Meet the Rector

Rev. Charles Robinson

frcharles.wordpress.com [blog]

The Rev. Charles Robinson has been rector of St. Luke’s since June 2004.  His family household consists of: his wife of 22 years, Bonnie; 14 year old daughter, Hillaree; Thelma Brown, mother-in-law; Sean, 22 year old foster son; and three loving dogs: Dufus, Bubba, and Pepper.  Fr. Charles was raised and, originally ordained, in the Southern Baptist Church.  During his years in that faith community, he had a number of very powerful experiences of God.  At age seven, he began to become conscious of the love of God expressed in Jesus, the Christ and, in response, chose to be baptized.  At age sixteen, while on a spiritual retreat with his church youth group, he gave his life and heart to God.  “On that beautiful sunny day, while sitting alone by the ocean, I told the Lord that I was willing to go anywhere and do anything God desired of me.  I keenly felt the presence and love of God within.  The following year, I was asked to preach during a Sunday evening service.  I loved it and I knew down deep within that I was called to professional ministry.”

Fr. Charles left the Southern Baptist tradition during his late twenties because he could no longer be intellectually honest and open in such a conservative environment.  Soon after marrying Bonnie, the two of them made their home in the Episcopal Church.  “We fell in love with the Episcopal Church because it is a Christ-centered spiritual community that celebrates intellectual freedom, diversity of thought and experience, and respect for the dignity of every human being.” 

Fr. Charles values education highly.  He holds three graduate degrees: a master’s in theology, a master’s in clinical psychology, and a master’s in business administration.  In addition, he is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.  He believes that spiritual education is a lifelong process and essential to the ongoing health and life of any individual.  He strongly encourages all members of St. Luke’s to be continually engaged in some form spiritual education and training.

Fr. Charles thinks that, due to the convergence of a number of factors, a new spiritual reformation or understanding is slowly emerging.  The Church of the 21st century will continue to celebrate the love and mercy of God expressed in Jesus of Nazareth as it increasingly acknowledges that God can never be contained and finally defined by any one particular theological or religious system.  Religion’s attempt to control thinking, to suppress intellectual diversity and spiritual exploration is coming to an end.  Christian spirituality will more and more be seen, not as submitting oneself uncritically to a list of "correct beliefs" or doctrines, but as an exciting, wondrous adventure embracing not only Christian thought and tradition, but also that of other faith and wisdom traditions from around the globe.  Salvation will no longer be understood as the attainment of immediate certainty and "eternal security," but as the healing and wholeness that comes from the fearless search for truth, wisdom, and unity.

“My dream for St. Luke’s is that we will increasingly become a place of worship, study and practice, a spiritual community that celebrates intentional hospitality and intellectual freedom.  In other words, our support of one another’s practice of those disciplines and methods that deepen our love and compassion and awaken our consciousness of the Love of God will take place in a community context that is completely open, both spiritually and intellectually. St. Luke's is, and will more and more become, a safe place to explore and practice spirituality. . .Completely in love with the God revealed in and through Jesus of Nazareth. . . .Completely open to any and all seekers. . . .Completely accepting. . . .Completely curious. . . Completely excited about the adventure of the spiritual journey.”

frcharles.wordpress.com [blog]

Come and Join Us!

What are you waiting for?  Come and join us on the journey!!  Please feel free to contact Fr. Charles at 435-649-4900 Ext. 11 or pastor@stlukespc.org.