The Rev. William Sangrey
St. George’s, Dayton
Nominee for Clergy Deputy to the 81st General Convention
Please describe your participation in the life of your congregation, the diocese, and the larger community
As a vocational deacon ordained from this diocese, I have been active in ministry within congregations, as part of the diocese and in the wider world in various capacities. Liturgically, I have been blessed to serve at St. George’s, Dayton, as part of the clergy team that has helped the congregation navigate the challenges of the last few years while looking forward to the growth and revitalization of the church. The ministry of a deacon, of course, includes proclaiming the Gospel, participating in worship and supporting the members of the parish in their individual faith journeys. Serving in the parish provides a solid faith foundation for me when I go out to minister beyond the walls of the parish (another charge to a deacon). Vocationally, my dual ministries (as a chaplain for a local, primarily rural, hospice and in a multi-level urban retirement community) call me to provide pastoral care to people in different settings over a large portion of our diocese including Cincinnati, Dayton and south-central Ohio. At a diocesan level, I have been privileged served for six years on Diocesan Council (including this year as Second Vice President). As a member of council, I have been part of the team that guides and supports some of the ministries undertaken by the people and clergy of the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
Why do you feel God is calling you to serve in this position?
Each of us, as part of our Baptismal Covenant, professes our faith and makes a promise that, with God’s help, we will live out our faith through love and service in the world. I have always tried to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead me to places where I can best serve God and God’s people. I believe that my background as a deacon in the church would add a somewhat different view point to the Clergy Deputies from Southern Ohio. The church as gathered at General Convention benefits from the diversity of opinions and perspectives of its members and I believe that our Deputies should reflect the variety of ministries present in our diocese. Undoubtedly, the coming years will continue to provide challenges and opportunities for our church, and I believe that if called to serve as a Deputy I can remain grounded in my faith and trust in God to help me serve for the betterment of the community and the world.