Until he retired from full-time ministry, Bill Tully served as rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue at 51st Street, New York City from 1994 to 2012. He led major spiritual and institutional growth after that historic congregation lived through years of conflict, decline and financial crisis.

St. Bart’s now is known for its radical welcome and growing diversity of members, a revived tradition of great music and liturgy, pioneering interfaith programming, and new member incorporation programs. It shares its iconic, domed landmark structure with the city and with many non-profit and support groups that meet in its Community House. A major venue for music performances of all kinds, it is also the home of an innovative café on its grand terrace at 50th and Park.

Before ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church, Bill Tully was a newspaper reporter and then a community worker in New York’s Model Cities program. He has served the Church of the Epiphany, Manhattan; St. Francis Church, Potomac, Md., and for 14 years as rector of St. Columba’s Church, Washington D.C. He has reported, written and produced video documentaries for the General Convention of the national Episcopal Church. With St. Bart’s staff and leadership, he created an annual Reinventing Church conference for lay and clergy leaders. For several years he was a regular contributor to The Washington Post’s “On Faith” blog. He now continues to write, teach and consult on church growth, leadership and communications.

He is a graduate of Occidental College, the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and the General Theological Seminary in New York.

He has served as trustee of Washington National Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, the General Theological Seminary, and as a director of Episcopal Social Services of the Diocese of New York.