[This article is adapted from St. Paul's 2003 Parish Profile]

The Bramlett Years: 1995-2003

Hugh Hardin retired in December of 1993 after 27 years of serving St. Paul's. In 1995, the Reverend Bruce R. Bramlett became the Rector of St. Paul's. He introduced a new model of administration by appointing each member of the Vestry to a particular area of responsibility for parish operation. Fr. Bruce expanded the Wednesday evening Eucharist and Soup Suppers, traditionally held during Lent, to an all-year program. The Healing Team was formed, offering laying on of hands and anointing for healing after all the Wednesday evening Eucharists.

In 1998, Lynn Oldham Robinett, a recent seminary graduate, was hired as an assistant to the Rector. Ordained to the Priesthood in 1999, she led our Children and Family Ministries team in instituting the Where The Wild Things Worship service. This service has brought many new families into our congregation.

Bruce Bramlett was a strong advocate for the homeless. He and other ministers from San Rafael gathered their congregations to oppose an attempt to close St. Vincent's Dining Room. A standing-room-only audience that spilled down the City Hall steps, helped convince the City Council that the dining hall, which provides free meals, should be allowed to remain open.

St. Paul's also began hosting an interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service where warm clothing, sleeping bags and blankets are collected and distributed by the Homeless Chaplaincy of San Rafael.

Fr. Bruce was also extremely active in prison ministry and the anti-death penalty movement and served as a counselor for men on San Quentin's Death Row. Whenever an execution was scheduled at the prison, St. Paul's provided food and respite for protest marchers from San Francisco and kept the church open all night as a place of solace and prayer. His strong social justice efforts earned him the Marin Human Rights Commission's 1999 Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, and his exceptional acceptance speech reminds us to this day of the central position of social ministry in Christianity.

Bruce Bramlett was an excellent teacher. In addition to the traditional Wednesday morning Rector's class, he often held a "Digging Deeper" class on Sundays after church to explore topics of religion and spirituality. From time to time he would offer evening classes on particularly interesting subjects from the Wednesday morning classes. He also organized and presented many programs at the Soup Suppers.

Bruce Bramlett resigned as Rector of St. Paul's at the end of January 2003.