The Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
Rector

Celebrating Fifteen Years at Redeemer | A Few Highlights (1994-2009) | Curriculum Vitae | Post Your Comment Here | Photo Gallery

Celebrating Fifteen Years at Redeemer

On 17 April, 1994, Father Fredrick A. Robinson stood in the pulpit of the Church of the Redeemer and delivered his first sermon to a congregation he did not know.  Fifteen  years later, on Easter Day, 12 April, 2009, Father Robinson took his place in the pulpit and delivered another sermon, but this time to a congregation he had come to know so well and love as the parish family of Redeemer. 

Throughout those 15 years, Father Robinson has officiated at the marriages, overseen the baptisms, counseled the grief, and celebrated the joys, of nearly every family and individual at Redeemer.  A rector’s responsibilities are endless – he’s essentially on call 24/7, but the rewards can be pretty endless too.

Among the highlights of those rewards, Father Robinson says, are watching the young people of Redeemer grow from childhood to adulthood.  He cites Redeemer’s ministry to children and young people as “one of our parish’s greatest strengths.”  Indeed, one aspect of Father Robinson’s tenure at Redeemer of which he is most proud was the decision to bring on a full-time Youth Minister.  “Doing so,” Father Robinson says, “was a symbol to the congregation that we were willing to make an investment in our youth, which made our Children’s and Youth ministries even stronger.” 

Shortly after his arrival at Redeemer, Father Robinson worked with Choirmaster-Organist Ann Stephenson-Moe to begin having the glorious sounds of the various Redeemer choirs, which had previously been on break during the summers, begin participating in Sunday masses all-year round.

The Church of the Redeemer founded Resurrection House prior to Father Robinson’s arrival in Sarasota, but for 13 of his 15 years at Redeemer, Father Robinson has been President of the Board of Directors of Resurrection House.  During that time, Father Robinson has been integrally involved in helping to guide and grow this venerable and critical support system for Sarasota’s homeless.   

Another milestone of the last 15 years was when Redeemer started a Hispanic Mission, which occurred concurrently with Father Ayerbe’s reception at Redeemer as an Episcopal priest.  Father Robinson had long been aware that the number of Hispanics in Sarasota was growing and that they were, in large part, not being served by any church.  “They were not active in the Roman Catholic church,” Father Robinson recalls, “and I felt that was an area that needed attention.”  Today, Redeemer’s Hispanic membership has grown considerably and a permanent Spanish Mass was added to Redeemer’s worship schedule in 2002. 

This year, 2009, marks the 10th anniversary of Redeemer’s work in the Dominican Republic – mission work that has involved nearly every ministry of Redeemer at one time or another, and that is very near and dear to Father Robinson’s heart.  For the past eight years, Redeemer has sent a team of over 20 persons each year to do the work of God in that part of the world.  In the process, Redeemer has funded seven church projects, including four new church buildings and one new school.

One piece to completing the parish puzzle that is lacking, however, according to Father Robinson, is a ministry specifically supporting young adults who are post-high school and in their late teens and early twenties.  “I’d really like to see us develop a ministry that reaches that age group,” Father Robinson says.

As with all things, there’s always more than can be done – as Father Robinson points out:  “I do feel Redeemer has the foundation in place to achieve unlimited possibilities, but there is much work to be done still in fine-tuning the numerous ministries that are going on and finding ways to involve more and more people in those ministries.”

Going forward, Father Robinson envisions a parish that is empowered, sustained, and nurtured by and through the infrastructure that has been put in place over the last 15 years.  “I think all the pieces are in place for future growth,” Father Robinson says.  “We have a multiplicity of parish organizations for all sorts of ministries – both within the parish and outside the parish in the broader community and the world.”

Everything you should know about your Rector, but probably don’t!

• Father Robinson took his S.T.M. (Magistri in Sancta Theologia) from Nashotah House in 1982; cum laude.
• His M.Th. (Master of Theology) was achieved at the Perkins School of Theology; cum laude.
• He is a graduate of Ohio State University, with a B.A. in Psychology.
• Prior to being called to Redeemer, Father Robinson was the Rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe, Louisiana for many years, and prior to that, was Rector at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Grand Prairie, Texas.
• Father Robinson is the Chairman of the Southwest Florida Diocesan Commission on Liturgy and Music (2007 through current).
• Father Robinson’s current seminary involvement includes his role as a member of the Board of Trustees for Nashotah House (2000 through current), and his role as Chairman of the External Affairs Committee for Nashotah House (2003 through current).

A Few Highlights (1994-2009)

Want to know more about the many wonderful changes Father Robinson has brought to Redeemer?

• In addition to establishing the position of a full-time Youth Minister, the Children’s Chapel went from being provided just once a month to being provided every week
• A Wednesday afternoon program for children and youth was established
• Introduction of a 4:00 p.m., Christmas mass for the benefit of Redeemer’s children
• A Contemporary Service was established on Saturday evenings
• The membership at Redeemer has increased from approximately 1,300 in 1994 to over 1,961 by the end of 2008, representing a 50% growth.
• The John Gillespie endowment fund was established in 2006; the endowment has grown to nearly four million dollars
• A part-time communications staff member was brought on in 2005 to help increase public awareness of Redeemer, its clergy, staff, and parishioners, and all the good work that is part and parcel of Redeemer’s mission
• The refurbishing and enhancement of the Redeemer website and collateral materials
• Transition of the Pelican newsletter into a green format and instituting a weekly electronic update to parishioners

Capital improvements include:

• The parish buildings were expanded with a second-story addition to accommodate growing numbers in Church School
• The parish offices were renovated
• A new Nichols and Simpson pipe organ was fully funded and installed in early 2003
• The nave was considerably improved with the reshaping of the roof, the elimination of the air conditioning ducts, the restoration of the nave floor and painting of the walls to increase acoustical clarity
• A new lighting system was installed in the church
• A new sound system was installed in the church
• The west wall of the church was opened up allowing for the installation of three new stained glass windows
• The priest’s sacristy was renovated, allowing for the installation of two stained glass windows
• Refurbishing of the floor in Gillespie Hall
• Installation of an elevator to service the new second story “education wing”
• Renovation of the Altar Guild work room, as well as the area set aside for Acolytes
• Renovation of space to provide for the Redeemer Gift Shoppe
• Renovation and enlargement to the previous “porch” just off Gillespie Hall to create an elegant and spacious veranda
• Design and replanting of the St. Francis Garden
• Installation of the Memorial Wall in the St. Francis Garden
• Installation of a new and updated computer system for parish staff and clergy