The members of Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church welcomed the Reverend William "Mac" McCord Thigpen III as their Rector on Sunday, July 28, 2002 after he had been serving the people of St. Bart's since late April.

Previously serving as rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, California, Mac received his MDiv from General Theological Seminary in New York City. In the past Mac has served as Dean of Deanery IV in Los Angeles, was member of the Commission on Ministry as well as the Bishop's Commission on AIDS. He was an Alternate Deputy to General Convention in Denver (2000) and Philadelphia (1997). Other past commitments include the Diocesan Council, the Program Group for Hispanic Ministry, and the Task Force on Inclusivity. He also was the Bishop's Liaison to the Gay and Lesbian Community from 1991 through 1998.

Mac writes:

I enjoy being a priest. For me that means nurturing and empowering people to grow into wholeness, into the full stature of Christ. We gather as the body of Christ so that people are renewed in their baptismal identity and empowered to live that life in all areas: family, friends, work and civic life. I believe God's deepest desire for us is to be whole and complete people, to prayerfully live our lives with compassion, honesty and justice in community with others.