April 28, 2025

Maundy Thursday 2025, Rick Patrick Photography

The Rev. Dr. Chuck Treadwell

XIV Rector of St. David’s

My dear friends, 

What should the first sentence be in a retirement announcement? I really don’t know. AI was no help. But there, I said it. I’m going to retire in January of 2026.

I love being a priest. I am profoundly grateful to have been called into the ordained ministry in my 20s, and I can’t imagine a better use of my life. I particularly love being a parish priest. My gratitude expands as I think of the three parishes where I have been called to serve as rector, each with its own beauty and fidelity, including the challenges along the way.

I love being the rector of St. David’s. You are an amazing community filled with courageous and generous hearts, and I love who we are together. I also love thinking about where God will take this amazing church in the future. Being called to serve as your rector for a long season has been a gift to me, and I am thankful.

Recently it has become clear to me that the Holy Spirit is calling me again, but this time to a different kind of service. It’s strange to say out loud, but as I do, it feels right. I feel called to move slower, to think differently, and to embrace rest and creativity. And yes, there will be fishing. I don’t exactly know what this will all look like in the years to come, but Chris and I are confident that God, who has called us to this life and been so trustworthy all along, will continue to guide and lead us into what comes next.

St. David’s is a complex place. It makes sense to Bishop Doyle, the vestry, and me that we take some time for this transition. Until mid-January of 2026, I will continue to serve enthusiastically as your rector and will work with you all as we define the details of a ministry and facilities plan based on the work of discernment we have been doing for more than a year. During this time, the vestry will start building a search process for the next rector. There will be more details about this from our Senior Warden John Crow in the weeks to come. We can work and pray together in the coming months and say goodbye well in December and January.

St. David’s is an amazing place, and we have an incredible staff who lead us in creative and faithful ways. The parish is filled with lay leaders who are motivated, inspired, and inspiring. Our vestry is gifted and committed to this wonderful place. Most of all, God is faithful. All will be well.

With gratitude and peace,

Fr. Chuck

Rector

A MESSAGE FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

John Crow

Senior Warden

To our beloved St. David’s community, 

I realize you are likely reacting to Fr. Chuck’s retirement announcement as I did when he first told me. I was both excited for him – we all celebrate our retirements – yet also crying for what seems like a personal loss. I tear up as I realize events that will be his “last moment with us,” for example, his beautiful Exsultet at Easter Vigil. But, throughout my life, I also have learned that change can be good, forcing you out of your comfort zone and making you take stock in how you move forward. Grounded in the trust of a loving God, what may be an uncertain journey leads you to live your dreams.

As God calls him to what’s next in a well-deserved retirement, God continues to call us to build on our 175 years as an Austin Christian community in new and exciting ways. But, before we look forward, we must look back to celebrate where his leadership has brought us as a community of faith. St. David’s is now more well known nationally as a church that lives her core values, especially “Engaging the Boundaries,” which is the essence of our baptismal covenant. The legacy Fr. Chuck leaves us are the benefits of his excellence as an executive and strategic leader for more than nine years, yet more importantly, his love for St. David’s, and his care for each of us.

Benefiting from the decisions of those who came before us, we are firmly committed to our mission of a downtown church and the ministry opportunities it provides. As we move from discernment to action in our strategic planning work over the last few years, we will realize our dreams to expand our reach in the community, grow as a congregation, and fulfill our growing ministry needs by leveraging our physical and financial assets. We will need a new rector to lead us there. 

With this change, your vestry knows what we have in front of us and is committed to your service. The Diocese has a tremendous support network and dedicated resources. The vestry and I have already met with diocesan leadership and have been introduced to a well-defined process to select our next rector. The loving care of Mother Hope, Fr. Kristin, Fr. Chad, along with our talented staff, will ensure we are cared for as a congregation throughout the transition. 

I want to reassure you that your vestry will do all we can, with God’s help, to have a smooth transition to our next rector. We commit to engaging you in the discernment process of who God is calling to lead us. We also commit to keeping you informed as information is available. I will have additional information to share with you in the coming weeks, but now is the time for us to celebrate Fr. Chuck, his priestly life of service, his legacy, and the love we share for him! Over the following months, we will hold him, Chris, and their family in our affections as we say, “See you soon.” 

The vestry asks for your prayers for our St. David’s community and Fr. Chuck, Chris, and their family as we all learn where God is calling us. With God’s love and our love for one another, nothing is impossible!

Peace be with you all,

John Crow

Senior Warden