Fr. Bill Powell Celebrates 64 years of ordained ministry. Throughout the decades, Fr. Bill’s steadfast love & service to God and the Episcopal Church, have formed countless people closer into the image of our Lord. Click the photo to read about Fr. Bill's journey in ministry.
The Rev. Bill Powell is celebrating 64 years of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. Throughout Fr. Bill’s ministry, he has served in many different roles and capacities. He was first confirmed into the Episcopal Church in 1939 and confirmed by Bishop Casady. He got married to his wife, Jackie. They shared four children together.
After Fr. Bill’s service in the Navy, he worked at a little flower shop in Oklahoma City. He loved the work and decided to bring a flower shop to Hugo, Oklahoma; it was there when he first felt his call to ministry. He attended Nashotah House Seminary in the fall of 1949, sponsored by St. David’s Oklahoma City.
Bill was ordained on Sept. 27th, 1958, and he served at St. Mark’s in Perry from 1958 to 1963. While at St. Mark’s, he assisted in building a rectory for the rector's housing. St. Mark’s congregation grew tremendously during Fr. Bill’s time, and so the congregation decided to build a new church building. After his time at St. Mark’s, Fr. Bill ventured to St. Peter’s in Tulsa for about four years. In 1970 he accepted a call to be the rector of St. Andrew's in Stillwater. St. Andrew's blossomed under his direction, he served as the rector from 1970 to 1988.
Fr. Bill also served as assistant to Bishop Davidson of Western Kansas for 3 years. It was his time serving on Diocesan staff that inspired him to get involved with the national church's training for ministry discernment, he assisted in conducting conferences around the country. He served 7 years on the executive council, 2 terms (1972-1979) as a provincial representative, served as the Chairman for Christian Education for ministry, and he attended 5 general conventions. After semi-retirement Fr. Bill served as priest-in-charge of St. Mark's for 20 years.
Throughout the decades, Fr. Bill’s steadfast love & service to God and the Episcopal Church, have formed countless people closer into the image of our Lord. Thank you for your selfless ministry to our church! Join us on Sunday, Sept. 25th at 9:30 am to celebrate 64 years of ministry for the Rev. Bill Powell at St. Mark's in Perry.