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El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – Saturday, October 29, 2016 – 5
Chapman’s interest in ministry began early
News-Times Staff
The Rev. Charles T. “Chuck” Chapman Jr. first consid- ered a career in the clergy
while in elementary school.
“As early as the third grade I had thoughts about becoming an ordained minister,” said Chapman, who is the rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in El Dorado. “In the summer before my senior year of high school I made a public commitment to seeking ordained
ministry.”
Chapman was ordained a minister
29 years ago, and he has been the rector of St. Mary’s for almost eight years.
“I was led to seek ordination because of my love of Holy Scripture and desire to teach and share it with others, as well as to lead oth- ers to discover their own ministry and serve God each in his/her own way,” he said.
Chapman’s career in the ministry
a priest, was from El Dorado.
“(He) provided much guidance through encouragement, advice, and example,” Chapman said. “It was a very supportive environment
in which to begin a new ministry.” If not serving in the ministry, Chapman said he “would probably be a teacher somewhere, and sing-
ing in a church choir.”
Chapman said his fondest memo-
ries of his time in the clergy include beginnings for his parishioners — the marriages and the baptisms.
The hardest times for him, as a pastor, involve the endings. “Being with beloved parishioners near the time of death, their funerals, and their families,” are difficult for Chapman.
His advice for any young person considering the ministry is make the ministry a part of your daily life.
“I would ask them what they are already doing in terms of ministry, not just in a church setting but in daily life, and build and maintain a
“Early on you wake up to the reality that people are going to be people, whether they are in a church or in an office, etc.,” he said. “The loving and generous folk will be loving and generous within the church as well as in the community; likewise, the critical
and complaining folks.”
— Fr. Charles “Chuck” Chapman St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
began as a chaplain in an Episcopal School, and that is where he had his first inkling of thinking.
“The first “big moment” came during opening convocation of school early in my time there,” he recalled. “The hymn was being sung, the procession entering the church, 400 children and their teachers gathered for worship. I thought, how splendid and how grand to be a part of this!”
Chapman said his mentor in the ministry was his first rector, the Rev. Bill Trimble, whose father, also
life of prayer.”
For Chapman, people are the most
surprising aspect of being a pastor. “Early on you wake up to the real- ity that people are going to be peo- ple, whether they are in a church or in an office, etc.,” he said. “The lov- ing and generous folk will be loving and generous within the church as well as in the community; likewise,
the critical and complaining folks.” “Just because it’s a church envi- ronment, you still have all kinds,” Chapman said. “And you learn to
minister to all of them.”
Terrance Armstard/News-Times
Rector of St. Mary’s: The Rev. Charles Chapman has been leading St. Mary’s Episcopal Church for nearly eight years.
Strong people do not put others down. They lift them up.
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