Originally from western Pennsylvania, Tim Elig has lived in the D.C. area for a quarter of a century. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. in psychology from Gannon University. He has taught numerous psychology courses and is published in a variety of journals. Tim now works for the Department of Defense where he designs, implements and manages surveys for human resources and personnel issues ranging from satisfaction with pay, to acceptance of female chaplains, to experiences of race- and gender-based harassment, discrimination, and assault.

“Even before leaving Roman Catholic seminary in 1971,” Tim Elig recalls, “I expected to someday become an Episcopalian, although I had never attended an Episcopal church.” Instead, Tim took a long journey through agnostic Christianity, occasionally attending Roman Catholic services, before arriving at St. Thomas’ doorstep 10 years ago for Advent, thanks to an ad in the Washington Blade.

“Those services before the Episcopal Church,” he says of his spiritual quest, “…were not welcoming of who I was, not welcoming of any thinking, feeling, liberal, caring American who also appreciates liturgy, music and preaching.” It all came together for Tim at St. Thomas’ where the rectors, interim rectors and guest speakers all brought a similar thoughtful voice to their preaching—preaching that respects the triad of tradition, authority, and individual conscience, in the quest of understanding and being a “piglet of God.”

Those who have been at St. Thomas’s for several years will understand this reference to a guest preacher who “rocked the house” with a homily on how well St. Thomas’ lived up to the mission of reaching out to the “piglets of God.” The reference was based on the Canon’s experiences of mission in Polynesia with how biblical truths of the Good Shepherd and Lamb of God could be authentically translated to cultures who have no idea of what a lamb is but do understand piglets. St. Thomas’s continues to face in our presence in DuPont Circle the challenges of conveying authentic truth to a multi-cultural milieu that may or may not always respond to “traditional” Anglican expressions, but still need to feel a welcoming presence. The vestry needs to hear all the voices in the community be welcoming of them, and willing to speak to the wider church for the “piglets” in our community.