An Interview with
The Reverend Todd Miller

Marc Pollina: In the spirit of Trinity Parish, I thought a fun way to start our interview would be to ask you to capture the essence of Todd Miller in three simple words.  What “trinity of adjectives” best describes you?

Todd Miller: First, I would have to say “integrity.” I like to think of myself as a person of integrity. Second, I would say “consistent.” I would describe myself as being very consistent.

I believe the third word should be “prayerful.” I pray a lot.

MP: Excellent. How do you feel being the child of two teachers has shaped who you are and how do you feel this unique upbringing helps you in your new role as rector at Trinity Parish?

TM: Christian formation is the key - forming people to be Christians. There’s a wonderful phrase. I think it’s from Tertullian back in the 2nd Century. Tertullian talks about how Christians are “made, not born.” We don’t automatically become a Christian. There’s a lot of work and a lot of formation that goes into becoming a Christian.

My parents were great teachers, not just teachers in the sense of being didactic, but they were great leaders by what they did in their lives. They were great exemplars to follow; their influence transcended the classroom. I feel that sharing this strong sense of Christian formation with Trinity and being an exemplary role model will be very helpful in my new role.

MP: You have emphasized the “power of listening.” Part of being a great teacher or rector is being a great listener. Could you describe how you feel your listening skills will benefit Trinity?

TM: A key word to me is “discernment.” Where is the Holy Spirit active in a person’s life? To discern requires great listening. Listening to the story of Trinity is fascinating. I enjoy listening to stories from members of the congregation and listening to how members’ lives intersect with God’s story, the Gospel.

By listening to different stories and looking at the past and where we are now, we are best able to discern where God might be in any of us in the future. We can listen ourselves into being. Listening is a really active thing to do. We create new life through listening.

MP: That ties in nicely with your thoughts on Christian formation, yes?

TM: Yes, it’s premised on a real trust that God is in everyone’s life. That’s where the treasure of the Church lies. It’s in the fact that God’s presence is in every one of us.

MP: Many of us are curious to know how your call to Trinity was discerned. When did you know Trinity was right for you and you were right for Trinity?

TM: I was very happy in Andover (Christ Church in Andover, MA). But, when I read the Trinity Parish profile, I got the sense that Trinity was about to turn a corner. I had this sense of potential and possibility, eagerness and hunger. And, I thought to myself, “I think I can help.” As I got to meet members of the search committee, I thought, “I can be part of this community.” It was like putting on a pair of shoes that feel more comfortable with each stride.

MP: You followed a very interesting path to priesthood. How did you receive your call?

TM: I know it sounds really bizarre, but I remember waking up one day in the fifth grade and I knew I wanted to be a priest. I was ten years old. But, I just knew that I wanted to be a priest, and it’s never changed. I had some really great role models who happened to be priests. I remember thinking to myself in confirmation class that the pastor had something that I wanted. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

As an organist, I had been working closely with clergy since I was in my teens, and I had this feeling in my association with them that they were calling something out in me that was already there. I didn’t fully recognize what it was at the time, but now, twenty-five years later, it is all very clear.

MP: This is a very exciting time for Trinity Parish. I feel you’ve reenergized the congregation since your arrival. How do you feel your leadership style and your personality are suited to Trinity?

TM: First, I would say that this is Jesus’ church. God’s in charge here. I see my role as helping people see where God is and help us hear where God is. I may lead, but, most importantly, I guide.

The role of shepherd has been around since the Hebrew prophets where priests are seen as shepherds of Israel. I feel it’s my job to guide the flock. Sometimes I do that out in front. Sometimes I may guide from the side. Sometimes I will be among you, and sometimes I might be behind. The Tradition tells us where the water is, where the good green grass is, where danger may lurk and where the safe pastures are.

The objective is to steer the flock in the right direction. As a leader and guide, I have many roles: helping heal the sick, tending to the weak, bringing in the scattered and lost, keeping us all together, and leading us into the Kingdom.

MP: You said Trinity has “potential and possibility, eagerness and hunger.” I agree. In your opinion, what assets does Trinity possess that will help us realize our potential, and what challenges may we encounter along the way?

