If you ask him where he’s from, Mark Rutenbar gives the same answer he gives when asked about how he came to be a priest – “How long do you have?”

The short version goes like this – he was born in New Haven, Conn., and spent time in Michigan, Texas and Missouri. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Social Science and got his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1980. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Lexington the same year and served as Curate for Trinity Church in Covington, Ky., until 1982. He served as priest-in-charge and assistant rector at Emmanuel Church in Athens, Ga. From 1982 to 1988 and rector at St. Paul’s Church in Macon, Ga. From 1988 to 1994.  He served as rector for St. Luke’s Church in Kalamazoo, Mich., from 1994 until he accepted the call to CHC. He joined the Holy Communion staff in November of 2006 and is his official installation is set for Jan. 4, 2007. “I’ve really been all over the map,” Mark says. “It’s not that I’m a wandering soul, but God has always equipped me for whatever comes along. I trust that’s what’s happening in my coming to CHC.”Mark just turned 53 and has been married for 26 years to his wife, LaRae, also a priest. The Rev. LaRae J. Rutenbar, 52, is a transitional ministry specialist. They have two children, Michael, 23, and Libby, 21.

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