Our new rector plays the position with passion.

Forgive the sports analogy, but when I asked Richard Lawson what other career he might have pursued had he not felt called to ministry while still in high school, he replied, “I think I would have tried for the NBA.”  He plays men’s league basketball in Decatur “religiously,” and at 5-10, he says, “I have the body of a guard, but the heart of a big man.” 

After spending an hour or so on the phone with Richard, that works for me, so we’ll dribble this sports analogy a little further. 

Like a point guard, Richard knows how to lead, how to assist, how to get creative, and how to play team ball.  For instance, “you’re only as good as your staff,” he told me.  Further, he said one of the key reasons he accepted our call was that Grace-St. Luke’s is a program parish, and offers “the opportunity to work collaboratively with passionate people.” 

Like a big man, he has the heart for the game, and understands that we’re playing it on a Midtown Memphis court.  “I can’t guarantee growth, but I can guarantee to work as hard and creatively as possible to grow both numerically and spiritually.” 

Richard grew up in Guntersville, Alabama, right on the water of Lake Guntersville and the Tennessee River.  Evidently, if he didn’t get wet, it wasn’t a good day. “I love the water, everything about it,” he said, “and we’re real happy to be coming to Memphis and the river there.  I have a strong sense of place and it has a huge influence on me.  My idea of Heaven is to be on the river somewhere with friends.” 

Although his family “were faithful people in their own way,” nominally Baptist, and didn’t much attend church, Richard went to Sunday School as a teenager at the Methodist Church and became, “fascinated with church as community – a big, extended family.”  While not from a church, his grandfather’s example as a farmer on Sand Mountain taught Richard about love of what you do, “He worked very hard, and was in it for the love of the land.  Love of what you do is as important or more so than any other reason you might do it.” 

Richard’s love of the idea of church as community, his intellectual curiosity about faith, and his own evolving faith led to him to major in spiritual studies at Auburn.  What church he would become part of was settled on Lake Guntersville the summer after his freshman year. That’s when he met a certain Alabama coed from Birmingham named Katherine.  “I’ve often thought the best form of evangelism in the Episcopal Church is dating.  Katherine grew up Episcopalian and she explained to me early on and in no uncertain terms she was staying Episcopalian,” he laughed.  “But as I addressed questions and doubts and developed intellectually, the battle between heart and head, I knew intellectually I was at home in the Episcopal Church where heart and head came together.” 

He became very active at St. Dunstan’s Chapel in Auburn, just around the corner from Toomer’s Corner, while Katherine studied with the enemy over in Tuscaloosa.  They dated through college and married, 13 years ago this October 4th.  When asked how an Auburn grad lives with an Alabama grad, “It’s about more than victories at Auburn,” he answered dryly, “it’s about a way of life.”  Later in our conversation he added, again dryly, that “Katherine went to Alabama, but she is very intelligent, and went to Auburn for graduate school.” 

Richard went to General Seminary in New York and to Sewanee and has degrees from both.  Katherine has a masters in communications and is an instructor in public speaking. “Like most Episcopalians, Katherine likes succinct sermons,” he chuckles, “and is opinionated about it.”  It should be noted that both children have been raised as Alabama fans, “testimony to my patience and compassion,” says Richard. 

Adaline is 9 and will be in the fourth grade at Grace-St. Luke’s this fall.  “Outgoing, brilliant, beautiful, thoughtful,” says her father, “of course.”  Evans is 8 and will be in the third grade at GSL.  “Great sense of humor, bright, into all sports,” he paused, “and a big Elvis fan.” These folks appear to be headed to the right place.  As for the church, “Growing up at Advent in Birmingham, Katherine is very excited about returning to a big church again with liturgy and great music in a big, beautiful space.  We’re all thrilled for a lot of reasons.”  As for the city, “We love the whole idea of Memphis and Midtown.  The parish.  The school.  We love live music and to eat out at interesting places.  And we’re big dancers.  When I was in seminary, we lived in New York and haven’t had the benefits of a big city since.  Memphis isn’t New York, but we’re not looking for New York.  Memphis is a great Southern city, and that’s where we want to live and raise our kids.” 

“Evangelism,” he muses, “should be redefined as hospitality.  We’ll be inviting people to join us – and to fall in love with God.” 

I found Richard to be not only hospitable and personable, but someone who makes you feel like you’ve known him for years, that you’ve liked him from the get-go, and that you’re going to be better for that. 

And I like his sense of humor.  When I asked if he’d thought about his first sermon in our pulpit, he told me … like any good Southerner … a story.  “After a friend of mine preached his first sermon in his new church, two ladies were leaving following the service … long-time parishioners … and were overheard by another friend.  One turned to the other and, in a clear voice, said, ‘Surely he has other gifts.’  Dan, it’ll be better than that.” 

I’m sure it will, Richard, and we’re all looking forward to welcoming you and your family to Grace-St. Luke’s, and into our hearts and heads. 

The ball’s in your court, and we’re on your side. 

Dan Conaway