The Rev. William M. "Will" Lowry III has been called to be the new rector at St. Theodore's Episcopal Church, 1001 Kingsland Road.
Lowry conducted his first service at the church on Jan. 31 and was the speaker at the church's annual meeting following the service.
He comes to Bella Vista from Tunica, Miss., where he was the priest-in-charge at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany.
For 10 years, Lowry was a youth director for churches in Madison and Canton in Mississippi as well as St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Ark. Prior to his youth ministry, he was a case manager for Ozark Guidance Center in Springdale.
He and his wife, Ivee, have a daughter, Norah Grace, 4, and are expecting another daughter in late July.
"I'm super excited to be here in Bella Vista and Northwest Arkansas," said Lowry, who is a cradle Episcopalian.
He's looking forward to getting acquainted with Bella Vista.
An induction ceremony with Bishop Larry Benfield officiating is expected to be conducted in April.
His parents, Margaret and William Lowry Jr. are residents of Fayetteville.
The Lowrys are in the process of purchasing a home in Bella Vista.
Lowry holds a master of divinity from the School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., and a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Mississippi College, Clinton, Miss.
For more about St. Theodore's, call 479-855-2715, go to the church's website at www.sainttheodores.com or like them on Facebook.
Religion on 02/10/2016