CORPUS TRIBUTE
George Spellman gave his life to the priesthood, his heart to his wife, Susan, and his spirit to the Church. The priesthood was his response to God's call; marriage was his commitment to love in its most intense expression; the Church was his context for his service to God's People where ever they were.
George artfully wove together these three themes of his life. He worked for a married priesthood in a renewed Catholic Church so that priesthood would be inclusive and marriage an option for everyone and the Church itself a true community of Christ where no one's goodness would be underestimated.
George galvanized the married priest movement especially in the Washington K.C. area and used this as a base to help a large number of priests manage transition, find employment and affirm their acceptance by God. He gave his life to healing people, bringing them vision and enabling them to celebrate.
It is fitting that our testimony and farewell to George take place in this episcopal Church. No other Christian Church, perhaps, has labored more mightily to make the Church an inclusive and hospitable community.
We stand in solidarity with Susan in her sorrow and with their sons Jim and Mark in their grief. We stand in gratitude as a Corpus community of married priests for the example and courage of his life. We stand in wonder of what God made of George's life, priesthood, marriage and service to God's People.
May the memory of all the good he did grace each of our lives and lead us home safely to God and Christ