This weekend we celebrate over six decades of
mission and ministry – love and prayers, really – as we show our love to the
Rev’d Canon Bill and Dr. Mary Logan.
There are not enough words in the dictionary, no matter how oft
repeated, to convey the myriad of thoughts, moments of love, and deep affection
we have for them. Nor is it possible, in
the same way, to describe the love and care they have given to us.
What follows, we hope, will remind you of some
of the touchstones of the Logans’ journey with us. Maybe it will tickle a recollection, or
trigger a fond or tender moment. Most of
all, we hope it will heighten your desire to join in a Chorus of the Saints
singing from the depths of our hearts, “Thanks for the memories.”
Blessings,
Scott+
Born at Harper
Hospital in 1920, the Reverend Canon William S. Logan never roamed far from his
Detroit roots save a few years in Philadelphia and a degree in Chemical
Engineering (cum laude)from the
University of Pennsylvania. Ordained
(and married) in 1951, he is currently the senior active priest in the
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. The
holder of three masters degrees (Engineering, Divinity, and Counseling), his
ministry has spanned seven decades, including service as a Curate at Christ
Church, Detroit, Rector of St. Martin’s, Detroit, Executive Director of Program
for the Diocese of Michigan, sometime editor of “The Record” (a monthly
newspaper for the diocese) and Archdeacon of the Diocese including serving as
District Head of the Central District before he retired in 1985.
Canon Logan
served on the Executive Council of the Diocese, the Board of the Wayne State
University Episcopal Student Association, as a trustee of the Bishop Page
Foundation, Chair of the Department of Christian Social Relations, and as a
member of the Youth Division of the Department of Christian Education. His wider community ministry included being
an officer of the Michigan Council of Churches; and serving on the Michigan
Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education, the Interfaith Emergency
Council, and the Interfaith Action Council.
He also served on the Ministerial Committee of Planned Parenthood, and
is a Charter Member of the Miller District Advisory Council. He was honored by the City of Detroit for his
service as a member of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Mayor’s Committee
on Human Resources Development.
In 1967 at the
start of great unrest in Detroit, he organized and coordinated the Inter-Faith
Emergency Action Center. He transformed
the Diocesan Cathedral Center into a center for communication for all kinds of
agencies and governmental response teams to help negotiate and restore calm in
the midst of chaos. Additionally, some
40,000 tons of food, water and clothing were distributed from this site as a
result of his work. He rode buses to
march in Alabama for civil rights; organizations such as Bagley Housing (now
part of Southwest Solutions). He was active in the Wranglers, and the Prismatic
Club of Detroit bears his considerable imprint.
In 1968 his was made an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral Church of St.
Paul.
Bill’s idea of
retirement was to walk about 100 feet to a new “Cathedral office” in the
Diocesan Cathedral Center to oversee the building of a fourteen story 150 unit
apartment building for economically challenged seniors for the Cathedral Church
of St. Paul. From that beginning and for
twenty-eight years he was at the Cathedral three days a week and most every
Sunday being “retired,” and along the way he served as Canon-In-Charge between
the eighth and ninth deans.
That which will
bring the quickest and broadest smile to Bill’s face is mention of Mary,
followed closely by any mention of their three children, Molly, Maggie and
Will, and the accompanying grand- and great grandchildren. Dr. Logan’s considerable accomplishments
include degrees from Goucher College, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and
decades of service as a member of the Department of Pediatrics of Henry Ford
Hospital. She was one of the driving
forces in the founding of the CHASS (Community Health and Social Services)
Center, the mission of which is to develop, promote,
and provide comprehensive, accessible and affordable quality primary health
care and support services to all residents of the community, with emphasis on
the underserved African American and Latino populations in Detroit. Dr. Logan retired at least three times
herself, and because of her dedication and commitment, along with others, CHASS
is celebrating forty-two years of mission.
Please join us
to celebrate the Sabbath and give thanks to God for Bill and Mary at the 10:30
Eucharist on Sunday, September 9th.
A gala reception follows the service in Barth Hall.
In celebration of the
Logans’ mission and ministry, the loose offering (and any checks or envelopes
so designated) from this service will go to the CHASS Center in their honor.
