I believe that by our Baptism we have been chosen to be disciples and that in the Spirit we are sent to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. For me an important basis of this witness is the Church's mission to affirm that "All people are loved by God" and that the dignity and uniqueness of every individual, the equality of all people and our partnership in this life and on this earth, all open us to acquaint ourselves with our neighbors, share in their struggles and their pain and do the ministry of reconciliation in restoring all people to each other and to God.

Fr. Michael has been Rector of St Paul's since 1992.

Areas of Expertise & Experience of Ministry

• Convocation and Diocesan Development
• Ecumenical and Interfaith Representation and Development
• Community Building and Public Service
• Experience of Ministry
• Education
• Continuing Education
• Recently Published Articles

• 4 years of leadership (including 3 years as President) of the Convocation of American Episcopal Churches in Europe Bishop's Council of Advice, with a focus on envisioning and articulating the Convocation's expanding mission and ministry and emerging identity.
  
  
• Ensured high profile Convocation participation at the National Episcopal Church General Convention both as an elected delegate (1996) and Chair (2000). Chaired special 1999 Convention to honor Presiding Bishop Browning and other continental bishops.
  
  
• 15 years experience developing strategies to facilitate new working relationships between the Board of Foreign Parishes and the Episcopal congregations in Europe.
  
  
• 3 years experience helping establish the terms of reference for the Convocation's first Commission on the Ministry of the Baptized as an appointed founding member.
  
  
• 17 years experience as a consultant to the Diocese of Western Massachusetts on congregational and stewardship development. Parish Ministry and Mission Program Development.
  
  
• 30 years experience in parish-level congregational development and revitalization in three different parishes which included a three-fold increase in regular communicants for each of the churches served.
  
  
• 30 years experience in encouraging and promoting mission development and effective lay ministries as an essential element of Christian identity and expression.
  
  
• 15 years experience building one of the Convocation's faster-growing, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-racial congregations located in the historic center of Rome, Italy including expansion of Rome's only daytime Refugee Center as the focal point of the congregations' Christian witness and outreach.

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• 30 years experience as member and President of local ecumenical councils in America and Europe.
  
  
• 15 years of participation and representation at high profile ecumenical forums at the Vatican, American and British Embassies to the Holy See and the Pro-Unione, including the Pro-Unione's Interfaith Committee for Christian-Islamic dialogue.
  
  
• Member of the Provincial Consultation Committee responsible for planning strategies to overcome parallel Anglican jurisdictions in Europe.
  

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Community Building and Public Service

• 10 years as President of the Anglo-American Medical Assistance Fund of Rome. This group manages a large endowment and disburses grants to American and British ex-patriates in need of medical assistance. Membership includes representatives from the British and American Embassies in Rome.
  
  
• Winner of the American International Club of Rome Community Service Award 2004. This award recognizes individuals who have contributed in a significant way to enriching cross-cultural ties and promoting friendship within the international community of Rome.

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Experience of Ministry

• St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome, Italy (1992-)
  Rector of a growing multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-lingual congregation in Rome's historic center. Parishioners include Americans, Africans, Asians and a thriving Latin American Spanish-speaking congregation. In addition to membership growth, significantly expanded the outreach, witness and impact of the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, Rome's only daytime center for political refugees and economic migrants located in the crypt of the church. St. Paul's serves over 150 persons a day coming from all parts of the globe. Strengthened church ties with ecumenical and diplomatic organizations in Rome through presidency of the Joint Planning Committee of Ecumenical English-speaking Churches and the Anglo-American Medical Assistance Fund in Rome, which serves both the American and British Embassies. Undertook cooperative efforts with the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative to The Holy See and assisted in programs offered at the Anglican Centre. Served as President of the Council of Advice of the Convocation of American Episcopal Churches in Europe representing eight churches in six countries. Developed new strategies for expanding the mission, membership and awareness of the American-Episcopal church presence in Europe together with lay and clergy representatives.
  
  
• Christ Episcopal Church, Rochdale, Massachusetts (1980-1992)
  All Saints Episcopal Church, Worcester, Massachusetts (1976-1980)
  Served in progressively more responsible positions as Curate, Vicar, Assistant Rector and Rector of two parishes in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts-one primarily urban and the other suburban/rural. Worked closely with lay leadership to start community nursery school for 90 students as a facet of outreach and mission to the local community.
  
  
• Diocese of Western Massachusetts (1976-1992)
  Provided leadership in the areas of congregational development as a consultant to the Diocese and in strengthening ecumenical relations as a member of the City Clergy Association and of the Executive Council of the Interfaith Clergy Association of Worcester, Massachusetts and as President of the Leicester Massachusetts Ecumenical Council. Organized a major social services outreach program sponsored by the member congregations. As Chair of the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, designed parish level stewardship programs, including multi-media materials for training. Served as Dean of the Central and West Worcester Deanery overseeing expansion and development of programs for Christian education, evangelism, stewardship and outreach to the poor.
  
  
• Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (1973-1975);
  St. John's College High School, Washington, D.C. (1973-1974);
  Agnes Greg School, Washington, D.C. (1970-73): I developed curriculum and related teaching materials on theological and pastoral topics for teaching responsibilities at the university level as a graduate assistant and teaching fellow and at the high school level as Chairman of the Religion Department and Latin instructor.

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Education

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Continuing Education

• 2007: Credo 133
• 2005: Lichtenstal Monastery, Germany: Independent study
• 2003: Prague: History & Culture
• 2002: Budapest: Mission in European Cities Conference
• 1999: Greece: In the Footsteps of St Paul and Classical Greece
• 1997: Sabbatical in France, England and Sri Lanka (three months)
• 1990: Sabbatical Study Leave (three months including seven weeks in Rome doing research, study and reading at the Anglican Center Library; traveled through Italy and England, residing at the Pusey House in Oxford)
• 1989: Interfaith Council of Western Massachusetts Clergy Pilgrimage to Israel (ten days)
• 1988: "New Visions for the Long Pastorate" Alban Institute, Orlando, Florida (five days)
• 1985: National Stewardship Conference, Bethesda, Maryland (three days)
• 1980: Seminar: Alcohol & Drug Abuse, The Hood Conference, Bethesda, Maryland (one week)
• 1977: Seminar: Death and Dying, The Hood Conference, Bethesda, Maryland (one week)
  
• 1974: Congregational Studies Institute, Auburn Theological Seminary, New York, New York (two weeks)

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Recently Published Articles

• Entro Le Mura Con Le Porte Aperte (Paulus magazine, year 1 no. 1, July 2008, p.50)
• Gift to Humanity (The Living Church, January 13 2008, p.8)
• Urban Families: Italy, City of Rome (Anglican-Episcopal World International Family Network, Issue no. 127, 2007 p.9)
• Grounded in History (The Living Church, January 14 2007, p.13)
• The Divine Center of All Things (The Living Church, November 3 2002, p.12)
• Is There Life After Dominus Iesus? (The Living Church, March 4 2001, p.16)