The Reverend Eric Kahl
In accepting the call to become the rector of St. Mary’s, Father Kahl is returning to his true vocation, the blessing of being a parish rector. He is coming to St. Mary’s after serving as the Episcopal chaplain at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Since his ordination in 1984, Father Kahl’s entire ministry has taken place in the state of Florida and it has always been in the context of a church and school partnership. He has served as the long-time rector and school chaplain of a parish in Coral Gables, an assistant rector and chaplain of a church and school in Jacksonville. He began his ministry at Jacksonville Beach. He has expressed his strong support for youth ministry throughout his career by serving as a diocesan youth ministry coordinator, provincial youth ministry liaison, and diocesan spiritual director for both Happening and New Beginnings, summer camp dean and by working directly with the youth of his parishes. His belief that parish and diocese are partners in a common mission has been expressed in his service as a member of the executive board of the diocese and as diocesan chaplain to the Daughters of the King. Father Kahl was born in Sendai, Japan, and grew up as an Army brat, the oldest of four children. He lived in thirteen different places in the first fourteen years of his life before the family settled in Tallahassee where his mother and siblings still live. He is a graduate of Leon High School, Florida State University and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. Father Kahl writes about himself: “I am the father of three … Abigail is 20 and attends Florida State University … Madeleine is 17 and getting ready to graduate from the School for Advanced Studies at Miami – Dade College … and she will be going to FSU beginning this summer. Aidan is 14 and is an 8th grader at Gulliver Academy. They are the love of my life. I live with my constant companion, Casey, a five-year-old golden retriever. I love to take long walks, anywhere, anytime but especially on the Florida beaches. I love to fish in cool waters, build large sand castles, and have meaningful conversations long into the night. Reading is a favorite activity and I have been known to keep two or three books open at the same time. I am passionate about baseball at all levels but admit to a life-long loyalty to the New York Yankees. But most of all I love the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my heart’s deepest desire do all things necessary to help others come to a lasting and abiding relationship with Him who Is The Way, The Truth and The Life. I love serving the Lord Jesus as a priest of the Episcopal Church. I am blessed when I am able to disciple, enable and empower persons with the goal that they may come to “know, love and serve the Lord”. |
