Dr. William Hightower has been Vicar of Highland Lake for seven years.  He is a native of Bangor, Maine.  Dr. Hightower is married to the former Sharon Jean Mercer of Snellville, Oklahoma.  Both Dr. Hightower and his wife are life-long Episcopalians.   

Prior to this pastorate, Dr. Hightower served parishes in Dayton, Ohio and Freerport, ME.  In addition, Dr. Hightower served eight years in the Peace Corps with assignments in Central Asia and Northern Africa.  

Dr. Hightower holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Columbia University.   After the Peace Corps, Dr. Hightower returned to the Northeast where he attended Nothern University majoring in Theology with a minor in Greek.  Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Dr. Hightower attended Yale University where he earned a double graduate degree in Theology and Greek. 

Dr. Hightower enrolled in The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in 1976.  After Graduating with honors in the doctoral program, Dr. Hightower studied abroad in Europe and Austrailia.