Unique Episcopal Church

The last 2 Sundays I have been visiting Annunciation Episcopal Church in Memphis. This has been a unique and rewarding experience for me. I visited because a member of the congregation attended a meeting of the W. TN. Episcopal Diocese Creation Care committee and was impressed at what the congregation was doing on its own. Before attending I listened to several sermons by the Rector, Rev. John Leach. I was definitely impressed by them. Since them I have listened to several more and am still impressed.
The 1st Sunday I visited there was a baptism. I thought the way it was handled was good, though i would prefer the Font being at the same place as the Altar. It was clear that the Rev. Leach was atuned to the members at the service. I would estimate that easily less than 50% were cradle Episcopalians or of Catholic (not referring to Roman Catholicism) Theological thinking. It was a good baptismal sermon despite the lections not being of much help, I would have chosen others Sacred Text.
I returned this pass Sunday. The sermon again was excellent and creative theologically speaking and lots of food for thought.
Let me say a word about Rev. Leach's sermonizing. I would not say he is a great orator but what he lacks in this more than is made up for in his passion, well studied text, great illustrations that are very concrete and suited to this congregation, and most importantly he has incorporated the text into something very alive in his own being which comes through in a very powerful and real way that one would have to be asleep not to recognize.
This congregation reminds of many of the rural congregations of UM churches I served and am aware of. This is truly a middle class congregation. It seems to be of middle of the road evangelical theological thinking. High Liturgical orientation is not them, but certainly Rev. Leach is moving them there.
I post al of this for a couple of reasons.
First, It seems to me that Rev. Leach is the type of pastor so sorely needed in the mainline churches. I would say that pastors like him or the hope for mainline churches. If more of these do not show up the mainline churches are just going to fade away.
The rub here is that the denominational ordination committees are pretty good at weeding folks out like him and there is probably not many of them coming before them in the first place.
Second, I can honestly say that at this point Rev. Leach and Annunciation seem like an answer to a personal prayer of mine. I have for quite a while prayed for a congregation to worship with that is liturgical and Sacred Text oriented. I have found one aspect or the other in other congregations but not one that has both. A few more visits will let me see, but this seems to be very Providential to me.
Peace vincent ira ciaramitaro