Episode 52: Living One's Truth with the Rev. Jack Gilpin
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Today our guest is the Rev. Jack Gilpin. Jack was ordained in 2012 and is currently the rector of St. John’s, New Milford.
Jack is also a professional actor who has starred in over 35 feature films and has been in many shows on and off Broadway and in regional theaters around the country. Shows including Law and Order,Kate & Allie, and movies including Funny Farmwith Chevy Chase, 21, and Adventureland. Most recently, you can find Jack on the Showtime series Billions playing the character Sean Ayles. Jack is originally from Roxbury, CT. Jack also recently assisted with the lay preaching course in the Northwest Region. Jack is a graduate from Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University. He lives in Roxbury with his wife and they have three grown children. Welcome Jack! |
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Jack starts off our conversation discussing how he got into acting— starting from his first gig as the Easter Bunny when he was 5. The feeling of connection and mutuality he felt with the audience, while on stage, has stayed with him since then. During his sophomore year at Harvard, Jack made the decision to pursue acting as his main career. He moved to New York City and worked several years off-off Broadway.
He talked about his early work in theater then about the first real play, which launched his career. That was “Beyond Therapy,” directed by Christopher Durang.
He was ordained a deacon in June 2012 and immediately went off to do two plays, which have been his last two plays. He then got a call to New Milford for a part-time position.
Jack grew up in the Episcopal Church and was given a King James Version bible from his Godmother at his confirmation. Though he didn’t attend church services often, whenever he felt anxious through his high school and college years he would turn to that KJV bible, which had Jesus’ words in red, and he found comfort and grounding.
In 1982, Jack walked in to Grace Church in Manhattan and within six weeks was attending regularly. He said what he was learning through theater, and about life, was best articulated and most truthfully presented in Christian terms in the church. He and his family moved to Roxbury after their third child was born, and he became a licensed Lay Preacher and attended Union Theological Seminary just to get a degree – not intending to pursue ordination.
After his third child went off to college, Jack preached a sermon in Roxbury and was handed a card from a woman who heard the sermon. It asked him: “What are you going to do about this because you have a calling?” He decided to go to a Priest Information Day.... and as he explained, one thing led to another.
Karin asks about Jack’s relationship with acting and the word of Jesus, which he alluded to earlier on. Jack mentions one specific incident in 1979 at the Eugene O'Neill TheaterCenter in Waterford, CT, at the National Playwrights Conference working on new plays. Jack was offered a spot in the conference as the lead and he said his performance was terrible. He knew his focus had been on himself.
In those days he turned to John chapter 3:20: “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” This is what he opened the Bible to and he saw the metaphor “come to the light” and the need to “come to the truth.” Truth is an essential component in acting, he explained. He went out the next time and “told the truth” – and it went much better.
Alli asks how Jack marries his role as a priest and as an actor. Jack says that he has had roles within television and movies that only require a couple days spread across a couple weeks rather than a play which requires more time. He mentions how his parish is understanding of his two careers, and they find it fun to see him on television.
He shares ways the two are similar, and “each feeds the other.” One of the main crossovers between the two professions is the attention to listening, which is endless food for the spirit, he says.
Karin asks Jack to talk more about what actors mean by “telling your truth” and might be the same or different from what that might mean to a Christian or even a priest. Jack quotes a conversation between Agnus de Mille and Martha Graham which highlights what “the truth” means to him. This is the quote:
During their conversation, de Mille told Martha Graham about her frustration. “I confessed that I had a burning desire to be excellent, but no faith that I could be.”
Graham responded by saying, “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
Karin asks about whether his experiences as an actor have helped him step into leadership roles in the community. Jack said he’s used to getting up in front of people and he’s not afraid of making a fool of himself. He feels very passionate about his life and about the Baptismal promises. He brings all that to his role of a community leader.
Jack remembers a time 20 years ago, way before his ordination, when he played the role of a priest in a role. He witnessed the response people gave to the collar: they slumped and felt ashamed and judged. Today, as a priest, he loves to disabuse people of the notion that’s he’s here to judge; rather, he wants them to realize the joy that they are invited to experience with Christ.