TM: I’m impressed with Trinity’s conviviality, particularly considering its roots, “con” meaning with, and “viv” meaning life. From what I’ve experienced so far, it’s clear that members of the congregation enjoy being in each other’s presence. The friendly rivalry among parishioners to put together wonderful coffee hour spreads isn’t rooted in competition. People are genuinely glad and anxious to do a good job to ensure that everyone has a good time.

People care for each other. Trinity is a warm and caring place. I think Trinity’s conviviality will help us realize our potential. We’re all “in life” together.

At first glance, I sense that one of Trinity’s challenges is that many are tentative. People are reluctant to jump into the pool. I see people along the water’s edge, dipping their toes in, waiting to see how the water feels, and wondering if others are going to jump in, too. Maybe people are waiting for leadership. Maybe they’re just curious to see what’s going to happen. I see a little bit of fear. I think it’s human nature to be fearful.

Fear is the opposite of love. First John tells us “God is love.” So, if there is fear, as rector I’m eager to explore how we get love to supplant fear. How can we not be tentative? What will make us feel comfortable jumping in?

The word “riches” keeps appearing in Ephesians. We all have great riches. Trinity has great riches. It’s like Babette’s Feast. We see all this stuff on the table, but we can’t have it. Everyone is too afraid. But, life is extraordinary. The table is full, and the riches before us are within reach.

MP: On behalf of the search committee, I feel compelled to say one of your greatest riches, your gift for preaching, is particularly enjoyable to behold. You have a unique ability to captivate a congregation. How did you cultivate your gift?

TM: I like to describe myself as a person of integrity. My wife is a professor of non-verbal communication and researches body language for a living, so I can’t get away with anything! She said the same thing. She said, “when you truly believe what you’re saying, it really comes across.” She definitely keeps my feet on the ground. I’m an open book. She feels that I’m pretty transparent, and I don’t think it’s just to her.

Preaching is a gift. Some days the Spirit gives a great sermon. Some days the Spirit doesn’t. On a day I’ve given a sermon I feel great about, I have to remind myself that it doesn’t come from me. At the end of the day, I get down on my knees and pray. Because, I know, if it was a great sermon, I wasn’t solely responsible for its success. And, if it was a terrible sermon, I know I have to get back up on my feet. God gives you something different each day.

I’ve found that great sermons typically come from my prayer life. The Word has to interact with you. You can’t just read something out of a book and channel what you read. Sermons are most powerful when written text comes alive in a human being.

The best preachers I’ve seen, before they even speak a word or climb in the pulpit, you can tell “this is a holy woman” or “this is a holy man.” Part of me hopes they don’t say too much because just their being up there is a witness to the congregation, and I don’t want them to spoil it. I believe God’s presence in one’s life can be seen as well as heard.

MP: Many readers may not know that you were a brother in The Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge for nine years. How did your experience as a monk shape who you are today, and how did it prepare you for priesthood?

TM: I have the fondest memories of my time in the monastery. It was great formation.

One thing I learned is that worship together is extraordinarily powerful. I know it sounds funny, especially in a culture that values other forms of intimacy, but humans in worship are humans more closely united to each other than at any other time. My hope is that we experience that intimacy at Trinity.

Worship was a ritual at the monastery. Ritual sounds primitive or tribal, but worship as ritual is something I feel I’d like to instill at Trinity. I’m a strong believer that it can deepen people’s prayer lives here.

I think the monastery built my trust in the Tradition, too. All the wisdom that we need has been given to us. All the gifts that we need are present in us. The Holy Spirit has given us whatever we need to do the work that the Spirit calls us to do. And, this was all very clear in a small community of guys in the monastery. There was a real respect for how our past can be a guiding light for us as we go forward.

MP: The search committee found that “growth” was an important concern for the congregation. Growth can be interpreted in different ways. How do you define it and how do you intend to lead Trinity’s growth?

TM: I must confess, I’m a little bit suspicious of Bishops and priests who say “you must grow the numbers of the parish” because everything I’ve read in scripture suggests that it’s God that gives the growth. A parish can be an extremely faithful and wonderful place, and when you look at it you can say, “this is the body of Christ being lived out.” But, it may only be a community of four people.

And, it’s not uncommon to see huge, mega-churches with 2000 members and I’m sure the Spirit is present there, too, but sometimes numbers can be deceptive. After all, we must remember that everything began with just a group of twelve!

