Dr. William “Buff” Miner
by Lorraine Sciara-Kelly
When Robert and I moved to Delray Beach in 2013, Buff was one of the first people we met. We were neighbors and when he discovered that we attended St. Paul’s Church, he encouraged Robert to join The Brotherhood of St. Andrew for prayer, fellowship and service. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is an international ministry of men within the Anglican Communion with the objective of spreading Christ’s kingdom among men.
I have gotten to know Buff since then and asked him if I could interview him for “My Story.”
Carol and Buff
So how did you become known as “Buff”? “When my mother’s oldest sister was pregnant with her second child her father, my grandfather, just knew she was going to have twins. He decided that the family would call them Biff and Buff. When she had only one son he became Biff. I was the next boy born in the family so I became Buff!”
As a cradle Episcopalian, Buff was baptized, confirmed at eleven years of age and served as an acolyte from eight years of age through high school. As often happens with young college students, he stopped going to church.
In his senior year of college, he was engaged to an Episcopalian and married the following year at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, MO.
In 1978, Buff received his PH. D. in Physics at the University of Texas, Austin. A position at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC moved him and his wife to Alexandria, VA, where they knew no one.
Jennifer, their first child, was born on May 10, 1978, on her grandfather’s birthday at George Washington University Hospital. Buff was there. “It was a miracle! God blessed me! I’m going back to church!” They were welcomed by and worshipped at Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
Their second child, Christopher, was born June 22, 1982. “Another miracle! Again, I’m blessed!”
A job offer from the University of Texas, Austin, moved the family to a community of friends and colleagues. “Again, I’m blessed!”
St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church in Austin provided Buff the opportunity to serve God in many ways. In addition to serving two terms on the Vestry and the acolyte director, he was active in the men’s group. As they sought more structure for prayer, study, and service, a chapter of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew was established.
In the summer of 1995, Buff was asked to be an adult leader to accompany 15 young people on a 2 week mission trip. His daughter was going. His son was going. His future son-in-law was going. They were to spend the first week in Colorado learning how to entertain youth using puppets, skits, balloon animals and other activities. The second week was to be spent sharing the Christian message with the Navajo in Shiprock, NM.
Buff wasn’t sure he should go, but eventually felt God telling him to go. So he did and found it “most memorable experiences of my life!” He did it the following year, too.
A divorce in 2001 and a job change took Buff to Maryland and the Department of Energy, where he knew no one. His first day of work was September 10, 2001. The next day, of course, was 9-11. The entire facility was surrounded with Jersey barriers. Many friends and family called to check that he was ok, “I don’t know many people, but I know I am not alone.”
Two more moves took Buff back to Alexandria, VA and Christ Church. The church has pew boxes once owned by George Washington and Robert E. Lee! An attempt to establish a chapter of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew generated interest from the men. But as time went on, it was easier to pay for the work than to actually do the work. So no fellowship, no chapter.
After a nearly impossible snowy winter in Washington, DC, a move to Delray Beach with his now wife, Carol, brought them to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. His call was to establish and is to support our chapter of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew! They are a group of Christian men “dedicated to the disciplines of prayer, study and service”.
Throughout his journey, there were times Buff felt alone. He realized he was not and is not alone with God ever present.
He is now a professor of physics at Palm Beach State College on the Boca Raton campus.
Buff served on the Task Force for our Vision 2020 and continues to chair our Goal Committee – Increase Fellowship Opportunities for Parishioners. He is often seen helping with church work days, helping to set up and take down our rooms for Family Promise, special events hosted by The Brotherhood and joining our family for worship at the ten o’clock service. In discussing current issues, he often asks, “What would Christ say or do?”
Thank you, Buff, for sharing your journey with us.