The Reverend Theodore Radford Lewis, Jr., Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church

The Reverend Theodore Radford Lewis, Jr. was born in Galveston, Texas and attended the public schools there.  Following graduation, he attended the University of Houston and received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.  After obtaining his degree, he worked as an Assistant Counselor for the Federal Prison System at the Federal Pre-Release Center, Houston, Texas.  He then went to work as an Adult Probation Officer for Harris County (Houston) Texas.  He worked there for five (5) years before becoming employed as a U. S. Probation and Parole Officer for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

 During this time he did graduate work in Counseling and Corrections and completed the study for certification as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor.

In 1979 he entered the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas as a Postulant from the Diocese of Texas.  While in Seminary he worked as a Student Counselor at the Pastoral Counseling Center and was the Assistant Manager and Manager during the summer of 1981 for the Seminary Bookstore.  During his senior year, Father Lewis was elected as the President of the Student Government Association.  He was also a relief Chaplain for Seton Medical Center.  The Master of Divinity was awarded to him on May 25, 1982.

Father Lewis was a Curate at St. James Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas from 1982-1983 when he received a call to become Rector of St. Luke Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas.  In this position he was also Episcopal Chaplain to Texas Southern University.  He held this position for 8½ years until he accepted the call to become Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina.

In his position as Rector of St. Luke’s Church, Houston, he was Dean of the East Harris Convocation (Deanery) for three (3) years and was a delegate to the Province VII Synod in 1988.  Father Lewis chaired the Task Force for Black Ministry for Province VII and headed the Commission on Black Ministry for the Province for one year.  He also served on the Christian Education Board for the Diocese of Texas for five (5) years.  Additionally, he was a Summer Camp Director for five (5) years.

His community involvement included work at the YMCA and service on the board, work in the Assault on Illiteracy Program, youth work through his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Charleston County School District.  His church involvement included serving on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, Crisis Ministries Executive Board, Crisis Ministries Volunteer Chaplain, Camp St. Christopher Executive Board, and the Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.  He currently serves on the YWCA Board, HALOS Executive Board, a Member of the 100 Black Men/Beaux Affair, a Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., among several other organizations.

His lovely family consists of his wife, Martha, who is a nurse, two (2) children, Geoffrey (deceased) and Carrie, two (2) grandchildren, DeAndré and Gi’Kwan.  He and his wife will celebrate their 43^rd wedding anniversary on November 29, 2011.

He enjoys reading, computers, music and outings with his family.

The Reverend Edward J. Dyckman, Deacon of Calvary Episcopal Church

The Rev. Edward Joseph Dyckman was born in Jersey City, NJ on May 31, 1947.  He attended public schools in Queens, NY; Brooklyn Technical High School in Brooklyn, NY; and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1969.  Ed attended St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church since he was a young boy where he sang in the choir, served as a acolyte, and met (at age seven) his sweetheart, Lucy Marie Trask, who consented to become his loving wife on July 5, 1969.  The newlyweds moved to Ramsey, NJ.

 In 1970, Ed worked as a chemist for the US Navy and was transferred from the US Naval Applied Science Laboratory, Brooklyn, NY to the US Naval Ship Research & Development Center, Annapolis, MD.  Lucy had earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from St. John’s University, Queens, NY; and she worked as a public elementary school teacher first in NJ and then in MD. 

 In 1976, Ed and Lucy built a new home in Sunderland, MD and began attending All Saints Episcopal Church in that town.  Until 2002 when they sold their home, Ed and Lucy served in many lay capacities together at All Saints.  An especially fruitful experience was when they co-chaired All Saints’ tercentenary celebration in 1992.  For many years, Lucy and Ed enjoyed the company of their two pets—Banana (a chocolate Labrador Retriever) and Daiquiri (a tabby cat).  

 Early in the 1970’s Lucy earned her Master of Education and Ed earned his Master of Arts in Organizational Communication at the University of Maryland.  Ed served as a Navy chemist until 1976 when he transferred to the Defense Logistics Agency, Alexandria, VA specializing in Strategic and Critical Materials.  In 1979, Ed transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon, serving first in Energy Policy and then in Environmental Security until his retirement in 2002.  During this period Ed was a member of Prince Frederick Masonic Lodge No. 142 where he served as Worshipful Master in 1989 and Secretary from 1990-1995.

 In 2003, Ed and Lucy purchased a new home in Mt. Pleasant, SC and lived there until 2011 with many members of Lucy’s family, including her mother Lucy Trask.  During that period, Ed and Lucy completed the four-year course in Education for Ministry administered under the School of Theology of the University of the South.  Ed became Chair, Department of Social Ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.  In 2011, they sold that home and moved to another near Somerby in Mt. Pleasant, the active retirement community where Lucy Trask lives with her sister Dolores Novellino and other daughter Tina Bridgett and two Chihuahuas—Scarlet and Fabio.   

 On September 11, 2010 Ed was ordained a Deacon by the Right Rev. Mark J. Lawrence, Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina.  Bishop Lawrence assigned Deacon Ed to serve at Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston under its Rector, the Rev. Theodore R. Lewis, Jr.  Deacon Ed, wife Lucy, and mother-in-law Lucy attend Calvary where they enjoy the ministry and fellowship of the members of Calvary Episcopal Church—the Body of Christ—in this place at this time. 

 Deacon Ed invites you and your family and friends to visit Calvary Episcopal Church and consider becoming a member.  He also invites you to visit www.SocialMinistries.com, www.SouthCarolinaMinistries.org, and www.NextStepsSC.org to learn more about and get involved in the Diocese’s Department of Social Ministries and the Next Step Program to break the cycle of poverty in South Carolina.