Nunez

When Bishop Greg Brewer this past summer inquired about church openings, the Rev. Canon Tim Nunez’s face lit up like the sun when mentioning the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Wales. It was right there and then that both men knew God was calling Nunez, a native of Polk County, back home.

Last month, the Diocese of Central Florida officially announced that Nunez has accepted the position as rector at Church of the Good Shepherd. He will continue to serve as Canon to the Ordinary for the diocese through Dec. 31, 2018 but will begin preaching at the Lake Wales church in December. He will start full-time at the church on Jan. 1, 2019.

“Over the summer at a regular update meeting with Canon Tim Nunez, he reported progress to me on search processes taking place at various churches around our diocese,” Brewer said in a diocesan news release. “While bringing me up to date on one church, in particular, a big smile came across his face when he shared that this church’s vestry had made it clear that he was its top candidate for rector.

“At the time, I commented that I had never seen him beam in this way when discussing an ongoing search and that I felt strongly Canon Nunez should pay close attention to what he was discerning,” Brewer said. “After extensive interviews and prayer, both Canon Nunez and his wife, Meg, believe that God is calling Canon Nunez with the vestry affirming, to serve as rector of Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Wales. Though I will miss him, I cannot deny that this is God’s hand at work.”

Nunez ends a 4 ½-year run as Canon to the Ordinary in which he oversaw many projects in the diocese and participated as a Clergy Deputy in the historic 2018 General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. Prior to serving on the bishop’s staff, he served as rector at St. Mary’s in Belleview for 11 years. Belleview is a small town in Marion County, located about 66 miles northwest of Orlando.

“While there are aspects of parish ministry I’ve missed, particularly the pastoral relationships involved, I wasn’t looking for a change,” Nunez said. “However, when Church of the Good Shepherd made a very serious inquiry, I had to consider it. It became a matter of deep prayer and contemplation, which led to a clear sense that God is calling me there. Bishop Brewer and trusted colleagues helped Meg and me think and pray on it.”

Nunez’s close ties to Polk also played a factor in his decision. Born in Bartow, he moved to Lakeland at age 9 and then went on to the University of Florida, where he graduated in 1983. He returned to work in Lakeland for 12 ½ years as a CPA before showing interest in ministry. He graduated from The School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, in 2003. Meg Nunez is from Wauchula, approximately 38 miles south of Lakeland in Hardee County.

“There are clearly a lot of blessings in that, including familiarity with the region and citrus and cattle economy, plus proximity to our families and dear friends,” Tim Nunez said. “But the people and ministries of the church and (their) potential are the main factors.”

Although he hasn’t established firm goals, yet, for Church of the Good Shepherd, Nunez said he has something in mind to develop at the Polk church: “I’ve got a tremendous amount to learn about the church, its ministries and Lake Wales, so it’s hard to form specific goals just yet. A key issue the next 15 years will be helping its young families develop in faith and leadership, so they can raise up the generations coming after them. I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned in parish ministry and as Canon to serve the folks of Good Shepherd and Lake Wales. Meg is also excited about joining our new parish family.”

Brewer said he is in the process of forming a plan for covering Nunez in his absence, including keeping Nunez on a retainer to assist with pre-convention deanery meetings and the 2019 Diocesan Convention in February.

“I ask that you keep Canon Nunez, Meg and their family in your prayers and I wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Canon Nunez for his ministry and service to the Diocese of Central Florida,” Brewer said.