Tuesday, January 24, 2012

British rector jumps through U.S. hoops to work at Paoli parish


From Philadelphia-

Somewhere on the cold Atlantic, the Rev. Richard T. Morgan's books, furniture, frying pans, summer clothes, and other trappings of his life in England are making their way to America.

"I'm told it will take about six weeks," said Morgan, 41, sitting in his nearly empty office at Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli.

That seems an eye blink compared with how long it took him, his wife, and five children to cross the pond. The Morgans arrived here last week - 13 months after the parish chose him as its new rector in December 2010.

He will be installed Saturday and celebrate his first Eucharist service Sunday.

"I had supposed we'd be here last Easter," he said.

But Morgan and the evangelical, conservative parish discovered that a Greater Power had to bless his ministry in the United States.

Not the Father, but the Uncle. Uncle Sam.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) takes a longer, closer look these days at foreign clergy seeking permanent residence. Those who pass muster must then seek visas, which can also take months.

More here-

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/137936408.html

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