LEWISTON — The Rev. Dr. William “Bill” Barter has accepted a call to become the next priest at Trinity Church, 247 Bates St.

Barter was born in Bath and raised in Portland. 

Barter is also no stranger to Lewiston, having served as a Catholic chaplain at Bates and parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s parish from 1982-85.

“I now see (the neighborhood) as a place much more diverse and vibrant than ever,” Barter said. “There are many signs that God is present in this place, amidst a variety of faiths and cultures.”

While in Lewiston, Barter was on the board of directors of the Abused Women’s Advocacy Program, now Safe Voices. He was also allocations chairman of the United Way of Androscoggin County. From 2006-2010 he owned and operated “Eventus,” a group psychology practice in Lewiston. Since last fall he has been part of the Steering Committee for Sophia’s House, a project of The Center for Wisdom’s Women. It will provide long-term, community-based trauma-informed housing and recovery for women survivors of trauma.

Ordained a Roman Catholic priest by Bishop Edward O’Leary on June 5, 1982, Barter served in various ministries and locations throughout Maine. In 1992 he became a Lutheran and moved his ordination into the Lutheran Church. He has since served as pastor at United in Christ Lutheran Church in Chicago and St. Ansgar Lutheran Church in Portland. He was executive director of the Maine Council of Churches from 2013-14 and has represented the Lutheran Church at the New England Synod and the Maine Council of Churches.

Barter will be serving Trinity under an agreement signed in 2000 known as Called to Common Mission. Under this agreement, Episcopalians and Lutherans are in full communion with one another and share clergy rosters, thus greatly increasing the pool of qualified candidates for ministry in both denominations. 

FMI: www.trinitylewiston.episcopalmaine.org/.