Dear People of St. James’,
It is my great pleasure to announce to you that St. James’ has called The Rev. George Porter to be our Associate Rector for Latino Ministries and Community Life, effective March 1. As Associate Rector, Rev. Porter will assist me on a full-time basis in ministry within the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities. This is an expansion of our staff; nobody is leaving.
We began our search for an Associate Rector over a year ago in early 2023. At that time, I wrote to you that finding a bilingual clergy person who would be a fit for the whole community of St. James’ would be a challenge and that it would take some time. After a multinational search, interviews with a number of candidates, and some unexpected events, parishioners from both our Spanish and English-speaking communities have identified in The Rev. George Porter, a gifted pastor, able to bring people together for the work, the struggle, and the joy of ministry.
Here is a brief biography of Rev. Porter:
A native of Nicaragua, the Rev. George Porter served as the Dean of Saint Mark’s Cathedral Church in the Diocese of Nicaragua and Vicar to Saint Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Puerto Sandino. Prior to that, Rev. Porter officiated as a Lay Minister at “La Transfiguración” Episcopal Church in Nicaragua, where he was confirmed by Bishop Sturdie Downs. In addition to parish ministry experience, Rev. Porter served as General Coordinator of the Commission of Theological Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, as a member of the Executive Committee representing the Diocese of Nicaragua, Secretary General of the Anglican Church of the Central America Region, and Treasurer of the Episcopal Diocese of Nicaragua. He is the father of two young adults, Stacy Porter and Wilhelm Porter.
In addition to his considerable pastoral experience, Rev. Porter brings a number of gifts that will help St. James’ Episcopal Church/Iglesia Episcopal de Santiago continue to grow into a thriving, connected, multicultural, multilingual, racially diverse and inclusive community. His linguistic and intercultural abilities will help us continue to build bridges of unity as well as spaces where difference is honored and celebrated within our St. James’ community. His personal experience as an asylum seeker is an important witness in our church community, our Austin community, and in the clergy community of the Diocese of Texas. His enthusiasm for our work of inclusion here at St. James’ and for the work of evangelism is contagious in that good sort of way that leads to growth.
In the coming months, Rev. Porter will be focused on getting to know the St. James’ community and the community beyond our campus. The Rev. Jim Harrington will continue to serve with us for all of the foreseeable future, but he will hand off some things to Rev. Porter as he takes up some more legal advocacy work and collaborative work with Casa Marianella. Both will have some additional responsibilities related to my sabbatical (April 16-July 15). You may notice a bit of shuffling of ministry portfolios and responsibilities as we adjust to having a full-time Associate Rector.
Do not be shy! Introduce yourselves to Rev. Porter! Help him get to know you and Austin. Start this Sunday as we celebrate this new call.
Rev. Eileen
