A native of West Virginia, the Rev. Andrew Rutledge was working as a charge nurse at UCLA when, nearly 20 years ago, he visited the beautiful community of Los Olivos and fell in love with St. Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church. Called last October as its rector, he said it felt like a homecoming. During Sunday’s celebration of his new ministry, where I had the blessing of presiding, it came full circle when he pointed out his delightful mother, Kathy, and sister, Rosemary, all the way from West Virginia and our Episco-pals to their cores, sitting in the first pew.
Andrew’s friend since their Virginia Theological Seminary days, the Rev. KC Robertson, offered a stirring sermon. Andrew’s dean, the Very Rev. Melissa Campbell Langdell, represented all his fellow deacons and priests in the region we call El Norte. The Rev. Michael Corrigan, who assists at St. Mark’s, read from the gospel of John, which commands us apostles to love one another as God loves us so an unbelieving world will know the divine nature. Think about that. People draw conclusions about God, and about whether to devote themselves to godly ways, by observing how church people treat other church people.
Bible study Episcopal–style began in this valley 100 years ago, when the rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lompoc drove or rode into town and began to organize worship, study, and fellowship in private homes. In my brief remarks, I told folks that if St. Mark’s feels like home, it’s because that’s where their community’s life began.
St. Mark’s’ home neighborhood has a “Yellowstone” feel. After a few visits to our northernmost climes, I realized it was time to stop saying that we were all southern Californians around the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. St. Mark’s is in the heart of the central coast, making it heartland and ranch country. Andrew previously served as rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Sunderland, Maryland, which, St. Mark’s wags have noted, is far from the heart of the Diocese of Maryland, as St. Marks is from our headquarters in Echo Park. But Andrew is a both-and priest. He loves the city and the country. With his friendly, pastoral mien, he’ll help bring us closer.
It was wonderful to see my friends Brooks and Kate Firestone, who met after he saw her dancing on stage in London and fell in love on sight. The Firestone family played a leadership role when St. Mark’s moved to the valley from Solvang. Each participated in the liturgy and sang in the magnificent St. Mark’s choir.
Senior warden Carl Johnson put down his euphonium to present Andrew for his institution as well as present a Bible on behalf of the congregation. In her 14th year as director of choral music, Nichole Dechaine put down her flute to lend her magnificent soprano to the communion anthem. The reception featured a delicious buffet and rich conversations. It was hard to tear myself away, especially thinking it was probably my last visit as bishop. I drove out of the valley giving thanks that Andrew had found his way back.
