A Long-time Friend of Nashotah House: A Life in Ministry

The Rev. Les Singleton is a long-time friend of Nashotah House, and we are glad to share his ministry story with the Chapter readers. Fr. Singleton is from the Diocese of Florida and began serving in the priesthood in nearby Racine, Wisconsin, gladly accepting the offer to become an associate alumnus of Nashotah House, an honor he has held since the 1960s. Having grown up in Miami, Florida, Fr. Singleton attended Allapattah Methodist Church.  At an early age, he considered ordination and later went to the University of Chicago. Becoming an Episcopalian, he felt a call to ministry, and went through the discernment process with the Diocese of Chicago, graduating from the University in 1964. He began his studies at Seabury Western, graduating cum laude in 1967, with a Bachelor of Divinity, now considered a Master of Divinity.

You mentioned you were ordained in Chicago. Can you describe a bit about your early days as a Rector -- what ministry life was like when you were ministering in Chicago, Racine, or Milwaukee?

For three years I was a curate in Emmanuel Episcopal Church in, LaGrange, Illinois. The rector was William Baar. He was one of the people written about in Modern Canterbury Pilgrims edited by James A. Pike. He was a tough task master, and he was good for me. He stood by me when my first wife decided to leave me. I had agreed to a three-year curacy and then needed to find another opportunity, when I became rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, in Racine, Wisconsin, and served there from 1970 through October of 1979.  I had no mentor at the time and worked too many hours. 

In our conversation, you also mentioned recommending the House to others as people consider seminary or continuing education. Why Nashotah House?

Whenever I have the opportunity, I recommend Nashotah House because of the worship in community. There is a great spiritual life that is formed there. Also, Nashoth House holds a "long view" of theology, appreciating the life of the church since its beginnings, not just from 1517 and following.

You are recognized as an interfaith leader and each year on 9/11, you host “Three Leaders Speak for Peace.” Will you describe how this began and something you have learned over the years from this ministry? 

At the time, I reached out and met several Muslims within the community as well as other local people interested in interfaith accord. I became part of a Chrstian/Muslim conversation group, which still continues to meet twice a month, now online. At my encouragement, the Friends of the Micanopy Library hosted "Three Looks at Three Holy Books."  Rabbi Michael Joseph of Shir Shalom focused on the Tanakh; a month later I held a talk on the Bible; and the following month Imam Zafer Sabawi of the Ocala Islamic Center discussed the Qur'an. 

In July 2011, I decided what I could do that would be both worthwhile and newsworthy was to host "Three Religious Leaders Speak for Peace" with three people invited to speak for peace from their faith perspective. Over the  years, we had a diverse group of Christians, Jews, and Muslims, among many others. The program was not initially welcomed by the congregation, but after a couple of years, people came around. In the later years, Peace Sunday was our most well-attended service of the year, exceeding Christmas and Easter. Our bishop, John Howard, was very much approving of what we did, and he had served at St. Paul's Chapel, near the World Trade Center, before he became our Bishop.

Are you retired now? What sort of ministries are you involved in today?

Since Easter, 2020, I have been going twice a month to a 141-year-old congregation. While once the church was much better attended, our average Sunday attendance is now six. I am using everything I have learned in 54 years to try to help them move from "survive" to "thrive."  I found a pictorial directory from the 1980s with 40 pictures, 75 people pictured, 54 addresses, 91 people named.  A long-term lady in the community tells me in years gone by, the church was quite a powerhouse. I am aware of some of the war stories of bad decisions. Now, our only direction is up . . . or out!  I hope to "thrive" and not die.

Tell us about your role as examining chaplain in church history, and your ministry and biblical commentary that you have posted to social media.

When I was at Seabury, my New Testament professor was Reginald T. Fuller, quite the scholar of that day.  When I was curate, and later rector in Racine, I began NT studies for an Master’s in Sacred Theology (STM) program at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.  However, with life’s demands, I had to step away from pursuing studies there. I have kept up my Greek though! Also, I was an instructor at a local educational effort preparing people to be local priests in parishes, local priests in prisons, and vocational deacons, teaching much of the Scripture and church history. I was invited over ten years ago to serve as one of the examining chaplains, with my main focus Scripture, and my secondary focus church history.

In the fall of 2019, at our clergy conference, we were introduced to “The Bible in 90 Days.” Yes, there is such a program, 12 pages a day. I went for it! Next, I read the Deuterocanonicals and the Apocrypha in 20 more days. Then, to keep myself busy, I decided each day I would summarize a chapter of the Bible, make comments, and find an illustration or two. I did Genesis 1 one day, and Matthew 1 the next. Today I was in 1 Samuel 12, and tomorrow I will have been in 2 Corinthians 3, but a man I have known for a long time asked me a question via email about an interpretation of heaven and hell, and that will be my topic in the morning. I am not preaching; it’s more of a conversation. And, I am not shy about using Hebrew and Greek words. At the University of Chicago, we learned to drill down to the root sources. I post on my personal account on Facebook. When I am out and about in the community, my facebook friends tell me they enjoy my comments. Keeps an old man busy! I did not know I could be 79 and feel as young as I do.

And be sure to tell us a little about yourself and day-to-day life, Fr. Les. Do you have pets? Hobbies? 

Well, I have a cat named Nicky. I have nine acres to mow. My kids are about to move in and build their home next-door. I lost my wife four years ago, and am happy to say I have a special lady in my life that I get to spend time with. However, I tire more quickly than I should. Oh well, what will it be like at 89? Right now I have a minor part in Stirring the Leaves, a theatrical production about Micanopy, Florida, as our community turns 200 years old! As you may know, in Florida that is ancient history. We were the first inland town when Florida became a US territory in 1821.