The Reverend Alan Hesse grew up in Iowa and Arizona, with most of his formative years spent in a small farming community in the northwest corner of Iowa.

Alan graduated from Morningside University, a Methodist liberal-arts college in Sioux City, Iowa (B.A. in Mass Communications and Business). From there he went on to graduate work in Communications at Pepperdine University, in Malibu, California.

He graduated with a Master of Divinity of Degree from the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA.

Prior to his call, for over twenty years he worked in the communication field, at AM/FM radio and at television affiliates of NBC and ABC in Iowa and southern California.

Alan has worked in urban settings, in Worcester, MA; in the suburban settings of Walpole, and currently in Swansea, MA; and at, Saints Matthew and Mark of Barrington.

Alan served for 10 years as a board member of the Episcopal Diocese of MA Camp and Conference Center, Barbara C. Harris Camp.  He most recently served as the Chair of the Board. He has also served the Diocese of Massachusetts on the Diocesan Council, Executive Council, and Bishop’s Search and Consecration Committee. He is a trained anti-racism facilitator and has served on the Diocesan Social Justice/Antiracism Ministry Team.

Currently Alan serves as Trustee to the Church Home Society. The Church Home Society is an independent non-profit corporation related to the Episcopal Church of Massachusetts. Its objective is to provide support to young persons (ages 9-25) by making financial grants to both religious and secular organizations. Fr. Alan is grateful for this opportunity to better the lives of the underserved youth of Massachusetts.

Father Alan is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Stevens Treatment Programs, formerly the Stevens Children’s Home, Inc.  A residential-based treatment facility, it is a private, non-profit corporation, operating a continuum of therapeutic residential programs as well as community and home-based transitional services, in Swansea, MA. Stevens serves youth (age 11-22) with behavioral and emotional problems that present serious treatment concerns. Stevens’ youth-guided and family-driven programs are committed to positive outcomes. Stevens believes in offering a pathway to a new beginning and a chance for an improved future.

Alan is married to Dr. Tim Orwig, who is a lecturer at Boston College, Lesley University, and the University of MA Lowell, and author of many articles and publications. His most recent book is Cape Cod Canal, a history of the Canal on its hundredth anniversary. They have one son, William, an athletic 10th grader who has introduced his family to all sorts of new athletic adventures.

In his “off” time Alan enjoys reading science fiction novels, saltwater fishing with his son, as well as kayaking and playing the saxophone.  He also serves as a Precinct Warden for the Town Clerk of Wareham, MA.

Alan is passionate about the Gospel, the work of justice and empowering young people.