April 28, 2008

The Rev. Howard Bowlin

Biographical Statement

The Rev. Howard Bowlin received a call as Interim Rector of St. Francis beginning March 30. The role of an Interim Rector is to facilitate a time of renewing and re-energizing the parish in its life and mission. Beyond maintaining effective ministry during this period, the Vestry and Interim Rector work together to prepare for healthy transition to the next full-time Rector. Specific tasks to be addressed include:

$          Coming to terms with the history of this congregation and its relationships with previous clergy.

$          Discovering the congregation's special identity, what it dreams of being and doing apart from previous clergy leadership.

$          Dealing with shifts in leadership roles that naturally evolve in times of transition, allowing new leaders to come to the fore constructively.

$          Renewing and reworking relationships with the diocese, so that each may be a more effective resource and support to the other.

$          Building commitment to the leadership of the new rector in order to be prepared to move into the future with openness to new possibilities.

Fr. Bowlin retired September 1, 2007 as Rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Illinois. He had served in this office since January 1998. Prior to his tenure in Bloomington, he served Episcopal churches in Lockport, New York and Annandale Virginia.

Fr. Bowlin has served the wider church in a number of roles: stewardship consultant, investigator of allegations of misconduct, member of various governance boards and committees, and consultant and intervener in substance abuse crises.

Fr. Bowlin served on numerous civic committees as well. These included hospital boards and group homes for persons with substance abuse problems and criminal convictions.

He is a retired military veteran, having served more than twenty years with the United States Marine Corps. His service was with the United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own,” in Washington, D.C.

He and his wife Gail have been married for thirty-two years. They have one daughter, Rachel, who is a junior at Maryville College (Tennessee).