Canon Dan Hale
Father Dan Hale was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and, with the exception of one childhood year in Warrenton, Virginia, he lived there until he left for college at age 18. His parents, his sister, and his oldest daughter and her family still live in or around the same central Virginia area. With such deep roots, it is not very difficult to understand the affinity for things Jeffersonian, the University of Virginia, and an occasional “Go Cavaliers” during football and basketball seasons – such is the way of life in central Virginia . . . .
Father Dan grew up in the Methodist Church and was an active member in the Methodist Youth Fellowship during his teen years. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. During the Vietnam War era Dan enlisted in the United States Air Force.
Completing his tour and receiving an Honorable Discharge, Fr. Dan went to work for one of the largest security companies in the world, Mosler, Inc., and the business of security became his career. Over twenty-five years were spent with Mosler, and he was given the opportunity to live all over the Southeast – Atlanta, Savannah, Ft. Lauderdale, and Baltimore – and he went through the ranks from territorial sales to sales management to Regional Vice President. Mosler went out of business in 2001, and Fr. Dan has remained in the security business, primarily focused on bank security in the Southeastern U.S.
As mentioned, Fr. Dan grew up in the Methodist Church, but he never really understood what a personal Christian commitment to Christ was until the mid-1980’s when he moved to Baltimore and met his wife, Stephanie. Steph was totally committed, and it was through her unceasing efforts and gentle method of witnessing that Dan was nudged into the relationship that continues to grow even today. Dan and Stephanie were married in 1984, and they became members of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore. New levels of commitment and understanding began their formation. From classes leading to confirmation came an appreciation of the sacraments, the liturgy, and the real meaning of the gifts of the Spirit. He assumed a leadership role as a two-term vestry member, served on several church committees, and was named chairman of the committee to nominate and recommend new vestry leaders.
During the second term, a severe church split took place, and that led to several of the former leaders of St. Timothy’s to have exploratory conversations with a bishop in the Charismatic Episcopal Church. From those early meetings, Church of the Good Shepherd CEC was born, and Dan was one of six men who sat on the first rector’s council. That was 1993.
In the midst of a very comfortable existence at Good Shepherd, God began to move in a new way in the Hale family – there appeared to be a call away from Baltimore. A move was coming and the location would be Atlanta. In 1996, after several exploratory visits, a couple of missteps, the discovery of Peachtree City, a providential visit to Trinity Assemblies of God for a Sunday service, and a two hour phone conversation with new-found friend Pastor David Epps, the family knew that the call was clear and Peachtree City became their new destination. And, as the Hales were preparing for their move from Baltimore, concurrent activity in Peachtree City had Pastor David in the process of leaving Trinity and becoming the founding rector of Christ the King CEC. By the time they moved, Christ the King was a full-fledged congregation, and Dan, Stephanie, and Amanda were welcomed into the newest CEC congregation in Georgia.
Shortly thereafter, after a suggestion by Fr. David, Dan began to explore what appeared to be a calling to the diaconate. He had long had gained an affinity for the sacraments and the liturgical aspects of worship from the Episcopal Church, so this calling was readily embraced. After several classes at St. Michael’s Seminary and an acceptance by Bishop John Holloway, Dan was ordained to the diaconate in April of 1998. As a deacon, Dan assumed a variety of roles in the new congregation. He served as the instructor for the first Licensed Liturgical Minister course, he taught weekday Bible classes, he trained acolytes and altar servers, and he worked with new deacons as they assumed their own calling. As new deacons were ordained, Dn. Dan was appointed Senior Deacon.
The diaconate was (and is) an honest passion for Dan, but his love for the sacraments and his desire toward further pastoral involvement led to a calling into the priesthood. Following affirmation by Fr. David, Bp. Holloway, Stephanie, other clergy, and members of the Christ the King congregation, Dn. Dan became Father Dan on June 11, 2004.
As a Priest-in-Residence at Christ the King, Fr. Dan serves as Master of Ceremonies for Sunday services and has recently expanded that responsibility to include special services such as ordinations, confirmations, etc. As MC, he continues his responsibility for acolyte and server scheduling and training, scheduling of Lay Liturgical Ministers and other clergy in the services, and identification and scheduling of lay readers. He is Chaplain to Bishop David Epps and he serves as a member of the Rectors and Parish Councils.
In 2009, he was installed as the Canon Liturgist for the Mid-South Diocese and was appointed to serve on the Bishop’s Council.
Fr. Dan and his wife, Stephanie, have one daughter, Amanda, who still lives at home and attends Georgia State University. Their oldest daughter, Sterling, and her husband, Gerry, live in Charlottesville, Virginia and have a 5-year daughter of their own – Fr. Dan and Stephanie’s granddaughter – Isabella.
