Trinity selects Pecot as spiritual leader

Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachicola will be getting a longtime forestry expert as its new rector.

In an announcement last weekend, Rennie Edwards, a senior warden at the church, wrote that the vestry at the church had unanimously accepted the recommendation of its search committee to call The Rev. Stephen D. Pecot as the next rector.

“He has graciously accepted the call,” wrote Edwards.

Pecot succeeds The Rev. Eric Zile, who retired from the ministry in June 22, 2022 after three years of service at the church.

Pecot has embarked on a second career after working for more than 20 years in forestry as a senior forest analyst and environmental specialist. 

“In that capacity, he spent considerable time in Franklin and Gulf counties over the years and knows the area well,” Edwards wrote. “He and his wife Travis are excited about moving to Apalachicola.”

Pecot has been a seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia for the past three years. On March 25 in Mobile, Alabama, he was ordained to the diaconate, and in June will join Trinity as its clergy-in-charge. His ordination to the priesthood, to be held at Trinity. is scheduled for early October.

“At that time, his official title will be priest-in-charge,” wrote Edwards. “At the end of his first year with us, and subject to the approval of the vestry, he will become our rector.”

Over the summer and until Pecot’s ordination, Trinity will use the service for the distribution of communion under special circumstances, or morning prayer. 

“In all other respects, he will serve as our spiritual and administrative leader,” Edwards wrote. “In the brief time that I have known Stephen, I have found him to be warm and welcoming. He is deeply spiritual and displays a mature approach to life and ministry. We are blessed to have him join our parish family.”