Parish Rector

The Episcopal Church of the
Annunciation

The Rev. James H. Clendinen

	Annunciation Welcomes Fr. Jim & Anne Clendinen	The Reverend James H. Clendinen has accepted our call to be Rector at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Vidalia. He comes to us with a rich variety of education, experiences, and skills. Born in Rockledge, Florida on September 29, 1955, Fr. Jim graduated from Cocoa High School in Cocoa, FL in 1973. He attended Brevard Community College in Cocoa, where he obtained an Associate of Arts degree in 1974. He then went to Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government in 1976 and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration in 1978. He married Anne Powers Clendinen in 1978. He then continued his education at Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, where he earned the Master of Theological Studies degree in 1980. From 1980 to 1983, Fr. Jim participated in graduate studies in Church History at Emory University, while working as a research assistant in the Department of Historical Studies Graduate Division of Religion, as a teaching assistant at Candler School of Theology, and as a library assistant at Woodruff Library at Emory University. From 1983 to 1989, he was Chaplain and Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Andrew College in Cuthbert, GA. While serving at Andrew College, he was an instructor in Biblical Studies at the Chattahoochee Valley Seminary Extension (of the American Baptist Theological Seminary of Nashville, TN) in Edison, Georgia, from 1986 to 1987. From 1989 to 1990, he completed the Certificate of Studies at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin.
	Fr. Jim began his calling as a priest at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Hinesville, GA, where he was Rector from 1990 to 1994. While serving as Rector in Hinesville, he also served as Vicar at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Episcopal Church in Richmond Hill, GA from 1992 to 1994. He next served as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Jesup, GA from 1994 to 2002. While serving as Rector in Jesup, he was also Priest-in-Charge at St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Church in Baxley, GA from 1999 to 2002. Most recently, Fr. Jim has served as Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bainbridge from 2002 to 2009. During his time as Rector, he also worked as an Adjunct Instructor in Religion at Bainbridge College from 2005 to 2009. Fr. Jim has completed various other teaching, pastoral, and educational experiences. He participated in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Pastoral Institute/Bradley Center in Columbus, GA in 1987, and again at United Hospice of Savannah and Jesup, from 1997 to 1998. He has served as Examining Chaplain in Theology for the Commission on Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia from 1995 to present. He has completed continuing education programs including Bereavement Support Group Faciliator Training, in April, 2001, Start Up/Start Over Seminar in Congregational Development in April, 2002, Facilitating a Meaningful Death in June, 2002, Crisis Intervention Training in October, 2002, and Education for Ministry Mentor Training in 2005 to 2009. He was a Special Student in the Advanced Degrees Program (Summer Term) at the School of Theology, University of the South, in Sewanee, TN, in 2004 and 2005. Fr. Jim has participated in many other ministries within the Diocese of Georgia. He served as Dean of the Southwest Convocation, 2006 to 2009, and Education for Ministry Mentor, 2005 to 2009. He is a past member of the Christian Education Commission and the Ecumenical Commission. He currently serves as Chair of the Commission on Ministry. He is a past member of the Diocesan Council and the Executive Council. He has served as a Cursillo Spiritual Director, as a New Beginnings Spiritual Director, and as a workshop leader at Lay Ministry Conferences. He has extensive experience in the Christian education of adults and youth at the Diocesan and Parish levels. Fr. Jim has also been active in his community. He was a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of South Georgia, Inc., 1997-1999. He was a member of the Board of Directors of C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive AIDS Resource Encounter), a community based organization that provides support and resources for persons living with HIV/AIDS, 1996-2003. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Wayne County Protective Agency, Inc., which operates A Fair Haven, a shelter for battered women and children, 1996-2003. He was a member of the Board of Directors and treasurer of the Wayne County Mental Health Association, 1996-2003. He has been a member of the Wayne County Ministerial Association since 1994, serving as Secretary and Vice President. He was a member of the Jesup Kiwanis Club from 1994-2003. He has been a member of the Decatur County Ministerial Association and the Bainbridge Rotary Club since 2003, and a member of the Board of Directors for Decatur County Habitat for Humanity since 2004. Fr. Jim celebrated the Eucharist with the congregation of Annunciation for the first time on October 4, 2009. His wife Anne, will live in Vidalia after the sale of their home in Bainbridge, where she is a special education teacher. The Clendinen’s have three children: Gregory, age 26, Geoffrey, age 22, and Mary Beth, age 19, all of whom attend college. Fr. Jim plans to make the gospel known in word and sacrament, and to empower the people of Annunciation to be ministers of the reconciling gospel of Christ.