Page 41 - MLD Book

Beginning in September, Dick Humke began the first of what would be two interim tenures at Calvary, somewhat assisted by Andre Trevathan. Dick was wonderful to work with, and dispelled the notion that only trained interims should be in charge of an interminable
interim period where they try to change everything. It worked exceedingly well. A search committee led by John Bugbee, I think, went to work with a great parish profile and all worked quickly and well until they called the next rector. But that was the worst disaster in the history of Calvary. More later on that!
Things went on after Ben pretty well, with the help of Jim Barnes as Senior Warden, and the staff, who worked overtime to provide continuity. A new group called the New Calvary Orchestra was formed entirely from musical parishioners, the nucleus being the Racine family. Little Suzuki violinists started appearing as well, and Julia Richardson’s beautiful harp paying graced many a service. There were also bagpipes, much to CJ critic Bill Mootz’s horror, who insisted on parading out whenever the first squeak of pipe sounded. We were devastated by several losses in the Calvary family. Dorothy Jones (Jelly Lady) and Hunt Egger both died on February 6, and financial wizards Milton Moore and Don duPlantier died later in the year. Our beloved Bishop Marmion was buried from Calvary as well.
2001
The vestry had worked long and hard to bring in a good rector, and in order to facilitate the ease of transition from Ben, they voted to freeze themselves for a fourth year! That
was a good thing! Dick and Andre carried on for the first couple of months, and then Polk Culpepper was called in March as the next Rector of Calvary. His consecration was May 14 and the celebration of a new ministry was June 26. His reasoning for being “called” to Calvary was that his mother in law lived in Louisville so he needed a job in Louisville. That should have been a BIG warning! Forget God in these proceedings. He pledged not to make any changes in the first year and of course promptly broke that promise, with such seemingly minor to some but seemingly major to others, changes to the liturgy that included eradicating the collect for purity, the comfortable words, and the prayer of humble access, while at least sticking to our 1-2-1-2 rotation of rites at 11. He made some half-ass explanation in the newsletter about how he couldn’t bring himself to say that he was not worthy to gather up the crumbs!!! He thought he deserved them all. Such little warning signs grew stronger as we realized that he disliked children. He never in the whole time he was rector ever went to the second floor. He also prided himself at not remembering anyone’s name, and was extremely proficient at that. He also hated visiting the sick, except when the sick were in comas or some state in which he didn’t have to converse.
He didn’t seem to dislike me at first, and his wife and I share a birthday. We celebrated together at Cunningham’s on July 13 of that first year. We were invited to dinner at his home in August, too, and Melvin was soo miserable because he piped awful music through his PA system the entire evening. I think Jim and LaNell were there too. Polk mostly let me alone on music, as he neither understood it nor appreciated it. However, eventually during