St. Andrew's Episcopal New Rector Wants To Expand Church's Outreach
St. Andrews Episcopal new rector wants to expand church's outreach
■ The Rev. John Nieman
Nieman will explore ‘where else we can go, given our resources.’
By DON FABER
NOV I5 1997
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
The Rev. John Nieman will be officially installed Monday as the new rector (senior pastor) at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor.
The Rev. John Nieman, the new rector (senior pastor) at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor, is finding the city much to his liking.
Nieman, who previously served four years as rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Sparta, N.J., says Ann Arbor is “fun, vibrant, culturally rich, intellectually stimulating and pretty.”
Well, he may want to re-evaluate “pretty” after he sees what it’s like around here in January and February, but if first impressions count for anything Ann Arbor and Nieman are off to a good start.
Nieman will be officially installed Monday in a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. in the church. The Rt. Rev. R. Stewart Wood Jr., bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Michigan, will be the celebrant.
Nieman, 38, succeeds the Rev. Harvey Guthrie as rector of the church at 306 N. Division. Nieman arrived in early October with wife Margaret and their 3 1/2-year-old daughter.
His plans for St. Andrews include “broadening and expanding our outreach in the community.” While specifically mentioning the church’s popular breakfast program for the city’s street people, Nieman will explore “where else we can go, given our resources.”
Within walls, Nieman would like to expand the Sunday School and promote more opportunities for adult education as part of his program to strengthen the community life of the parish.
“St. Andrews is big,” he says, “but we need to know who we are within the church.”
Born in Wayne, N.J., Nieman majored in philosophy at Drew University before going on to Harvard Divinity School. His first pastorate was at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Ellsworth, Maine.
The church at Sparta, 60 miles west of New York City, was described by Nieman as a "suburban frontier.” The community was a transient one and Nieman’s church of 450 communicants provided “chances for growth in the identity" of the parish.
Nieman’s vision for St. Andrews is to put the “widest definition” on the church’s welcome to different groups in the community. As part of the church’s inclusive approach, Nieman mentioned the space St. Andrews provides to gay and lesbian teen-agers for social events.
“What excited me about coming here,” says Nieman, “was engaging in ministry in a profoundly secular setting - leading a church which exists alongside the University of Michigan.”