There's a new priest in town and Austin's Christ Episcopal Church has him.

The Rev. Scott Monson has replaced the Rev. Richard Ressler as the senior pastor at the historical church near Austin's downtown.

Monson felt the same "comfortable and welcoming" feeling he feels today as its priest, when he first visited the church affectionately known as the "Little White Church on the Corner."

Monson is a native of St. Peter. He's the youngest in a family that includes two sisters and a brother. His father is deceased, His mother is retired. There are no other clergy in the Monson family tree.

When he was 12 or 13 years old, the Monson family's minister, the Rev. Herb Gustafson predicted the boy would grow up to become a Lutheran pastor.

Shortly before enrolling at Luther Seminary, "Something stopped me."

He didn't enroll in the Lutheran seminary; neither did he pursue any other religion's course of study. For the next 20 years, he did everything from newspaper publishing to teaching at Minnesota State University, restored old houses and drove bus.

Ironically, the latter would take Monson to the church he now serves, proving -- better late than never -- his theory, "There are no coincidences with God."

Monson prefers to describe his once-a-Lutheran, now-an-Episcopalian status thusly: "I never left the Lutheran church. I went to the Episcopalian church."

That occurred in the early 1990s when clergy friends suggested he attend a retreat at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville.

"I never stopped going back," he said.

This new awakening was welcomed, Monson said, because he wanted to "get right with God."

But it would take an angelic experience before he was convinced he should become a clergyman. That happened on a perfect autumn day at the abbey -- the date was Sept. 29, 1995 -- after a hike in the woods, when he stopped by a chapel near a lake.

When he walked inside the building, "I felt I was in the presence of the Holy."

When he left the chapel dazed and shaken, he returned to the abbey's compound, where, ironically, the monks were celebrating angels.

Monson called a priest-friend, the Rev. John Shaver, and told him about his experience. The friend told Monson, "You were called to be a priest."

Almost immediately afterward, Monson began the lengthy process that would culminate in his ordination as an Episcopalian priest on April 23.

"This was not a coincidence," Monson said.

The process to become an Episcopalian priest in Minnesota was long and arduous. Also satisfying. Monson served a six-month-long stint at Cambridge, Mass., which allowed him to serve Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Before he was assigned to his first church, Monson worked as a tour bus driver; a "Christian in a secular world," as he described the sojurn. That was last December and when he drove a bus to Austin and parked outside Austin High School for a high school sports event. There was Christ Episcopal Church, Austin's oldest church and active since 1862.

It was only a 10-minute visit, but the church was open and he went inside. "I felt at home," he said.

A return visit a month later for the formal interview with the church vestry only reinforced that first impression. "It was so comfortable and welcoming."

Within 24 hours, he was extended an invitation to serve the church and Monson accepted.

When Bishop James Jelinek officially conferred ordination privileges upon Monson, he told Monson, "Christ Episcopal is ready for something to happen. He said he could sense an energy there."

The church is nearing completion of a major renovation project with the installation of an elevator to make it completely handicapped accessible. There will also be exterior work and landscaping.

Forty people rode a chartered bus to the Twin Cities last week for the ordination. Sunday worship attendance isn't much higher.

Monson will have to use his special skills at "preaching and teaching" and "helping people discover the mission of God" to their full advantage at Christ Episcopal expectations are running high. It has been many months since their last full-time priest left to take another call at a Mankato church.

When he held a first-ever Easter Octave service on Holy Saturday, it delighted the church members some of whom didn't know the church holiday existed in the Episcopalian church.

"It was an opportunity for us to celebrate and prayer together and share our mutual love of God," he said.

When the community discoverers Monson, they should also be impressed by his enthusiasm and curiosity. Some will learn that he is an accomplished community theater stage actor.

But when he leaves the stage, Monson is the real deal. The long journey, that included a 2-decade long detour in the secular world, from childhood to middle-age -- he's 46 -- and heeding an angelic call to become an Episcopalian priest, still holds him close.

"It's a perfect fit," he said of his priesthood.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com