Father Craig Reed

Craig Reed was born in Marshall, Michigan on April 21, 1960 to Clyde and Elizabeth Reed. The family relocated to Newton, Kansas and then to Arlington, Texas over the next several years, attending the Episcopal Church in both communities. In 1982, Craig graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with a B.A. in Sociology.  It was at Southwestern that he met Karen Ryan. They married in September of 1982. The couple settled in Austin, Texas where Craig worked for a regional clothing retailer and then for Custom Golf. Karen finished her undergraduate degree and then began a career in education. In 1986, Craig began the process toward ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church. He entered Nashotah House Theological Seminary (Wisconsin) in the fall of 1987.  After three long years of cold winters and heavy reading, Craig was ordained to the Diaconate on December 27, 1989. He was assigned to Holy Apostles parish in Fort Worth and was ordained to the priesthood on June 28, 1990.  At the end of his curacy, Fr. Reed was called to serve as rector of St. Andrew’s in Breckenridge, Texas.  During their three years there, the Reeds adopted their son Jonathan. His adoption was through Life Anew, located in Paris, Texas. After three years at Breckenridge, they moved to Burleson where Fr. Reed served as Vicar for Holy Cross, a mission. After another three years, he was called to serve as curate at Church of the Incarnation in Downtown Dallas. During his four years at Incarnation, Fr. Reed served as chaplain for youth ministry, worked with the Silver Saints, and started the Alpha program. The next 14 years were spent as rector of St. Andrew’s parish in Farmer’s Branch. While at Holy Cross in Burleson, Fr. Reed was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps. As a reservist, he served for 11 years while continuing his parish work.  In 2006, he deployed with 1st Battalion, 14th Marines to Al Anbar, Iraq. He found military ministry to be a great foil to parish life, each sharpening the other.