Over the past several months, the diocesan Youth Ministry Commission has been engaged in a discernment process regarding the future of youth ministry in The Diocese of West Missouri. After months of prayer, a new position description was created for the redesigned role of Diocesan Missioner for Youth Ministry. The Youth Ministry Commission received resumes from and interviewed many candidates for this position before making the final candidate recommendation to Bishop Bruce, with which she concurred.
Bishop Bruce and the Youth Ministry Commission are pleased to announce that the Rev. David Wilcox has been called as the new Missioner for Youth Ministry of The Diocese of West Missouri. Deacon Wilcox will begin his ministry in this role on June 1, 2023. In the meantime, the Youth Ministry Commission will continue laying the foundation for a reinvigorated youth ministry in our diocese. The Commission would appreciate your prayers for their continued work, the youth of the diocese, and for Deacon Wilcox.
Deacon Wilcox will begin his ministry in this role on June 1, 2023. In the meantime, the Youth Ministry Commission will continue laying the foundation for a reinvigorated youth ministry in our diocese.
The Rev. David Wilcox was born and raised in Kansas City and holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Having grown up in the Roman Catholic tradition, he spent time in the Eastern Orthodox Church before finding his way to The Episcopal Church and The Diocese of West Missouri in 2015. Bishop Bruce ordained Deacon David to the diaconate in January 2023 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. He is currently completing his formation for the priesthood at the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he lives with his husband, Zach, and their energetic tornado of a dog, Ollie. He is a member of the diocesan Access for All God’s Children Committee. He is passionate about the Gospel, formation, history, and random facts.
Before ordination, David was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Kansas City, serving as a Vestry member and head of the Outreach and Evangelism Committee. In his previous contexts, David served as a youth intern for the Catholic Committee on Scouting, a member of the Rockhurst High School Pastoral Council, and a youth group leader at the Orthodox parish he attended.
Speaking about his new role, Deacon David said, “If it wasn’t for good priests, lay leaders, and a wonderful youth group that allowed me to be myself and encouraged my passion for God and the Church, I don’t know that I’d be the person or the Christian I am today. That experience as a young person provided a safe space that allowed me to ask hard questions and come to know Jesus as more than just a concept or idea but as a person and a friend. I believe every youth in The Diocese of West Missouri deserves that same opportunity. It is my hope that working together with the Bishop and the Youth Ministry Commission, we will be able to build a program and foster an environment where that dream is a reality.”
If you have any questions or want to get involved in the work of diocesan youth ministry, contact Fr. Joe Pierjok, Chair of the Youth Ministry Commission, at priest@gracecarthage.com.
Hello……thanks for the good news……..