Rev. Dr. Chip Lee

Thirty-five years since ordination to the priesthood. Experienced in all facets of parish ministry including liturgy, spiritual direction, teaching, community outreach, pastoral care, administration.

• During my tenure at St. Matthew's and St. John's, I also served as Barrack Chaplain to the Maryland State Police for 20 years and as a firefighter/chaplain with Deer Park VFD. I helped develop the chaplaincy program at Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland.
• Joined with the local Lutheran and Catholic communities to form the Ecumenical Youth Ministry and hire a full time director. The EYM, at its peak, had 90 young people involved who participated in local ministry projects, formed a traveling choir, staged high quality plays (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat) and traveled to Nicaragua for a joint youth project to build a new art studio and a youth shelter in Granada.
• Created "Morning Prayer from The Episcopal Church in Garrett County" podcast with nearly two million listeners worldwide since starting in 2012
• Encouraged the Diocese of Maryland to install a server to make live streaming possible and was the first church to do so in 2005. Instrumental in upgrading the system during Covid.
• Oversaw the purchase and installation of columbaria for both churches.
• Budget for The Episcopal Church in Garrett County has grown from $75,000 in 1992 to over $400,000 in 2025.
• Began "It's in the Bag", a weekend feeding program for at-risk elementary school children. After 17 years, the ministry has grown from 16 to over 350 children and a budget of $90,000 per year funded solely by donations.
• Began endowments for both churches which, combined, are now valued at over $900,000.
• Headed up interior and exterior restoration of the historic building that is St. Matthew's. Raised $300,000 to complete the project.
• We were the only church in conservative Garrett County to sponsor and support the first and subsequent Pride Week festivals here.