91����

Reverend William S. Wick (a.k.a. “Rev”) has served as 91���� chaplain since August 1989. Born an identical twin in West Chester, Pennsylvania, he attended Calvary University (Kansas City, Missouri) before transferring to Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois), where he earned his BA in Biblical Studies from Trinity College (1975) and his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1978). He also studied at Jerusalem University College/the American Institute of Holy Land Studies on Mt. Zion, Jerusalem, Israel, in 1981 and 1984, and on another apologetics tour in 2023.

Ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America, “Rev” served as a “church-planter” from 1978-1996, assisting in the establishment of three Vermont churches. Bill often provides “pulpit supply” for churches throughout New England and has ministered as an “interim pastor” eight times at central Vermont churches of various denominations.

He served on the New England District Board of Directors and subsequently on the National Board of Directors for the EFCA, eventually holding the position of vice-secretary. Chaplain Wick also served a nine-year term of office on the Board of Governors for Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. He was also a member of three other EFCA national boards (its Ministerial Association and Board of Ministerial Standing and its Chaplains’ Commission).

He was the Vermont Civil Air Patrol Wing chaplain for a number of years. An avid alpine skier, “Rev” is a certified PSIA instructor who teaches part-time at Sugarbush Resort. He also enjoys sailing, biking, scuba diving (PADI), camping, and astronomy using both a Celestron 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain and an Explore Scientific 6-inch refractor in his home-based “Ritzer-Davenport Astronomical Observatory.” He and his wife, Debra, have one middle-aged son, Christopher, who resides in Seattle.

Q&A with Rev. Wick

Do you have a military background and/or connections?

Because of having a crossed left eye ("strabismus"), causing my brain to see two images for the first 11 years of my life, my mind shut down my left eye. Functionally, the eye is fine, but there is a mental block wherein a blind spot remains, although peripheral vision is somewhat good. My twin brother had the same condition, and we had corrective surgery on the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. So, our left eyes appear to be straight; however, I was told that such precluded the possibility of serving in the U.S. military. Hence, I never had that honor — although the Lord has given me 37 years of ministerial service on our Norwich campus/the Military College of Vermont.

What are some of the things you are a part of on campus?

Involvements on our campus include overseeing all religious activities for students, assisting in transportation to their respective places or houses of worship, leading the Sunday evening nondenominational chapel service, and serving as adviser to several student clubs (including I-5, chess club, and ski/snowboard club). I serve in conjunction with the VPSA/Commandant’s staff as well as the dean of students. Many hours are spent one-on-one assisting/counseling students, both Corps and traditional, be they religious or not. Much of my work as a chaplain revolves around assisting students in their relationships with one another — dating, roommate(s), and the like. My job description actually allows for a role in assisting the counseling faculty, staff, administrators, as well as students.

How many alumni do you think you have married in the Chapel?

I have no idea how many weddings or funerals I have done for those of our Norwich family, but certainly this would number in the hundreds.

What words of wisdom would you share with Norwich students?

In making a moral or ethical decision, the hardest option is always the right one. And my motto for life as a Christian pastor, and as a University chaplain, is this: “My answer is, 'Yes, Lord! What is your question?'”