In his new assignment as rector of St. Gabriel’s, Titusville, The Rev. Rob Griffith is boldly going toward the final frontier. The congregation he serves on the Space Coast includes NASA workers and rocket scientists, and the self-described “space nut” is excited about ministry in an area of technological innovation and intellectual stimulation.
“Being in Titusville is interesting,” he said. “I’ve got everything from retired NASA and rocket scientists to blue collar. It’s this great intellectual situation to be in where you have these incredibly strong minds and people with history in the space program.”
Griffith admits his fascination even caused a delay on his first official day on the job.
“My very first day in the office, I called the secretary and told her I was going to be late because there was a Falcon launch and landing, and I was going to drive to the jetty at Cape Canaveral,” he said.
The larger universe aside, Griffith said he and his wife “really fell in love with the people” during his initial discussions with the Search Committee. At the same time, they were all praying for God’s clear direction for the next step. He felt God’s call to the church after spending the day with the committee and later, when he met with the vestry, it “was just confirmed.”
“Everyone has been so overwhelmingly kind and happy that our family is here,” he said. “They’ve embraced us deeply from the very beginning.”
St. Gabriel’s hosted a Celebration of New Ministry on Feb. 20, highlighted by a message from The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida. In that message, Brewer encouraged the congregation to welcome not only Griffith and his family into community but each other, demonstrating so much love that St. Gabriel’s becomes a “beacon of light” to the city.
He added that he is praying for such unity within the congregation that the prayer, “Grant that they together may follow Christ” describes the atmosphere there.
Reception for The Rev. Rob Griffith in St. Gabriel’s parish hall after his Celebration of New Ministry on Feb. 20, 2022
The installation service was also “glorious” because it was followed by the first reception or party he’s been to in a while, Griffith said.
“I think that’s the most people who have been in that parish hall for two years,” he said.
As with many churches facing aging populations, Griffith realizes the church’s biggest challenge is to add young families and reach the next generation. At the same time, he’s grateful to have a “strong group of people to build upon.”
“The next year is exciting, and the next decade is exciting,” he said. “Someone in my congregation said we’re going back to the moon, and that’s kind of a metaphor for the church. We have such a history in that program, and many of our congregants are from that era. For us, it’s building on traction in the church and launching into something new and exciting.”
Griffith was ordained in 2018 at Holy Spirit, Apopka, and has history in “everything from fundamentalists to Dutch Reformed, Presbyterian and even a Quaker for a while.” But he “realized I came home in coming to The Episcopal Church,” he said. “We fell in love with the liturgy and knew this is where we belong.”
Griffith is joined in his new ministry by his wife, Christi, and three sons, Brennan, Soren and Caedmon.