T-YOU The Faith Leader From the Courtroom to Room for God

THE REV. VINCENT G. ‘CHIP’ SEADALETitle, church, city: Rector, the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Jacksonville.Age: 46Education: Colgate University, bachelor’s in philosophy, 1982; University of Connecticut School of Law, law degree, 1988; Yale Divinity (and Berkeley Divinity) School, master’s in divinity, 2004.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

I’ve been married to the nicest person in the world for 24 years, who is a marriage and family therapist, Colleen. (This would be by far the best thing I ever did). Then we had some amazing kids: Caitlin, 20, Bridget, 18, and James, 16.

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR CALLING?

God found me. I was not ready for it. I think I knew it in college, but I waited. I was not all that “churched.” My roommate from California said to me, “Don’t ever let religion stand between you and God.” And I was free.

WHAT OTHER CHURCHES/MINISTRIES HAVE YOU SERVED?

It would be foolish to think I’ve only served the churches that have been involved with my ordained ministry. I spent time at St. Peter’s, Cheshire, St. Mark’s, New Britain, and St. John’s, North Haven, all in Connecticut and all wonderful congregations. My first job out of divinity school was a grand slam: Christ Episcopal, Ponte Vedra Beach, where I was the youth and young families clergy person.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY?

I’m trying to start a new church in a place the congregation has left. They have chosen to carry on their conversation with God elsewhere. I love them all like my brothers and sisters. All I can hold out is our message of hope and love. That is what I live for. And it’s really exciting to be in a place where the church community is new and growing.

DID YOU EVER CONSIDER OR PURSUE ANOTHER LINE OF WORK?

I was a lawyer. Did the whole thing: law review, clerked for a judge, worked for a big New Haven firm, and partnered in my own firm in Cheshire, Conn.

WHAT IS MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY?

Being able to help others connect with God. That’s what I’ve always wanted most – to help others connect with their spiritual sides. Many don’t know they even have a spiritual side of life.

WHAT IS MOST FRUSTRATING ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY?

That so many are not ready to engage in this incredible mystery. Come on! There’s something going on in this universe, which we ourselves didn’t create, and we are very much a part of that. We are part of God’s plan.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING OR RECOMMENDING LATELY?

The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs. This guy knows what he’s doing. He’s a world-class economist. Basically, he claims that the people of the richer nations are, for the first time in history, in a position to eradicate hunger and dying by sickness and disease in Third World countries.

HAVE YOU EVER DOUBTED YOUR FAITH?

When I was in college, I had a period when I questioned just about everything. And then I read this book by the philosopher- theologian Paul Tillich, The Dynamics of Faith, and it’s been lights out (or maybe I should say lights on) since then. But everyone should know that doubt is a part of faith.

HOW WERE THOSE DOUBTS RESOLVED?

I think that can only be answered as an action, a movement by God, toward me. Having faith is a gift, something we call grace. Unmerited grace.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SAYING, MOTTO OR VERSE OF SCRIPTURE?

“Love never ends.” First Corinthians 13:8a.The Faith Leader is a weekly feature profiling men and women, lay and ordained, who are leaders in First Coast religious communities. To recommend someone or yourself, e-mail Times-Union religion writer Jeff Brumley at jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com. Please include the daytime phone number and e-mail address of the person you are recommending.

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