Paul Francke Paul Francke (prancke@vts.edu) Seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary

August, 2006 Newsletter article

Dear Friends at Saint Matthews,

I'm right now in the middle of an 8 week internship in Scotland. I'm working for St Kiaran's Episcopal Church in Campbeltown, County Argyll. Depending on who you ask, this is the most remote part of mainland Britain, since the nearest city (Glasgow) is 4 to 5 hours away by car. Campbeltown has 6,000 residents, and the local Episcopalian population is very small but also very committed and energetic.

I have been preaching and leading services, and will continue to do so until August 7th, when I'll fly back home to Charleston. The first half of my stay has included two nice breaks: first, a trip with the local bishop to the outer Hebrides islands, and then a brief trip back to Charleston for my brother David's wedding. The visit to the Hebrides was wonderful as it allowed me to get a first hand look at what parish visitations are like from the perspective of the bishop. It also introduced me to some absolutely wonderful Episcopalians, who were often struggling under very difficult conditions due to the remoteness of their area. The scenery was wonderful, and there was nothing to be desired but some warm weather - it was incredibly cold and wet.

The trip home for David's wedding was everything it was supposed to be and more. The chance to spend time with my family and some local friends gave me perspective on my work in Campbeltown so far. I'm back in Scotland now, and that sense of perspective is helping me enjoy every minute of my work here.

Being here also gives me perspective on Charleston and Saint Matthews. I frequently think of Charleston as a small town, because that's how it feels: people are generally friendly, and if you walk around downtown, chances are you're going to run into someone you know. But neither Charleston nor any town in Charleston's metro area is small by Argyll standards. People from out here would say you and I live in a large metropolitan area. The Church in this part of the world is also small, despite the fact that it traces its origins to some of the earliest known Christian missionaries in Scotland. The congregations out here are very committed, and meet in beautiful churches, many of them more than 300 years old. But there's not a single congregation as large or financially healthy as Saint Matthews in the whole diocese. So as I learn valuable lessons from Episcopalians out here, I'm also forced to appreciate the gifts you and I share at Saint Matthews.

I hope everything has been well at home, and I look forward to seeing you in about a month's time.
Yours in God's love,
Paul

May, 2006 Newsletter article

Dear Friends at Saint Matthews,

In less than two months, I will be blessed to serve a parish on a remote peninsula of western Scotland, in the Episcopalian Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. I will begin work there in early June and finish in early August, returning briefly to Charleston in the middle of the summer for my brother's marriage. The parish I'll be serving is called St Kiaran's in Campbeltown, located on the Mull of Kintyre.

The congregation is small, with less than twenty members worshiping every Sunday. As with West Virginia's rural mission parishes in the eastern mountains, St Kiaran's small congregation can't support a full time priest. They make do with a talented priest named Andrew Williamson who splits his time between mission work at St Kiaran's and other parishes, and working as a local pharmacist. By necessity and theological conviction, the laity is also empowered to fulfill some of the traditional functions of clergy, such as preaching and parish administration (though lay people never celebrate the Eucharist, of course!) This summer I will help out with some of these lay roles, being supervised by Fr. Andrew. At the same time, I will write a research paper about how the parish operates. This opportunity to learn about and take part in the life of a rural mission parish will be particularly valuable to my ministerial training, because after Seminary, I'll most likely do a two year internship serving a cluster of West Virginia's rural missions.

I have a well-traveled South American friend who once told me that there were only two English dialects she can't comprehend: Scottish and West Virginian. I hope this means I won't have too much trouble understanding people this Summer! I'm not sure how much value to place on my friend's observation, but I do sense there will be at least a few interesting similarities between my work this Summer and my experience as a West Virginian, given the Scots-Irish heritage here. When I told Fr. Andrew that I can play a few instruments, he quickly asked whether I might be interested in Kintyre's local Bluegrass group. Despite the similarities, though, my Summer work will have much more to with understanding differences. I'm excited to learn how a separate culture, thousands of miles away, relates to the same Lord with whom you and I walk.

You all are in my prayers as always, and it would help me greatly to be in yours this Summer. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you next Fall.
Yours in Christ's love,
Paul

Internet link to learn more about Cambeltown:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/campbeltown/campbeltown/index.html

Paul has been accepted by our Vestry, the diocesan Commission on Minstry, and Bishop Klusmeyer to become a Candidate for Holy Orders. This means Paul will most likely be ordained a Deacon next December and a Priest in June, 2007.