The Reverend Milton E. Black, Jr.
Rev. Black with his
wife, Elizabeth
Rev. Black and Elizabeth
with sons Milton III, left,
and Nelson.
The Reverend Milton E. Black, Jr. has accepted the invitation to serve as the Sixteenth Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Called in late July by a unanimous vote of the Vestry, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Rector Search Committee, Milton will be with us in the pulpit August 24th and the 31st, and assume his full duties on September 1, 2008.
Born in Houston on November 8, 1962, Milton is a “Cradle Episcopalian.” His home parish was St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston. According to Milton, “I was deeply formed as a disciple and sent out for ministry by this vibrant, corporate size parish of the Diocese of Texas.”
A true partner in Milton’s ministry is his wife of nineteen years, the former Elizabeth Head, also of Houston. They have two sons, Milton, III, age 14, and Nelson, age 11.
Milton holds two degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, including a Bachelor of Arts, Economics (1986,) and a Masters of Business Administration (1994). Elizabeth is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French.
Milton began his working career in the corporate world of mortgage banking and oil trading. During this time, Milton and Elizabeth began to feel God’s call on their life, and they increasingly found their life in the church. This amounted to a “crisis of vocation,” as they called it, and with the help of their church, discerned a call to ordained ministry.
Bishop Lillibridge’s challenge at this year’s Council was: “Deny Yourself. Take Up Your Cross. Follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24, Mk. 8:34, Lk. 9:23) Milton and Elizabeth are living examples of just that. They left the corporate world behind, and with two children, headed for Virginia Theological Seminary where Milton graduated with a Master in Divinity degree in 2000.
Milton was ordained a Deacon in 2000, and a Priest in 2001. He began his ministry as Assistant Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church, Longview, in the Diocese of Texas. He became Rector Locum Tenens upon the unexpected death of the Rector and led that parish through the grieving and search process. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the parish school, Trinity School of Texas, which included a Pre-K through 12th grade program.
Bishop Folts called Milton into the Diocese of West Texas to serve as the Rector of St. Johns’ Episcopal Church, Sonora, in early 2004. He served there until April, 2007, when Bishop Lillibridge appointed Milton Archdeacon and Diocesan Deployment Officer. Milton, however, has always seen himself as a parish priest, and continues to feel called to parish ministry.
Milton relates well to a wide variety of people. His age and experience enable him to minister to those of various generations and backgrounds. He is equally comfortable in the board room or on the ranch. He writes, “My heart’s desire is to share deeply in the lives of people and to walk with people through life’s joy and pain. It is a great privilege to be entrusted with the care of souls, and to share in the most significant moments of people’s lives. This is what it is all about for me.”
Concerning leadership, Milton seeks to model servant leadership. His ability to listen, call the community to a deeper relationship with Christ, cast a shared vision, and respond to God’s call, is the basis for his ministry. In summary, Milton writes, “I am a passionate person who humbly seeks to lead people to a deeper relationship with God in Jesus Christ, through preaching, teaching, equipping, and loving.”
We expect Milton to ably carry on the tradition of great ministry and mission that has been the culture of this parish for almost 150 years. Please welcome the Milton Black Family to the Church of the Good Shepherd.