Diocesan Transitions, February 2019

Deacon Linda Wilson has stepped down as Pastor-in-Charge at All Souls, North Versailles, effective June 30, 2018. The Rev. Dr. Teresa Hunt is currently serving as regular supply.

Kimberly Macy Karashin and Julie Lynn Smith were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons by Bishop McConnell at Trinity Cathedral on December 1, 2018. Kim continues to serve as diocesan Canon for Mission, and is also serving as deacon at Advent, Brookline and St. Peter’s, Brentwood. Julie has been serving at St. Stephen’s, Wilkinsburg, during their time of transition.

The Rev. Brandon Thomas Mozingo was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop McConnell on December 15, 2018, at St. Stephen’s, McKeesport, where he is now Priest-in-Charge. He had previously been leading the parish as a deacon.

The Rev. Joseph Baird has been named Vicar of St. Peter’s, Blairsville, effective January 1, 2019. The Rev. Arthur Dilg concluded his service at St. Peter’s on Christmas Eve. Fr. Dilg will continue to serve as regular supply to St. Michael’s, Wayne Township, and as chaplain to retired clergy.

The Rev. Daniel Isadore has stepped down as Priest-in-Charge at All Saints, Brighton Heights, effective January 1, 2019, in order to expand his campus ministry as Chaplain at the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham University. All Saints is currently being served by the Rev. Aidan Smith.

The Very Rev. Canon Scott Quinn led his final service as Trinity Cathedral’s interim dean on January 20, 2019, before beginning a well-deserved sabbatical, to end with his effective retirement date of Easter, April 21. The Rev. Dr. Philip Wainwright, the cathedral’s priest associate, will take over responsibility for worship services, pastoral care, and cathedral staff for the immediate future.

Lisa Brown has been appointed to the General Convention Task Force on Formation & Ministry of the Baptized. A member of St. Paul’s, Mt. Lebanon, and a deputy to General Convention, Lisa will work with this group over the next two years to explore lifelong formation.

The Rev. Charles Esposito has been called to serve as Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s Wilkinsburg, effective February 2, 2019, following the retirement of the Rev. Nancy Chalfant-Walker.

With the consent of Diocesan Council, Bishop McConnell has appointed Suzanne DeWalt and Peter Balfe to be Disaster Preparedness Coordinators for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Sue is a member of Calvary, East Liberty, and has served multiple terms on the Board of Trustees. Peter is a member of St. Paul’s, Mt. Lebanon, and is a current member of Diocesan Council. Both are appointed to three-year terms, to end in December 2021.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Widows’ Corporation partially subsidizing his diocesan salary, the Rev. Canon Dr. Jay Geisler has been designated Canon for Recovery Ministries serving the five dioceses within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His efforts will focus on education and training for clergy and parish leadership in matters related to addiction and recovery. The remainder of his time will continue to be spent on assisting in parish clergy transitions, pastoral matters related to the clergy, and in supervision of parishes participating in the Mon Valley Mission Initiative.