[Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina] Bishop Robert Skirving is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Frederick Clarkson as Spanish-language ministry coordinator in the Diocese of East Carolina. The Rev. Clarkson will begin in the position July 15.

Clarkson will be coming back to North Carolina after having spent 4 1/2 years with the Diocese of Texas, serving as vicar to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church of Houston, where he started the Spanish-language service.

The Spanish-language ministry coordinator is a full-time staff position for an Episcopal priest with work principally focused on the support, interconnection and leadership development of existing and emerging Spanish-language congregations and ministries of the Diocese of East Carolina. This new position in the diocese has been created, in part, through the generous funding of the Isabel James Lehto Foundation.

Prior to Houston, Clarkson served in the Diocese of North Carolina as vicar to St. Matthew’s of Salisbury and The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Cooleemee, near Winston-Salem. Clarkson has served on the Hispanic Ministry Board of both Texas and North Carolina, Black Ministry Commission, Board of St. James Seniors, Chaplain to the Houston Chapter of Integrity and the internet radio station CBE (Church Broadcast Entity).

His goal in Eastern North Carolina will be to organize Hispanic ministry and reinvigorate Episcopal Latino communities with economic development programs. Clarkson knows that there must be an economic component to the equation to truly help minister and establish a ministry of sustainability and vibrancy. The long-term goal will be to develop full participation of Hispanic leadership within The Episcopal Church throughout eastern North Carolina.

The Rev. Clarkson will spend his time divided between Diocesan House in Kinston, St. Peter’s in Washington (where he will reside) and other Spanish ministries within the diocese.

Clarkson was born in Bogota, Colombia, to parents who had met while at American University in Washington, D.C. His father worked in Colombian banking and government positions, which led to the family traveling during the Colombian conflicts of the 1980s. Growing up, Clarkson spent time living in Maryland, New York, and finally living with his grandparents in Santa Barbara, California, for his high school years. After high school, he attended St. Andrews University in Scotland followed by a career in banking.

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, sounded a call for him to serve in ministry and change his career course. Clarkson enrolled in Virginia Theological Seminary, graduated and took his first post with the Diocese of North Carolina, where he spent 4 1/2 years, before heading to the Diocese of Texas. Frederick loves staying active, reading, swimming and spending time with his two dogs, and he is always happy to see a good play.

The Diocese of East Carolina is excited to welcome The Rev. Clarkson’s experienced world view and approach to ministry.