Alli asks if there are other stories of worlds colliding with his spirituality and his acting. Jack told a story about the Bible he kept in his dressing room. Colleagues quietly and cautiously expressed curiosity and, when no one else was around, they’d ask him about it, and about his church attendance. Jack shared another story about working on Billions with fellow actors who were cautious about working with a priest.
Both jobs feed each other, he said. He’s not limiting himself, he said, he’s increasing his database ... on both sides!
He talked about his early work in theater then about the first real play, which launched his career. That was “Beyond Therapy,” directed by Christopher Durang.
He was ordained a deacon in June 2012 and immediately went off to do two plays, which have been his last two plays. He then got a call to New Milford for a part-time position.
Jack grew up in the Episcopal Church and was given a King James Version bible from his Godmother at his confirmation. Though he didn’t attend church services often, whenever he felt anxious through his high school and college years he would turn to that KJV bible, which had Jesus’ words in red, and he found comfort and grounding.
In 1982, Jack walked in to Grace Church in Manhattan and within six weeks was attending regularly. He said what he was learning through theater, and about life, was best articulated and most truthfully presented in Christian terms in the church. He and his family moved to Roxbury after their third child was born, and he became a licensed Lay Preacher and attended Union Theological Seminary just to get a degree – not intending to pursue ordination.
After his third child went off to college, Jack preached a sermon in Roxbury and was handed a card from a woman who heard the sermon. It asked him: “What are you going to do about this because you have a calling?” He decided to go to a Priest Information Day.... and as he explained, one thing led to another.
Karin asks about Jack’s relationship with acting and the word of Jesus, which he alluded to earlier on. Jack mentions one specific incident in 1979 at the Eugene O'Neill TheaterCenter in Waterford, CT, at the National Playwrights Conference working on new plays. Jack was offered a spot in the conference as the lead and he said his performance was terrible. He knew his focus had been on himself.
In those days he turned to John chapter 3:20: “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” This is what he opened the Bible to and he saw the metaphor “come to the light” and the need to “come to the truth.” Truth is an essential component in acting, he explained. He went out the next time and “told the truth” – and it went much better.
Alli asks how Jack marries his role as a priest and as an actor. Jack says that he has had roles within television and movies that only require a couple days spread across a couple weeks rather than a play which requires more time. He mentions how his parish is understanding of his two careers, and they find it fun to see him on television.
He shares ways the two are similar, and “each feeds the other.” One of the main crossovers between the two professions is the attention to listening, which is endless food for the spirit, he says.
Karin asks Jack to talk more about what actors mean by “telling your truth” and might be the same or different from what that might mean to a Christian or even a priest. Jack quotes a conversation between Agnus de Mille and Martha Graham which highlights what “the truth” means to him. This is the quote:
During their conversation, de Mille told Martha Graham about her frustration. “I confessed that I had a burning desire to be excellent, but no faith that I could be.”
Graham responded by saying, “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
Karin asks about whether his experiences as an actor have helped him step into leadership roles in the community. Jack said he’s used to getting up in front of people and he’s not afraid of making a fool of himself. He feels very passionate about his life and about the Baptismal promises. He brings all that to his role of a community leader.
Jack remembers a time 20 years ago, way before his ordination, when he played the role of a priest in a role. He witnessed the response people gave to the collar: they slumped and felt ashamed and judged. Today, as a priest, he loves to disabuse people of the notion that’s he’s here to judge; rather, he wants them to realize the joy that they are invited to experience with Christ.
Alli asks if there are other stories of worlds colliding with his spirituality and his acting. Jack told a story about the Bible he kept in his dressing room. Colleagues quietly and cautiously expressed curiosity and, when no one else was around, they’d ask him about it, and about his church attendance. Jack shared another story about working on Billions with fellow actors who were cautious about working with a priest.
Both jobs feed each other, he said. He’s not limiting himself, he said, he’s increasing his database ... on both sides!
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In Christ and Coffee,
Karin & Alli
In Christ and Coffee,
Karin & Alli