Edwin Beckham, Neighbor

Proudly hailing from Generation X (b. 1968), Edwin is a husband, father, reader, writer, priest, music-lover (especially when it's live), human rights advocate, canoe-camper, tennis player, and self-proclaimed friend to many and enemy of...well, let's just say "He Who Shall Not Be Named."

Having received his MDiv. from The (Episcopal) Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, Edwin was ordained an Episcopal priest by the Bishop of Atlanta, J. Neil Alexander, on 29 June 2008, the feast day of Sts. Peter & Paul. Roswell, Ga., was the Beckham's home prior to seminary, where Edwin worked in software training & documentation and his wife Laura taught high-school English literature. They've also lived back in their hometown of Greenville, S.C. (where son Simon was born); in Silver Spring, Md. (where son Eliot was born); and, 1991-93, in Athens! Indeed it was Emmanuel Episcopal Church that shepherded them through confirmation classes in spring 1992, making them "official" Episcopalians.

Edwin supervises youth and young adult formation at Emmanuel on Prince Ave. in Athens, also delighting in fully sharing the sacramental, preaching, teaching, and pastoral duties of the clergy staff. He enjoys dancing with his wife but doesn't do it enough; worries he'll never match Simon & Eliot's skills at guitar, soccer, and video games; loves canoe-camping on a lazy river; and lives/breathes music, from The Clash to The Chieftains, U2 to Hildegaard von Bingen, and R.E.M. to John Tavener. Look for him on Facebook, Twitter (@ComradeBecks), and at pilgrimofsorts.blogspot.com.