James Parker Obituary

Rev. James Parker Decatur, GA - The Reverend James Parker, a retired priest of the Diocese of Charleston, formerly a priest of the Episcopal Church and the first married man ordained a priest for the Latin-rite (Roman Catholic) Church in modern times, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in hospice care near his family in Georgia. Despite the physical location of his death, Father Parker never "left" Charleston, the place of his birth, his youth, his ordination to the diaconate and, from 1985 his residence and always his home. He was a loving father, good friend to many and will be remembered by all who knew him for his sense of humor, sartorial style, impressive collection of novelty cufflinks, and jovial personality. Father was born Luther Wood Parker, Jr., on October 22, 1930, in Charleston, the son of Luther Wood and Bertha (Weiters) Parker of Charleston. He was graduated from Porter Military Academy (1947), the University of South Carolina (A.B., ancient languages, 1952), Virginia Theological Seminary (M.Div, 1956), and Rosary College (M.A.L.S., 1970). He was married for 62 years to Mary Alma Cole of Memphis who predeceased him. He is survived by two daughters, Margaret Parker of Hapeville, Georgia, and Clare Parker Butler of Decatur, Georgia; granddaughter, Katherine Veronica Butler of Decatur, Georgia; sister, Dorothy Parker (Alan Wiles) of Roswell, Georgia; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Samuel Francis Cole (Merrill Ann) and James P. Cole (Suzanne Henley) both of Memphis, Tennessee; Betty Cole Thompson of McLean, Virginia: nieces, Priscilla Johnson (Vern); Melissa Anderson (Scott), Diana Lokey (Scott); Elizabeth Cole Goodrich (Mike) and Molly Cole; nephews, Jonathan Cole (Paul Linxwiler), David Cole, Trey Cole, Cole Thompson (Marcela Rotela), Andrew Cole (Benson Wright), Shannon Thompson (Kristine). Upon ordination to the priesthood for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, on the Feast of St James the Apostle, July 25, 1957, Luther Parker took the name James. Father and Mrs. Parker were first called to Andrews, SC, where Father was Rector of St Luke Episcopal Church. Subsequently, he was a "missionary to the North," while serving as Rector of Holy Trinity Parish, Peru, Indiana, and Priest-in-charge at the Church of the Ascension, Chicago; later, he was Librarian at Christian Brothers College in Memphis, and, finally, Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Albany, Georgia. Throughout his priesthood in the Episcopal Church, Father Parker considered himself "high church" in liturgy and Anglo-Catholic in belief and outlook. He was made Master of the Province of the Americas of the Anglo-Catholic Society of the Holy Cross (SSC); in 1977 Father Parker made inquiry, on behalf of himself and other married clergy in the Society, to the Holy See about ordination to the priesthood as married former clergymen. After the lapse of two Papacies in 1978, Pope St John Paul II approved the "Pastoral Provision" of July 22, 1980, and tasked the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with its implementation. Father Parker resigned as Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in 1981, and he and Mrs. Parker were immediately received into the Roman Catholic Church by Bishop Bernard Law of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, the Church's Ecclesiastical Delegate and head of the Pastoral Provision. After a period of formation, directed studies, and exams, James Parker was accepted for incardination into the Diocese of Charleston and Bishop Law, at the request Charleston Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler, ordained James Parker a Roman Catholic priest on June 29, 1982. From 1982 until 1985, Father Parker worked closely with Bishop Law, in Springfield, Missouri, and Boston, Massachusetts, on the establishment of the Pastoral Provision program and on training and formation of the first wave of married men seeking ordination through the program. In 1985, Father Parker returned to his hometown of Charleston to serve the Diocese of Charleston, first as director of Catholic Charities while also Catholic chaplain at The Citadel and later as supply priest at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. In 1989, with permission from Rome, Bishop Unterkoefler appointed Parker Pastor of Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church at North Myrtle Beach, making him the first married pastor of a Roman Catholic Church in modern times. He served as Administrator of St Philip Benizi Church, Moncks Corner, then was named Pastor of Holy Spirit Church on Johns Island where he built a significant 1000-seat church to serve the growing Kiawah and Seabrook Island communities. Father retired from active ministry in 2005 and continued his participation in various religious, civic and social activities and organizations including: the Knights of Columbus, as South Carolina State Chaplain, Council Chaplain, Council 704, Charleston and Assembly Friar, The Reverend P. N. Lynch Assembly, Charleston; Diocese of Charleston representative for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Diocesan Vicar for Retired Priests; chaplain, Fort Sumter Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans; Deutscher Brderlicher Bund, Charleston; The French Society; Sons of the American Revolution; Military Order of the Stars and Bars; Military Order of Foreign Wars; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Rotary Club of Charleston. The work that Father Parker began with the Pastoral Provision continues today. Over 100 former clergymen from the Anglican tradition have been ordained Roman Catholic priests under its terms. Some of these priests have and do lead congregations established for former Anglicans in the Catholic Church; many others work as chaplains at hospitals and institutions, serve as administrators and parochial vicars and sometimes have charge of regular Roman Catholic parishes, again with Father Parker being the first married man to be made such a pastor. Since 2009, the Church has erected three independent jurisdictions called "personal ordinariates" in the United Kingdom, Australia and North America under which many more married former clergymen from the Anglican tradition have been ordained Roman Catholic priests and many congregations are established or received into the Church. The relatives and friends of Reverend James Parker are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM, Monday, May 16, 2016 at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad Street, Charleston. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Vigil Service will begin at 6:00 PM Sunday at The James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, and the family will receive visitors following the Vigil Service until 7:30 PM. His Guestbook may be signed at www.CharlestonFunerals.com. Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. 766-1365. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston