In this day and age, it is a challenge to find church leadership to venture to Central New York.
However, this fall not one but two clergy members have joined Episcopal Churches in the CNY Diocese.
Husband and wife “clergy couple” Rev. Scott Parnell and Rev. Pilar F. Padrón Parnell now reside in Skaneateles with their two children Charlene, 5, and George, 3.
Millennials, Scott and Pilar bring a fresh approach to practicing faith and look to be active in schools and local communities.
Pilar is a native of Rome, New York and moved to Lancaster County, Virginia upon graduating from Virginia Theological Seminary in May of 2017. Pilar received her bachelor of arts degree from SUNY Fredonia in English, with a minor in religious studies. She received her master of divinity upon completing three years of study at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Prior to her call to St. James’, Pilar served as the rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Heathsville, VA and as the associate rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock.
Pilar came to her calling through mission work in El Salvador where coincidentally St. James’ has focused many years of outreach. In fact, Pilar and the Rev. Dr. Chuck Stewart, St. James’ deacon met on a mission trip many years ago.
As she has grown in her call, she has felt a pull towards intergenerational and family ministry, racial reconciliation and healing, as well as pastoral care particularly to the sick and dying.
“As we navigate a time in our world when things can feel so polarized and unstable I know pressures feel especially enormous for young families,” she said. “As a leader in the community, I truly believe that faith communities will be the way that we find ways to love each other and create a more compassionate world. Part of the work in the church is going to be to help children, families, and older adults to slow down and live in God’s sacred time. It is my deepest hope that through prayerful formation we can give the people of God in our midst tools to live more in line with God’s love and compassion for the world God created.”
In addition to a full work ministry and mother to two active children, Pilar is a classically trained vocalist. She enjoys all things singing and music.
Scott is from Charleston, South Carolina and attended Furman University to study chemistry and religion.
After graduation he moved to Texas and served as a youth minister and school chaplain.
He graduated with an MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary, where he met his now wife, in 2017, and was called to serve as chaplain at Christchurch School, an Episcopal Boarding School in Tidewater, Virginia.
During the COVID pandemic, he returned to parish ministry and was called as rector of Ware Episcopal Church, a colonial parish founded in 1652.
Scott’s passion in ministry is in revitalization and helping congregations live into their potential.
He is currently a doctoral candidate at The University of the South: Sewanee, writing on contemporary church trends, American society, and structuring congregations for growth.
Scott is the newly called rector at Christ Episcopal Church, Binghamton.
“Faith formation ultimately takes place in community,” he said. “We cannot do it by ourselves. And for communities looking to pass faith onto the next generation, they must recognize the role of the family. Parents are the primary evangelists to their children — and it is the church’s role to support that effort.”
Scott is an active father enjoying the young ages of his children and loves to play pickleball.
For more information visit StJamesSkan.org.
