masters’ in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University. Fr. Nonken completed his ministerial training in the Diocese of Southwest Florida’s School for Ministry. He was ordained a deacon on December 1, 2018 and served The Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg until his ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests on May 17, 2022. Prior to his ordination, he was actively involved at The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, singing in the choir, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and leading the Outreach Committee. Fr. Nonken is also a Brother in the Companions of St. Luke. On January 1, 2021, he began

serving as the Chaplain of St. Anselm’s Episcopal Chapel Center at USF Tampa. On May 25, 2022, Fr. Nonken was named Dean of the School for Ministry for the Diocese of Southwest Florida. In addition to his service in the diocese, he has been a part of the Kairos prison ministry at the Zephyrhills Correctional Institute. Fr. Nonken also works full-time for a national firm providing information systems support for the Federal Government.

Q: You are recently ordained; can you share a little about your discernment process and journey to ordination?

A: The first time I remember feeling a call to ordained ministry was in 1985 following conversations with the youth minister at my church. I began some pre-seminary work at the Methodist college I was attending but discerned that the circumstances and timing were not right to pursue that call. Taking a beat, I completed college and began working in the IT field and put the whole ministry thing out of my mind.

As it turned out God never gave up. There were several other times over the years that I felt the tug of a call, but each time I decided that the time wasn’t right. Eventually, in 2012, after a failed attempt at diaconal parish discernment, I discerned a call to Benedictine life and began my journey with the Companions of St. Luke. I quickly felt at home in the contemplative community and believed I had finally discovered my call. However, it turned out that it was only a part. A couple of years later, after discussions with the Very Rev. Stephen Morris, Dean of The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, I again began discerning a call to the diaconate. After several years of sobriety and a stronger spiritual foundation, I and the wider church community confirmed the call and I began the formation process. After my diaconal ordination, aside from my work at the Cathedral, it seemed like more and more of the work God was calling me to was pastoral in nature and I felt my call evolving again (this time coming full circle to where I started in 1985). I learned that our diocesan

participation in the Iona Collaborative meant that there was now an option for local formation for the priesthood. After some discussion with Bishop Dabney Smith and Dean Morris, I decided to pursue discernment for ordination as a priest. Although it has taken a long time, I believe each of these steps in my journey was an essential part of getting me to where I am today.

Q: You served as Deacon at The Cathedral Church of St. Peter and currently serve as Chaplain of the Episcopal Chapel Center at USF; what experiences from those roles shaped you for your new position as Dean of the School for Ministry?

A. These roles have given me exposure to two very different sized communities and environments. Through serving in both these worlds, I have developed an appreciation for what each offers, and what it takes to be effective with each group. I come to the Dean’s role with both experience operating as one part of a larger team and serving in the lead role of a much smaller worshiping community. Hopefully, this diversity of experience in the ministry, along with the organizational skills I bring from my secular job, will give me the tools I need to be successful in this new role.

Q: What are you most excited about in this new role with the School for Ministry?

A. I am most excited about building on the good foundation the school already has for clergy formation and then expanding it to include opportunities for lay people (whether or not they are seeking licensure) to fully participate. Having been through local formation I am a strong believer that it is an appropriate educational option.

Q. What is your favorite part of your ministry with students both at the college level and those discerning the call?

A. My favorite part is helping students discover for themselves the many ways God is working in their lives. I think God is always there, always knocking, and sometimes we just don’t slow down enough to listen. If I can help people to hear that still, small voice, it's a good day.