Courtesy Resolution for Father Tinh

This was presented at the 220th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia held on Jan. 22-24.

On the Retirement of the Reverend Mr. Tinh Trang Huynh

Whereas, the Reverend Mr. Tinh Trang Huynh faithfully served the Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia through his ministry at Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church in Falls Church, Virginia and through his work on various commissions and committees of Region 8, the diocese, and the national church; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh has been a devoted and faithful pastor, teacher, and friend to the people of Saint Patrick's, offering understanding, kindness, open-mindedness, and welcome for more than twenty years; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh servedas a missionary from Vietnam, reminding us through love and servant leadership what it means to be a follower of Christ; and who, like many of his countrymen who sought refuge and asylum in America, gave back to our society far more than he received; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh brought together people of different cultures and languages through his commitment to bilingual worship, bridging that which divided people from each other and making the congregation truly a nurturing and caring church family; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh was a shining example of Christian love, visiting the sick and the dying, praying for those in need, and providing comfort and counsel; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh passionately broke barriers to instill unity among people from many backgrounds and cultures, and integrated a diverse congregation at Saint Patrick's into one vibrant, multicultural ministry; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh actively led and supported the people of Saint Patrick's in ministry to the hungry, the homeless, the economically disadvantaged, the mentally ill, and the incarcerated; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh was a faithful and beloved colleague to other clergy, and a non-anxious presence for the sake of all; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh was a preferred neighbor at clergy conferences, appreciated for his strong and joyous singing; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh mentored numerous students and seminarians from the Virginia Theological Seminary; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh served the National Church as Convener of the Southeast Asian Convocation of the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh translated a large portion of The Book of Common Prayer into Vietnamese and encouraged the inclusion of the Vietnamese language in liturgy and in Christian formation, a tradition that continues to the present; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh led Saint Patrick's, a haven for many immigrant families in the 1990's and 2000's, from long-term mission status to full-fledged parish status in 2012; and

Whereas, Mr. Huynh retired from the active ministry in June 2014; and

Whereas, the people of Saint Patrick's and the Diocese of Virginia have been richly blessed by his many gifts in the service of our Lord; therefore be it

Resolved, that the 220th Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia gives glory to God for his faithful witness, congratulates him on his retirement, and wishes Mr. Huynh and his wife, Kim-Anh, God's blessings in their retirement; and

Resolved, that the secretary of this Annual Council sends a copy of this resolution to The Reverend Mr. Tinh Trang Huynh.

Submitted by the Vestry and People of Saint Patrick's, Falls Church, and The Reverend Jeffrey Shankles (Dean, Region 8), The Reverend Linda Wofford Hawkins (Region 8), The Reverend Roberto Orihuela (Region 8), The Reverend Valentine Han (Region 7), The Reverend John Ohmer (Region 8), and The Reverend J. Bruce Stewart (Regions 8 and 4).

In 2012, Elisabeth "Liz" Nguyen, assumed the leadership role in this outreach ministry. Liz took on this ministry when it was a quarterly activity with variable involvement and support.   Under Liz's guidance and leadership, Saint Patrick's congregation now supports a monthly commitment to serving a hot lunch at Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter.  After experimenting with several recipes, Liz found a delicious recipe, provided by a member of the congregation, which has become the "go-to meal" for which Saint Patrick's is known at the shelter.

Liz does all the coordinating, including setting the schedule with the shelter, getting the dates onto the church calendar and into the bulletin, announcing each event, recruiting volunteers, sending reminders, and most importantly remembering to thank each volunteer after each event and then again with an end-of-year "Thank You" luncheon. Under Liz's leadership, Saint Patrick's ministry with Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter's Called to Care Mission provides a wide range of opportunities for volunteers who wish to be involved and to show their commitment to those in need.   Some volunteers come monthly to help cook and serve at the shelter; others provide desserts such as brownies, cupcakes, or other special treats; others are generous in providing financial support.   

Committed volunteers come from all walks of life and from across several generations; they include dedicated members of Saint Patrick's as well as the friends and family of members of the congregation. Liz includes, welcomes, and cheerfully encourages them all.  Through her leadership, lending a helping hand and making it possible for volunteers to show love and compassion to those who are going through hardships has become an integral part of Saint Patrick's.