New Rector at St. John’s, Melbourne, Celebrates Faithfulness of God, People

The tenth of the month seems to bring good things to the Rev. Timothy Rutherford, new rector of St. John’s, Melbourne. His work there began on May 10, the second anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, and his Celebration of New Ministry will take place on Sunday, Aug. 10.

“The tenth of the month became meaningful to me back when I was a youth pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach,” Rutherford said. “An amazing woman of faith, Mugs Holifield, committed to praying for me on the tenth of every month. She never missed it. Since then, the tenth has carried surprising significance: I was ordained a deacon on Sept. 10, ordained a priest on May 10 and called as rector of St. John’s on May 10, just to name a few. I don’t believe in coincidence – only grace. And in this case, I truly believe that Mugs’ faithful prayers helped align me with God’s will. I’m deeply grateful.”

Before coming to St. John’s, Rutherford served as chaplain for the Upper School at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne, since 2022, when he moved to Melbourne with his wife, Amie; their two sons, Beowulf and Asher; and two dogs, Max and Hannah.

St. John’s new rector has a family heritage in ministry; his father is the Rev. Tom Rutherford, rector of Church of the Messiah, Winter Garden, and former chair of the Standing Committee.

He is excited about serving at the church. “I’m most looking forward to sharing in the sacraments – baptisms, weddings and the Eucharist – alongside the people of St. John’s,” Rutherford said. “I’m also excited about building meaningful relationships within the parish and throughout the greater Melbourne community. It’s such a gift to be called to a church that has worked hard to preserve its campus and resources in a way that allows us to focus on ministry and evangelism rather than on fundraising. I’m humbled by the opportunity the people of St. John’s have made possible, and I’m thrilled to walk this next chapter with them.”

He has already initiated two new programs at the parish. “The new things happening at St. John’s since I arrived have been growing organically,” he said. “We’ve begun ‘Friday Dinners with the Rector,’ a space where members can share their hopes for the future, swap stories about the ‘good old days’ and dream about what comes next. From those conversations, we’re launching a youth Sunday school in September. I’ll lead it personally, helping young people connect scripture to their everyday lives.

“We’re also bringing back the adult forum, which my wife will lead,” Rutherford continued. “But there is a twist: It will be called ‘The Reflectionary’ – a space for parishioners to reflect on how the previous week’s lectionary readings have shaped their week and deepened their faith. It’s all very exciting.”

So many people have helped him along the way to St. John’s that he can’t begin to thank them all by name. “God has been faithful beyond my wildest expectations, and many of the people He used to get me here probably didn’t even realize they were part of the plan,” he said. “Some, like the story of Joseph, may have meant harm – but God used it for good. So I give thanks to God for it all: the people, the circumstances, the blessings and even the challenges. Every piece of the journey led me here.

“St. John’s is the most exciting opportunity I’ve ever been a part of,” Rutherford said. “Back in seminary, I had a ministry-defining conversation with a fellow student about the dream of church revitalization. That dream stuck with me. Five years later, here I am – the rector of a church that believes in Jesus and believes in itself. St. John’s has every ingredient for revitalization: deep faith, rich history and a desire to grow. I truly believe this is the place where God is doing something new, and I can’t wait to see where he leads us.”