I grew up in the Atlanta area and then entered the United States Air Force as a registered nurse. After that first active duty tour, I returned to Georgia and worked in Augusta at the Medical College of Georgia where I obtained my Bachelors and Masters in Nursing. While I was in Augusta, I found the Episcopal Church and started attending EFM (Education for Ministry) through the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. I also began my discernment for holy orders. Discernment took a number of years and several dioceses, but in 1993 I went to the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest graduating with a MDiv in 1996. I was ordained in the diocese of Colorado and served there before being called to St. Michael’s parish in Independence, Missouri where I served for 17 years. It was an amazing partnership of ministry during which time I retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Colonel and I also completed my Doctor of Ministry degree.
Throughout all those years, I have kept my hand in nursing by consulting for an accreditation group called The Joint Commission. Then God came knocking with a new opportunity to serve as Interim Rector at St. Aidan’s in Milton, GA where I served over a year and a half until they completed their search and called a new Rector. Next came other interim positions and each parish in turn effectively called new clergy. Now I am at St. Matthew’s for the next year or two while the parish goes through the process of discerning and calling a new rector.
I have been active in Episcopal Cursillo on the local and national level. Now in the diocese of Atlanta, Bishop Wright has appointed me as Spiritual Director for the renewal of the Cursillo movement here. I have a passion for formation and I have taught bible studies, mentored EFM groups, led retreats for clergy, for Daughters of the King, for parishes, and worked with groups discerning their future goals and needs.
Those are the highlights and it is my hope that in this time of partnership, we will share goals and aspirations and chart a new path based on mutual discernment and the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit who continues to knock on all our doors inviting us into new journeys of discipleship. My part in this shared ministry is to equip and empower St. Matthew’s both as individuals and as a faith community and to share our gifts and talents together in mission and ministry for God’s kingdom.
God’s peace and joy, Mother Pat Miller+