We were delighted to welcome Rev. Ted Wright back to Albany Presbytery during the Presbytery meeting on February 4, 2017. Ted was a previously a member of Albany Presbytery and we wanted to catch up and share more about him with everyone.
Before we get started, can you tell us a little bit about where you grew up, any siblings, etc?
After brief stints in Williamstown, Kingston, and Syracuse, I landed in Bethesda, MD and remained all through the Sixties. During college, my parents, sister and brother moved to Villanova PA. We joined the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. I served there in youth ministry and was eventually ordained.
Share with us a little about your hobbies?
Hiking, tennis, reading, cross-country skiing, fly-fishing, and watching baseball. I don’t do social media; face-to-face is better for me. But admittedly, I count on my wife to maintain our connections over the Net.
How did you connect with PC(USA)?
Dad was Baptist; Mom was Episcopal. They went to the middle after they married.
When were you last associated with the Albany Presbytery?
From 1978 through 1982 I served as pastor in Schaghticoke: a full-time situation. We loved the church and community, both. Our children were born here. We had wonderful friendships. We might have stayed longer, but it was proving quite difficult to raise toddlers and conduct church business all in the manse. At presbytery level I was leading youth-ministry trips: Mission at the Eastward, Triennium, etc.
What have you been doing while you were away?
Learning and growing, a lot! I served 23 years as pastor / head of staff in Langhorne PA, between Philly & Trenton. One night God called – literally, unexpectedly – for Sue and me to enter mission service. So we became PC(USA) regional liaisons working in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique. But when my parents were dying, we accepted a call to a large, diverse congregation near D.C. There I dealt with many of the dynamics described by Tod Bolsinger in “Canoeing the Mountains.”
What brought you back to Albany Presbytery?
Short answer: we had bought our first and only house here in Valley Falls, before heading overseas. Practically, we needed a place to store belongings, but emotionally, we felt as though this region is our home.
What are you looking forward to now that you are back in Capital Region?
Besides a slower pace, now in retirement? I’m available to God and the presbytery as needed. In these early days, I’ve enjoyed connecting with pastors and neighbors. I’m re-reading the New Testament in Greek. God doesn’t waste an experience, so I’m sure that doors will open in time.
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