As of September 1st, I have named the Rev. Thomas Szczerba, Jr. as Vicar of St. David’s. I hope you will join me in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion.
In small mission congregations that are not financially self-sustaining, the bishop is technically the rector—so the bishop appoints a “vicar” through whom the bishop’s ministry is done “vicariously.” In large congregations it is common for the rector to appoint a vicar as a senior priest in the parish, to help the rector with the administrative and pastoral responsibilities.
One of the things that I’ve heard consistently here in my first year is how the parish is weary of associate clergy coming-and-going. As Thomas celebrates his third anniversary at St. David’s I’ve also heard a fair amount of anxiety about him leaving. I’m envisioning the Vicar of St. David’s as being a second clergy “anchor” to provide stability. For Thomas, it means that he does not have to leave St. David’s to continue to build his resume and skill set, because with this promotion he will be doing just that, and doing it right here. It’s a mutually beneficial path: Thomas gains experience for his future ministry, and the parish gains from his ongoing presence and pastoral gifts.
As Vicar, Thomas will continue to support the parish’s pastoral and fellowship ministries, including providing clergy leadership for weddings and funerals, while nurturing the spiritual and communal well-being of the congregation. In addition, he will contribute to the church’s leadership by helping guide stewardship efforts, serving on the finance commission, participating in executive meetings, and collaborating on the development and implementation of strategic planning initiatives.
Thomas is exceedingly talented, and even more than that—Thomas really cares about the people of St. David’s. He is as faithful a priest as one can be, and St. David’s is richer for having him and his family as a part of the St. David’s community. Again, please join me in congratulating Thomas for taking on this new role.
God’s Peace,
The Rev. Rick Morley
Rector
Published on September 2, 2025.