Meet our Rector
The Reverend Paul S. Winton
What is a Rector?
In the Episcopal Church the Senior Cleric on the staff is the Rector. The title of Rector has been around for a long time and derives from the Latin for “ruler”. While Rectors in the Episcopal Church do not have that kind of authority, significant authority does indeed rest with the Rector of a Parish or Episcopal Institution. Rectors are called by parishes through a long and complicated call process using a call or search committee and then an election by the Vestry. The final choice of a parish must be approved by the Bishop of the Diocese. In theory, a Rector serves a parish for life, although most Rectorships today last a little less than ten (10) years. A Rector is not an employee of the parish, nor the Diocese. (A Diocese is a geographical area – normally about ½ of a State and averages about 80 parishes plus other Episcopal institutions.) A Rector is a self employed cleric, serving a parish, normally with a contract, under the authority of a Bishop and in partnership with the lay leadership of the parish, called a Vestry. The staff of a parish, those who are ordained and those who are not, work for and serve the Rector. Only the Rector hires, terminates and manages the staff. The Rector calls ordained staff who are also known to the Vestry and approved by the Bishop. The Rector and Vestry serve together in prayerful partnership to meet all the needs of the parish and its people.
Our Rector – The Reverend Fr. P.S. Winton, Rector V
The Reverend Fr. Paul S. Winton, (Fr. Paul) was called as the Fifth Rector of St. John’s in November of 2009. He began his ministry with St. John’s in late January, 2010 and was installed as Rector in March of 2010. Prior to his leadership of this faith community Fr. Winton was Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church, a large Suburban parish in North Metropolitan Atlanta in the Diocese of Atlanta. Fr. Paul was Rector there for a bit more than eight (8) years. Prior to his Rectorship at St. David’s, he was Senior Associate on the staff of Grace Episcopal Church, one of the historic Episcopal Churches in Charleston, South Carolina where he served for six (6) years.
Fr. Winton completed his theological studies (Masters in Divinity) at The School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1996. His other academic work is in Industrial Relations, Health Care Administration and Labor Relations. He was ordained a Deacon at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Cheraw, South Carolina in June of 1996 and entered the Sacred Order of Priests in December of the same year. Prior to his call to Holy Orders, Fr. Paul had a career in the business world, the last 15 years of which he spent in Hospital Operations and as a Medical Center Chief Executive Officer. Other work experience includes labor relations and private consulting in the human resource field. Fr. Paul has published in the areas of Preaching and Holy Matrimony. To listen to some of Fr. Paul’s sermons please go to: Worship - Sermon Archives
To find out more about Fr. Paul, go to: Fr. Paul S. Winton - An Informal Profile