A tribute to the life of the Rev. Walter “Terry” Miescher: October 8, 1945 – July13, 2023
by the Rev. Liz Gomes
The Reverend Walter “Terry” Miescher, led a truly diverse life complete with a diversity of experiences and careers. Deacon Terry as he was fondly called by almost everyone, started life as a cradle Episcopalian, born in Portland, Oregon to parents who made the Army their career. He affectionately referred to his childhood upbringing as one of “a real Army brat.” Of course, being in an Army family and experiencing the numerous household moves associated with this choice led to his early education as one of experiencing various cultures and schools worldwide. His early education was primarily in Europe. As an adult, Terry completed his formal education by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Philosophy from a stateside University.
After University Terry found himself drawn to the Peace Corps, “I felt a call to serve the poor as a Peace Corps worker, I ended up in Brazil and served the poorest of the poor in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Being in the country for several years, I became quite fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and Cooking!”
After the Peace Corps, Terry came to Wichita, KS to fulfill his dream of working in the aircraft industry. Already an accomplished, licensed pilot, he was hired by Beech as a helicopter mechanic. In his early days in Wichita, he became a member of St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church where he met his future wife, Lee a talented fabric artist and harpist. “St Bart’s was bursting at the seams with parishioners. We outgrew our small church and moved to a larger church on South Broadway. I helped guide the church hoping the growth would continue. Unfortunately, the church suffered many setbacks and we started to decline,” said Miescher.
It was at this point Terry felt the pull of ordained ministry to the diaconate. And with Bishop Smalley’s blessing, he attended the Kansas School of Ministry from 1996 to 1998. Terry was ordained a deacon in 1999 by Bishop Smalley and assigned to St Bartholomew’s as their Deacon. Deacon Terry’s life story is entwined closely with St Bartholomew’s journey. This journey began in 1980 when Terry fulfilled his Baptismal vows to God and in 1999 when he took his ordination vows as a Deacon to his Bishop and his beloved St Bartholomew’s Church. Vows which he was able to keep by his dedicated faithfulness and determination. It was not an easy journey, and one could wonder what kept him going. Whenever he was asked, he would simply reply, “It’s where God wants me to be.”
In his early years as a Deacon, Terry watched his beloved church almost fall apart and close. “We had a series of part-time priest associates trying to help us, but really, we were without steady clerical leadership most of the time,” recounted Miescher. Deacon Terry found himself as a stabilizing force intending to keep the church alive with the help of a few dedicated parishioners with the same goal. “I knew Bishop Smalley had placed me at St Bartholomew’s for a reason. I was called to use all my resources and help the church find a permanent home. We found a building on South Meridian St. that could accommodate our growing Clothing Ministry and serve as a liturgical space for the church. We were at Meridian for almost 19 years until 2018. The landlord, unfortunately, had to sell the building, and we were forced to find a new home. St John’s, Wichita offered to share some of their space with us on a temporary basis,” Deacon Terry recalled.
“But we yearned to be back in the South of Wichita to serve mostly poor people living there. We left St John’s to co-share a building with the Presbyterians, a church located in the heart of South Wichita. With a twinkle in his eye, Deacon Terry said, “I think this is our last move, finally!”
Starting over with a move to a new home is difficult for any family least of all a whole church! The task required many hands, long hours, and much hard work from St. Bart’s parishioners. Everyone pitched in to help. Those who could not do the physical work helped with gifts of donations to pay for the movers and other expenses. Deacon Terry and Lee did both. Terry provided guidance to the Altar Guild in planning and actualizing the liturgical space as well as keeping the Christian Education classes maintained during the move. Warm, gracious, and quick with a smile and a laugh, Deacon Terry approached his work with an infectious joy and a sense of purpose. He was the rock that kept us grounded and together during the move.
About 5 years ago, Terry and Lee moved from Wichita to Lee’s ancestral farm and home deep in the Flint Hills of Southeastern Kansas, about 80 miles from the church. Despite this seemingly impossible barrier to effective ministry, Terry and Lee drove to the church every Sunday for services, 160 miles round trip! Terry served as Deacon of the Eucharist and taught all the Christian Education classes. Lee serves in the music ministry and is Clerk of the Vestry. Terry oversaw the COMAP program and Lee helps with the Social Hour, an after-church time for gathering and partaking of a full breakfast each Sunday. Deacon Terry also guided our newly placed Deacon Lory Mills in the art of deacon craft. A gifted teacher, he was a blessing to his church and to others in the Diocese.
Despite having health issues over the past few years, he did not let these drawbacks be impediments to performing effective ministry. At the 1.5-year mark in our stay with Southwest Presbyterian Church, the Senior Warden, Resident Priest and congregation of St Bartholomew’s felt it was the right time to honor Deacon Terry with a specific Sunday in appreciation of his long, dedicated reliability, courage, and faithfulness. On May 13th after the service, a beautiful, commemorative glass sculpture was given to him along with a warmly written letter of appreciation from Bishop Bascom. The bishop was away at the time, but still found it in her heart to write a gracious and wonderful tribute for Deacon Terry. The leadership of the parish had the letter framed and placed on the wall in the Vesting Room alongside a photo of Deacon Terry and Bishop Bascom’s formal portrait. A Deacon is called to serve. In short, a Deacon is a servant. Deacon Terry served the ministry of Deacon in the threefold ministry of Word, Liturgy, and Charity. St Bartholomew’s parish recognized his ministry and upheld him in his sacred work. We will deeply miss Deacon Terry and his ministry. We all look forward to the next stage in the life of St Bartholomew’s and will continue to follow Terry’s example as we grow in our ministry together for a long time to come.
835 SW Polk St.