The Ven. Charles Gearing, PhD
           - Archdeacon & Coordinator of Missions and Outreach

• Circles of Grace - October 2006
• Named Archdeacon - November 2004
• Apostle of Stewardship Award Received, August 2, 2003

Almost every Sunday you see Deacon Charles Gearing preparing the altar for Communion, and usually you hear him read the Gospel.  After retiring from his academic career, Charles entered the ordination process and was ordained deacon by Bishop Allan in 1993.

In the tradition of the early Church as recounted in the book of Acts, a Deacon is called to serve - to bring the needs of the world to the church and to connect the parish to the world in response to those needs.  In addition, Charles has for many years worked as a stewardship leader and consultant for the Episcopal Church USA, for The Episcopal Church Foundation and for this Diocese.  Even now, he travels the Diocese of Atlanta serving Bishop Alexander as the diocesan Planned Giving Advisor.  And - a real blessing for St. Bartholomew's - he gives wise and strong support to our Stewardship team each year.  At the General Convention in 2003, Charles was honored by being named an “Apostle in Stewardship” by the Episcopal Network in Stewardship (TENS).

Charles is currently serving St. Bartholomew's by undertaking a staff responsibility as Coordinator of Missions and Outreach serving (as deacons do) on a voluntary basis.  St. Bart's has had a history of strong commitment in this field, and now is moving forward in new ways, including a significant global dimension, to "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord" in the world.

Charles has served in the past as Senior Warden and in many other roles, and he and his family have called St. Bart's "home" for twenty-nine years.  It is hard to imagine our parish without Charles and his wife Carol and daughter Marla.  They are at the heart of much of the pastoral ministry (often unknown to the rest of us) that goes on here.  Charles position on the Staff brings us years of experience, a passion for missions, and a deep commitment to the ministry of St. Bartholomew's.

Charlie writes:

Fellow parishioners:
I consider it an honor and privilege to undertake this ministry. If offers an exciting and challenging opportunity for all of us to join together in responding to our call to servant ministry. The needs are immense, and there is no task before us that is more important!
--Charlie

Charlie Gearing named Archdeacon.
Bishop Alexander recently announced that our very own  Deacon Charles Gearing, along with Deacon John Titus have been named archdeacons, with the title "the Venerable." They will work to strengthen the diaconal ministry in the diocese and to support deacons in their work.
 

Apostle of Stewardship Award Received, August 2, 2003

Charles Gearing Honored

St. Bartholomew's own Deacon Charles Gearing was honored for being one of three “Apostles in Stewardship” by The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) at the General Convention that was recently held in Minneapolis. 

Written about him in the program:

“In 1991 Charles E. Gearing, PhD. retired from Georgia Tech as Professor Emeritus.  He had concluded his long career in higher education with the oversight of a fundraising staff of 45 during a highly successful $200 million capital campaign.  He then launched another “career” as a Deacon in the Diocese of Atlanta, a consultant in stewardship and planned giving, and four years as Director of Stewardship Development at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta.

Charles has served as a stewardship consultant with The Episcopal Church Center and as a field representative with The Episcopal Church Foundation.  In 1999 he was appointed Director of Diocesan Programs at The Episcopal Church Foundation, focusing on assistance to dioceses as they formulate approaches to planned giving.  Charles co-authored the Foundation’s manual Funding Future Ministry:  A Comprehensive Guide for Church Leaders to Encourage Planned Gifts in Support of Christian Ministries, and he has also written a companion manual, A Diocesan Gift Planning Program:  Guidelines for Success.”

Honored with Charles were The Rt. Rev. Furman Stough, former Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama, and former Special Advisor to the Presiding Bishop, and The Rev. William Yon, former priest in the Diocese of Namibia in the Province of Southern Africa and developer of the Leadership Training Institute which provides training for clergy and lay leaders.