The Reverend Matthew J. Moretz has accepted a call to become Associate Rector of our neighboring parish, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, beginning in September.
I am very pleased for Matthew and his family and I am happy for the people of St. Thomas Church as well. This call will give Matthew greater responsibilities and is a clear affirmation of his considerable gifts. Over the last year, Matthew has discerned an interest in finding a new challenge, and I have supported him in this search. It is the role of a parish like St. Bart's to identify young clergy of promise and to assist them in their development as priests. It is always sad when they leave, but it is ultimately a good thing for both them and for the wider Church.
We will miss having Matthew on our clergy team. He has served as an Associate Rector at St. Bart's for over six years, sharing in the preaching, teaching, and pastoral care of our parish. He has had particular responsibilities for overseeing Baptism preparation, the 20s/30s group, acting as clergy liaison for the Altar Guild, Docents, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, and most recently, as coordinator for St. Bart's Adult Formation programming.
Early in his time at St. Bart's, Matthew evinced a special interest in the art and history of St. Bart's. He made himself something of an expert in those areas and developed a fine series of "Treasures of St. Bart's" video presentations that will stand as an enduring gift to our parish.
Matthew is known for imaginative preaching and has made significant contributions to our liturgies. He wrote a beautiful Affirmation of Faith for use in our Sunday 9am and 5pm services and took a lead role in developing some of St. Bart's special liturgies, including our new Tenebrae service, introduced this past Holy Week. A stalwart and faithful colleague, Matthew has always been ready to help out wherever needed-a tremendous gift in this large, complex parish.
Matthew served on the Board of General Theological Seminary and has been a member of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of New York for the past three years.
In 2016, we celebrated Matthew's marriage to Meghan Brandt-Meyer in their ceremony held at St. Bart's, and just last week we rejoiced in the birth of their son Samuel James.
The Reverend Lynn Sanders said, "It has been my privilege to watch Matthew grow in his ministry during his time at St. Bart's, and to share in the joys of Matthew and Megan's wedding at St. Bart's and the birth of Samuel James. Matthew is a valued colleague and friend. I wish him and Megan and baby Samuel all the best as Matthew assumes new and greater responsibilities. They will be a great blessing to St. Thomas, as they have been to St. Bart's.
Matthew's last day at St. Bart's will be Sunday, August 19. He will preach at all services that day and we'll have a festive coffee hour to send him off with our best wishes. Please join us in congratulating Matthew on this new call and in wishing Matthew and Meghan all the best in their new adventure.
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dean Wolfe, D.D.
Rector
325 Park Avenue at 51st Street * 212-378-0222 *stbarts.org
