Two-star Gen. Garry A. Schnelzer has been managing the multi-billion dollar development and acquisition sections of the Defense Department's satellite and space launch systems. This month he retires from the Air Force to become a canon of the Diocese of West Texas.

An unlikely transition? Not from the perspective of the Rt. Rev. James E. Folts, Bishop Coadjutor of West Texas. The bishop seeks to bring new life to the growing number of small congregations in rural areas of the diocese.

Both bishop and canon face challenges. Many of the strong lay leaders in these small congregations have to take advantage of employment opportunities. Young people have moved to colleges and jobs far from home. West Texas is very much a cross-cultural diocese, and Bishop Folts recognizes this as an increasing challenge to a responsive church. This part of the country is also attracting an increasing number of military retirees, many of whom have served at one of the many military bases in Texas.

Bishop Folts has known his new lay canon for administration and lay ministry for almost 20 years, when the Schnelzers were members of his congregation at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, Texas, while Bishop Folts was rector. He has monitored the pilot's skills in identifying and affirming leadership in increasingly responsible positions within the military community as well as in a broad range of church settings.

Maintaining his residency in Texas since the mid-1970s, Gen. Schnelzer has served as a forward air controller in Vietnam, a research scientist at Cambridge Research Laboratories, chief pilot for a C-130 Squadron, and deputy director for the Strategic Defense Initiative.

A strong church leader with experiences ranging from vestry member to Sunday school teacher, he has successfully led the organization of a Christian men's fellowship and house churches. He has also been a member of the leadership team of the Washington-based Christian Embassy and is involved in supporting the leaders of the national Russian Youth Movement.

In addition to certain administrative responsibilities, including oversight of the diocesan calendar, the new canon is charged with "calling forth, training, equipping and commissioning lay ministers throughout the diocese," according to Bishop Folts.

"I have seen the vision in action," Gen. Schnelzer said. "Spending several days in the Diocese of West Texas with Bishop Folts, touring churches and meeting with vestries, I caught not only his vision and enthusiasm, but that of the people I met.

"And, as one whose life and career have been involved in the identifying and mentoring of leadership, I am hopeful that I can be used to bring this vision to fruition."

The new canon said that, since moving to the Episcopal Church in 1977 (because the city in which he and his family were living had no Congregational church), he has come to appreciate and treasure its tradition and variety of worship opportunities.

"My military assignments and my work in a number of lay ministries have provided me with exposure to a wide variety of churches with a broad spectrum of wonderful resources through many different organizations, such as Navigators and Campus Crusade's Military Ministry," he said.

"Garry's leadership abilities provide unique qualifications in identifying and enabling those within our diocesan family who have the God-given capacity to lead - and not everyone has that capacity," Bishop Folts explained. "We seek to train and equip such persons in that distinctly Christian role of servant leadership

"Canon Schnelzer has impressed me with his own life, demonstrating the ideal of servant leader."

Garry and Helen Schnelzer have been married for 26 years, and have two children. Their son, Douglas, is a lieutenant in the Air Force and member of All Saints' Church in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Schnelzers' daughter, Heather, is a freshman at William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Va., where she is active in campus ministries.

Helen Schnelzer served several years as secretary of their home parish, Holy Comforter in Vienna, Va., where she also chaired the altar guild for five years.

The recent retirement ceremonies recognizing Gen. Schnelzer's 30-year military career included his receiving the highest peacetime Air Force award, the Distinguished Service Medal. q