Rev. Bruce Shortell, with Diane Simpson, wife of 2024 cmmodre Steve Simpson at a recent appreciation event at UYC.
As a recent graduate from Moravian College with degrees in economics and business administration, a young Bruce Shortell had accepted employment at Bethlehem Steel as a buyer in purchasing. Before he matriculated from Moravian he had married and had a family, thinking he was on the right career path. It only took him five years to learn what his true calling would be.
“God kept urging me to attend seminary, nudging me day and night,” Rev. Shortell said. “When I finally made the decision, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and a deep feeling of peace.”
The young family moved to Alexandria, Va., and Rev. Shortell began his studies at Virginia Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity three years later. His calling to the ministry led him and his family through several smaller parishes in northeast Pennsylvania and Delaware over the next couple of decades before coming to Atlanta’s Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philips where he served in pastoral care.
“The world turns out to be pretty small, particularly when following God’s plan,” Rev. Shortell said. “Fellow priest Rev. Frank Bulloch, who had retired in the mid-1970s from the Cathedral was a member of University Yacht Club, as were several other members of the Cathedral. He had begun to assume the unofficial role of Chaplain for Sunday morning services at University Yacht Club.
The club changed its bylaws in 1977 to allow the position of Fleet Chaplain; Rev. Bulloch accepted the formal title. Several years later Sunday summer church services became a regular occurrence.
Worship services have been conducted regularly since the beginning of the club, at first led by club members and then by Fleet Chaplain The Rev. Frank Bulloch. Attendance grew and a permanent open-air chapel was built on the campus where the non-denominational Sunday services still take place from the beginning of May to the first Sunday of October. There’s also at least one service during the winter months in the club’s pavilion.
Among the more important regular services conducted on Sunday is at least one service of Prayer Healing when the Assistant Fleet Chaplain and Rev. Shortell pray for individuals at the altar rail. “We’ve seen God occasionally answer prayers with a miracle and other times a healing occurs over a period of time. Also, people request prayers for their other loved ones or for themselves if anticipating surgery, or family or friend who are grieving or asking God to help with forgiving someone. Often, the immediate result of prayers is the peace of God which helps people through a period of concern.”
“As Frank began to think about slowing down, he and a few other UYC members actually recruited me to become an Honorary Member of the club,” Rev. Shortell said. “They interviewed me, invited me to preach several sermons and then asked me to serve as Assistant Fleet Chaplain. That was 1994.”
Rev. Shortell continued his service at St. Philips for another four years while also serving as Assistant Fleet Chaplain at UYC.
He and his wife became active in the club and made many friends there. After he became Fleet Chaplain, she died of lung cancer. He continued to bring support and comfort to members including Carolyn Fairchild, whose husband had also died of cancer.
Carolyn and Bruce Shortell
“God surprised us with more of His nudging, this time urging us to be married,” he said. “When we announced that we were getting married, everyone at the club was so happy for us. They kept telling us that they had been praying for us to get together.”
The couple recently celebrated their 20th anniversary this year.
The variety of worship services helped identify Rev. Shortell’s interests and define his role as Fleet Chaplain.
“One of the favorite club activities is the beginning of the boating season with Opening Day Ceremony that includes the Blessing of the Fleet led by the Fleet Chaplain,” he said. “One of the prayers includes these words that helps define the identify of the life of the club. It asks God to surround all boaters … ‘with Your presence as they enjoy the gift of cruising the waters You have created. Fill their minds with careful thoughts for their safety and the safety of others; save them from dangers known and unknown.
“ ‘Teach them to mark Your works as they contemplate Your wonders of sky and earth; fill them with kindness, loyalty and faith, that their recreations may be carried out with a sense of gratitude to You and a sense of duty to all others.’ ”
Rev. Shortell served UYC for more than 26 years before announcing his retirement last fall. As he looked back over his time as Fleet Chaplain, he cited several accomplishments, including initiating a New Years Day chapel service.
“It’s a good way to start the year off right,” he said. “We moved the service to 11 a.m. to accommodate the people who attended the club’s New Years Eve festivities the night before and we consistently have pretty good attendance at chapel the next day.”
Rev. Shortell began and continued a number of traditions at UYC, including the club’s strong relationship with Eagle Ranch. The chapel’s weekly offering is donated to Eagle Ranch; its founder Eddie Staub comes to preach one Sunday near Fourth of July each year.
Rev. Shortell is present and participates in many club gatherings, including opening day, the Blessing of the Fleet, as well as conducting weddings, funerals and baptisms of children and adults. He also initiated a blessing of the animals service; members bring their dogs, cats and sometimes exotic animals.
Rev. Caleb Clarke III is the new Fleet Chaplain at UYC. Clarke served on the club’s Board of Governors and as Commodore. He was formerly Assistant Fleet Chaplain, attending seminary after serving as a commodore of UYC.
“For me, the biggest thing is to keep going what God has started through Frank Bulloch,” Rev. Shortell said. “Not only is our chapel named for him, Frank was a big part of who we are as a club, a spiritual place, a family place where we all love and appreciate each other.
“Not all members of the club attend worship services; however, when they have a crisis or illness they tend to call me for prayer,” he said. “If an immediate family member dies I am called and I usually pray with them on the telephone if they so desire. With the members’ permission I send out a sympathy notice to club members who often respond with a condolence card.
“This coming together to love and care about each other when a member is in need is just one of the many ways our club members show love and concern for each other resulting in growing friendships that are the strength and foundation of the University Yacht Club.
Photos: Courtesy Pamela A. Keene, Bruce Shortell
