Ginna Allen, News Editor
On Oct. 16, the Sewanee community joined together to install Chris Epperson as the Chaplain and Dean of All Saints Chapel. The service included a diverse spread of administrators, community leaders, and student organizations to welcome Mr. Epperson and his family.
In his earlier career, Epperson served as a counselor at Camp Billy Johnson at the DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, an Episcopal camp for economically disadvantaged children in the surrounding dioceses. After leaving Tennessee and entering professional ministry in the church, Epperson returned to Monteagle and served as Camp Billy Johnson’s Chaplain for two years. Following his chaplaincy in Montegle, Epperson served at a parish in Atlanta, GA before moving to Rhode Island to serve a parish in Newport. Epperson was then called to serve at Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, VA where he worked for 15 years as rector. At Bruton, Epperson served over a thousand members of the church and worked within program education, formation, and community outreach, as well as significant pastoral, liturgical, and reconciliation initiatives.
Now transitioning to his new position at Sewanee, Epperson noted the longtime connections he’s held with the University growing up in East Tennessee. “Even though I had no official relationship, I’ve been here a blue million times growing up. While my relationship has never been as official as a student, it’s always been a special place in my life,” Epperson said. He also noted how the Episcopal church has always been his life, with him growing up with the faith and always holding a “deep affection for the church.” For him, this new step marks a welcomed change in his career. “It’s the right time, it’s the right place, and it represents a fascinating shift out of parish ministry that I never anticipated,” Epperson said.
University Vice Chancellor and President Rob Pearigen wrote the Sewanee community in August to announce Epperson’s election, noting, “his appointment marks a new chapter in the life of All Saints’ Chapel and the University chaplaincy, as well as in our role and influence in the Episcopal Church.”
According to Epperson, 21% of the student body identifies as Episcopalian along with another large percentage of the community identifying under the broader umbrella of Christianity. 13% of the student body is also involved at All Saints chapel in a leadership role in some way. Additionally, there is a notable percentage of those who identify as either being from other religious traditions or not being from a religious tradition at all. With this, he hopes to support all walks of life and faith here at Sewanee as Chaplain.
“Being able to be this inclusive community where everyone has a place and everyone can belong is speaking to what I’ve tried to do. This is an opportunity for walking with students on their spiritual journey and on the journey of developing an ethical vision for what life looks like and what life can be, and just general moral development,” Epperson said. He continued, noting the opportunity for commonality within a diverse community of all faiths: “The Episcopal church’s concern for the environment and injustice and reconciliation is important, and you don’t have to have a faith background to care about those things. So that’s another area of common ground and is a bridge that can be built to all people.”
In building this common ground, Epperson looks to strengthen Sewanee’s Episcopal identity in a way that offers openness and inclusivity. “Part of my role is making sure we are supporting all students, regardless of religious affiliation. But there’s also a real opportunity to share the story of the Episcopal church. This opportunity to put a very positive face onto the Episicpal church and Christianity. To be an open, inclusive, welcoming tradition I think is important, and is certainly what I’ve been about throughout almost 30 years of ministry in tandem with being here and being supportive of students regardless of their faith background. We can be comforting and listening ears and supportive to everyone,” Epperson said.
When reflecting on what excites him most about being chaplain, Epperson noted his broad appreciation for all aspects of his work. “For me it’s all of it. The students, staff and faculty are amazing here, and just getting to know people and what matters to people is life-giving,” Epperson said.