Friday, January 17, 2025
St. James of Jerusalem Episcopal Church, on West Penn Street, announced the appointment of the Rev. Michael F. Delaney as its new vicar, effective Dec. 1.
Delaney, 68, previously worked within the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, which spans Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as Brooklyn and Queens. Most recently, he served as chaplain to the Right Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, bishop of Long Island and canon liturgist for the diocese. Delaney’s decade of service also included roles as pastoral associate and vicar at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, in Garden City, where he managed liturgical ministries and stewardship initiatives and formed a Pastoral Care Team.
“I told them that I wanted to come to St. James in Long Beach,” Delaney said. “And it was like, why do you want to go there? And I said, because it’s a block away from the ocean and it’s a parish that I think has lots of possibility, and that’s what I’m really looking for in my life, is actually coming to a place where I can grow with a congregation, discover what it really means to be the Episcopal Church in this day and age, and I think the people here at St. James are pretty open to that possibility.”
Growing up in the Roman Catholic community of Bayonne, New Jersey, Delaney’s faith and musical talents were nurtured from a young age. Despite never having formal piano or organ lessons, he began playing the organ in church at age 14, relying on his innate musical abilities and a developing passion for sacred music.
After graduating from Marist High School in Bayonne in 1974, Delaney enrolled in a theater arts and music program at Stockton State College, now Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, but after getting to know the music industry, he decided not to complete his degree. Instead he launched a career driven by his natural talent and a deep commitment to the arts.
“I also believe in reincarnation,” Delaney said. “You know, there’s a part of me that thinks that I was a musician in a previous life, and that drew me into this life.”
He served as music director at a large Catholic church, where he led a 120-member choir and oversaw the church’s music program, conducting high school musicals, teaching elementary music in Catholic schools and composing for children’s musicals. He also served as managing director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, producing concerts at Carnegie Hall and conducting for an off-Broadway musical.
In 1986, Delaney professed the vows of an Augustinian monk, but his path later diverged when he decided to pursue the priesthood. Before entering seminary, he returned to higher education at Seton Hall University, where he earned a degree in voice and conducting in 1994.
This period of academic and spiritual growth marked a time of personal reckoning. As an openly gay man, Delaney struggled to reconcile his identity with the conservative doctrines of the Catholic Church. Though largely accepted in the communities where he worked, he felt a persistent unease, knowing that his sexuality was not fully embraced. The tension grew at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, when he was disheartened by what he considered the Church’s inadequate response to the suffering of those affected.
Seeking a more inclusive and compassionate spiritual community, Delaney found solace in the more welcoming Episcopal Church. That led him to shift his focus, first to serving as a music director in Episcopal churches and eventually to pursuing the priesthood within the denomination. In 1998 he was ordained as an Episcopal priest.
He sees St. James as a vibrant, welcoming community that embraces the traditions and identity of the Episcopal Church, offering a place for all — whether they come with deep faith, doubt, disbelief or anger. He is dedicated to honoring the church’s heritage, encouraging it to “live into the mystery of who St. James was” while maintaining its strong foundation in Episcopal rituals and liturgy.
“I want to enter into a conversation with you because I think that’s the key to understanding our spirituality and relationship with God and other people,” Delaney said. “I think that’s my call as a priest. No matter where I go, I create relationships. I form a community.”
Engaging with Long Beach’s diverse faith communities, particularly Jewish and Islamic traditions, is another important aspect of Delaney’s vision for St. James. Reflecting on his early exposure to Jewish rituals and his respect for the discipline of Islamic prayer, he emphasizes the value of interfaith dialogue. In a city with a significant Jewish presence, strengthening these connections, he says, is a step toward fostering greater understanding, inclusivity and a spiritually vibrant community.
