The Vicar's View

Posted by The Rev. Stewart Lucas on April 26, 2023

The catchy theme for the Annual Men's Retreat last weekend was Bad Boys of the Bible. I never dreamed the topic would bring up the conversations it did. Alas, we agreed that what happens at Lake Logan, stays at Lake LoganBut I can tell you we talked a lot about God and learned or relearned some of the things some guys did in the Bible. Cain, Jacob, Gideon, and the Prodigal Son. We didn't have enough time to tackle Samson and Judas... As we reflected more together though, we decided the theme name was catchy but perhaps not acceptable. Were those boys really bad or did they just do bad things? We don't even really know what the prodigal son was actually doing; it just said he wasted his money away. We've all done too much of that. What makes anyone a bad person? I believe that's just a bad way of looking in the mirror and at the world. As followers of Jesus, I believe we are all worth saving, no matter how "bad" our behavior. Is that an excuse? Of course not. But it turns out God even runs down the path to welcome us home, no matter what we have done. No matter how we look, no matter how we love, matter what we believe, no matter what we say, no matter how much we exercise or earn, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Risen Lord. That's transforming Good News, my friends, and our task is to go and tell and live that message in our community.

As always, thank you for being part of this community, always being transformed by the Good News to change the world!

About the Author

The Rev. Stewart Lucas

The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas, a cradle Episcopalian, was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. With a family deeply rooted in the love of gardening, he pursued a degree in Horticulture from the University of Georgia. During his time there, he became actively involved with the Episcopal College Chaplaincy and discerned a call to ordination. Stewart went on to attend Virginia Theological Seminary, graduating in 2001. Just two days after graduation, he married his husband, Doug, and the couple moved to Maryland.

Stewart began his ministry as an assistant at churches in Baltimore and Annapolis. He later returned to Baltimore to serve as the rector of The Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft. During his tenure, the neighboring Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter sold their building and joined the Episcopal congregation, forming a unique 'Lutherpalian' church family. Under Stewart's leadership, the combined congregations navigated grief, compromise, creativity, and growth, eventually expanding their campus by acquiring two additional buildings.

In the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, Stewart served in various leadership roles, including President of the Standing Committee, member of the Bishop Search Committee, and Deputy to General Convention. He continues to contribute to the broader church as a member of the national Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee and the Commission on LGBTQ+ Ministry for the Diocese of Atlanta.

In August 2022, Stewart was called to be the Vicar of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, where he coordinates worship planning, communications, parish life, and other duties as assigned. Stewart and his husband Doug, an accountant, reside in Sandy Springs with their Basset Hound, Esther.

Contact | slucas@holyinnocents.org

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