Dear Colleagues and Friends in Christ;
For many years, the Reverend Arthur Dilg has served as chaplain to the retired clergy of the diocese. It is hard to overstate Art+’s contributions to the well-being of our senior priests and deacons through this ministry. In times of joy and sorrow, at anniversaries of marriage and ordination, or in the wake of the passing of a spouse, there has always been a card, a prayer, a note in Art+’s unmistakable hand. He has even included Betsy and me in this circle of grace, and we have shared in the blessing.
Art+ has informed me of his wish to pass on this work to another, and the Reverend Bruce Robison has graciously accepted the offer. Bruce+ and his wife Susy have deep and broad friendships across the diocese, and I know him as a man of prayer, a fine pastor and a wise counselor. I know his pastoral care will enrich the lives of us all.
I have asked both Art+ and Bruce+ to provide their own thoughts with this announcement.
This comes with my prayers for their ministries, and my thanksgivings for the ongoing life of the Gospel in and through our beloved diocese.
Faithfully your bishop,
(The Right Reverend) Dorsey W.M. McConnell, D.D.
VIII Bishop of Pittsburgh
Dear Friends,
When the Rev. Art Dilg first spoke with me about the idea that I might follow him in service as diocesan Chaplain to our Retired Clergy and their Spouses and to those Clergy Spouses who have survived their husbands and wives, my response I think echoed that of Elisha to Elijah as they crossed the Jordan together–“I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” His will be big shoes to fill, and I was honored and humbled to be asked.
A little over a year ago, when I was in the midst of preparations for my own retirement from full-time parish ministry, Arthur was kind enough to take me out to lunch for a conversation about the new chapter of life that Susy and I were about to enter. We talked about some of the challenges of getting things settled with the Pension Fund, about what new kinds of opportunities might now be opening for me and for us, and about some of the emotional and spiritual tug-of-war we might experience in coming days. He and Marilyn of course had been dear friends of ours for decades, and it was so very meaningful to know his companionship now in a new way.
I understand the role of the Chaplain to the Retired to be multifaceted. On the one hand, I will hope to be, as best I can, a good representative of the Pension Fund’s Office of Pastoral Care and a helpful liaison when questions or concerns arise related to Pension or to other resources in the wider church. Most importantly, of course, I would hope to continue Arthur’s exceptional work as an extension of our bishop’s pastoral ministry with this important part of our diocesan clergy family.
Thanks in advance for your prayers. In this New Year 2021 I look forward to sharing in new and deeper relationships with a great circle of old and new friends–and of course I’m especially glad to have Arthur here still as mentor and coach along the way!
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. Bruce Robison
Dear Friends,
The time has arrived to turn over the ministry of Chaplain to the Retired, a position formed by the pastoral staff of the Church Pension Fund. It allows a diocese of The Episcopal Church which choses, the opportunity to support our clergy and/or spouse in their retirement years.
I have had the privilege of serving in this capacity for 18 years. It has allowed me to serve our clergy and families in their life transitions especially birthdays. It is said that as priests we never stop being deacons. So it is in grateful services to Christ and the church that my part comes to a close, then to hand over to the Reverend Bruce Robison, the ministry of service beginning this new season, The Epiphany of our Lord and this new year 2021.
This is the diocese in which I was ordained and served all these years.
Ever thankful for the ministry mutually shared over this time, I am faithfully yours,
The Reverend Arthur C. Dilg+