There was a fascinating article in the New York Times posing the question, “what is an ideal size for a police force?” New York City has 4.5 officers per 1000. Boston has 4.6. Philadelphia has 4.2. Los Angeles has 2.7 and Washington D.C. has 7.9. So what is the ideal size? Nobody could give an answer.

Experts said it depends on this and that or certain circumstances related to the area. What struck me is you first have to decide what your mission is. I think the answer is the same for us. What is our mission? Are numbers most important? Or is spiritual growth the top priority? I’m hoping at Trinity that we are faithful to sowing seeds and watering. The rest is in God’s hands.

Before I steer the boat in any direction, I intend to listen to the needs of the congregation very closely. A member of our congregation had a great image. He said it sounds like you’re learning the currents of a river. And, that’s true. It’s important to know the currents and where the shallows are before plotting your course.

MP: We’re blessed to live in a spiritually and culturally diverse area that offers ample opportunities for outreach. We’re also fortunate to have eight Episcopal churches within Newton, affording us opportunities to collaborate and share resources. How do you see Trinity interacting with the community it serves?

TM: I think there are a few key questions. What has God given us here at Trinity? What needs do we see in the community? And, where can the gifts that we’ve been given and the needs we see in the community connect? How can we help meet those needs?

One of the gifts is having eight Episcopal churches in one town. Some may see it as a detriment and say, “how can we possibly grow a parish in a saturated environment?” On the other hand, we can look at it and say, “hey, this is really a tremendous opportunity. How can we take advantage of this?”

From my own perspective, I have many colleagues who are close at hand. From Trinity’s perspective, we have eight communities trying to live and be faithful to the Gospel. That makes for some great hybrid vigor. We’re not the Galapagos Islands where we’ve developed our own strain of ideas. The question is, “how can we make that hybrid vigor happen?” How can we help each other as Christians? I feel it will take a lot of administrative vision, persistence, and trial and error. 

The diversity of the community is a tremendous asset, too. On a practical level, I’d like to get to know all of my peers and see how we could possibly work together.

MP:  Let’s step outside the walls of our church and our community and go up to the 50,000-foot level for a minute. It’s a great time to be an Episcopalian. Agree or disagree?

TM: Agree. It is a great time to be an Episcopalian. But, I feel it’s a matter of perspective, too. Some people might say the church is falling apart. I look at it as an opportunity. We can all take a hard look at who we are. What makes us Episcopalian? What makes us Christian? What are the bonds that unite us as people of God?

It is a great time to be an Episcopalian because we’re asking important questions. What is the church? Who are we? These are great clarifying questions. A former Roman Catholic Arch Bishop once said that Episcopalians were the “Green Berets” of catholic churches throughout the world because we push the envelope and try and test things in a way that other denominations can’t. We look like the Roman Catholics, but we’re much more nimble.

MP: You directed the youth Christian education programs at your previous church. Trinity has been very fortunate to attract a growing number of young families, particularly in the past five years. Any thoughts on how we can keep the momentum going?
TM: I know it sounds cliché, but the youth are the future of our church. I’m eager to give them a formation and I hope they are attracted enough to what we do and to what we have to offer to the point that they’re going to want it for themselves. I’m hoping that we can live lives of faith that are so attractive that they can’t resist wanting the same for themselves. They will bear witness in such a way that they will be forever marked.

I like to use the image of a fly fisherman. I like to think we’ll live lives that are so attractive that we’re able to let the line play out a very long way. No tugging is involved. Nothing is forced. It’s all attraction. Our youth will end up in the right place.

MP: Music is an important part of your life and life at Trinity. How did your passion for music begin?

TM: I grew up playing keyboards, and as soon as I could reach the pedals, I began taking organ lessons. I love music. I’m especially interested in how music serves the liturgy and enriches worship. That’s where my passion lies. I also loved chants in the monastery and I’m genuinely captivated by the power of singing. It’s life giving.

MP: If I shuffled your iPod, what three songs would I find?

TM: I don’t own an iPod, but if I did you’d find plenty of Gustav Mahler and good a cappella singing.

MP: We started with a trinity of words that describe you. Before we go, what’s one thing about you we’d be shocked to learn?

TM: People are fascinated that I brew my own beer.

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