AN EPISCOPALIAN priest who won a popular game show in the United States four nights in a row will tithe from his $78,000 winnings.
The Rector of St Paul’s, Walla Walla, in Washington, the Revd David Sibley, first appeared without his clerical collar, but put it on for his third appearance for the show Jeopardy!
During his four-night run, he used his Twitter thread to explain to new followers why he was tithing — giving ten per cent — of his pre-tax winnings to his parish. He posted: “Quite simply, I’m doing well on Jeopardy because of gifts given me to remember lots of stuff and recall it quickly. It’s part of who I am, and who God made me to be. So the proceeds of that? None of it is really mine to begin with!”
He said that he realised early on in his run that his appearance gave him an opportunity to speak out to those who had been hurt or excluded by the Church, and he set out his support for the “lives, loves and vocations of LGBTQIA+ people”.
A “clear ministry” emerged for him during the week, he said. “Perhaps the most interesting thing to come of the appearance is seeing folks across the Episcopal Church engaged with my appearance — and often reaching out to offer kind words or wish me retroactive good luck. Likewise, folks from all corners of my life have been reaching out, and it’s been lovely.
“On Twitter, I’ve had a few moments to interact with folks who have had varied experiences with the Church — the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. I’ve tried to do my best to represent the hurch in a positive way. And I’ve gotten a few odd emails, and a couple of unhelpful Twitter comments, but I take it all in stride, and haven’t responded to anyone who is just trying to get into a fight.”
He is not the first priest to appear on the long-running quiz game, but his four-day winning streak attracted the most attention. “I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to play in trivia or quiz games, but most of the time it would be in something more akin to a pub quiz or trivia night,” he said.
“I think for most American trivia fans, Jeopardy! is the peak of the pyramid; so I’ve always been a fan, and always hoped to get a chance to compete.”
He received the call to say he was going to be on the show during this year’s General Convention, and had to excuse himself from a conversation with his bishop to take the call.
He said: “Once I told her what was going on, I received a very excited response. Jeopardy! is a cultural touchstone here in the United States, and so it wasn’t a hard sell.”
He failed to win a question about the Rapture, which attracted some amusement on Twitter. He said: “Not answering that question was a classic case of overthinking it; or, perhaps, of not thinking of it at all — since I don’t believe in the Rapture, just as most Anglicans don’t.”
He was eventually defeated by two other contestants, but may be invited back for a Tournament of Champions next year.
After his loss, one Twitter follower told him: “You’re supposed to rest on the SEVENTH day, not the fifth. Good run!”