Stephanie Amidon

I joined St. John’s in 1998 after moving to Tallahassee with my family. Early in my time at St. John’s, I was an active volunteer, assisting Chef Fran in the café and helping with Vacation Bible School. My three children—Molly, Joseph, and Sean-Patrick—were all baptized at St. John’s.

While my children attended Holy Comforter Episcopal School, our family worshiped at that parish for several years. In 2015, we joyfully returned to St. John’s, drawn by the vibrant youth group. Since then, I have volunteered extensively, including many years serving during BEAT Week and mentoring first-year students in the Global Philanthropy Leaders (GPL) program.

As an AP Economics and AP Government teacher at Maclay School, I value opportunities to share my passion for civic engagement, service, and leadership with the youth involved in GPL. Myself, and my husband, Frank, actively participate in small groups, the Bun Run program, and the Christmas Eve meal deliveries. We have deeply enjoyed building relationships and friendships within the parish community.

I am profoundly grateful to St. John’s for the many years of spiritual growth, belonging, and friendship it has provided for me and my family. I would be honored to serve on the vestry to help foster these same experiences for others—whether lifelong members or first-time visitors. I believe St. John’s is something truly special and feels called to help share that gift with others.

Joe Dillehay

I am happily standing for vestry because I have a deep sense of love and gratitude for the city of Tallahassee and St. John’s Episcopal Church. I didn’t grow up in a church family and had always considered myself an agnostic. My wife Alison and St. John’s got me through the barrier of the door and kept me comfortable and feeling accepted long enough for me to realize that there had been a higher power at work in my life for years.  

After my baptism at Easter vigil in 2023, I consider St John’s to be my spiritual birthplace and will forever be grateful. I am blessed with love, health and energy that I’m eager to share with the parish. 

I struggled mightily as a younger adult. As I enter middle age I feel the privilege that I now have. I love my community and I want to use my gifts to serve those without it. 

I especially love my small groups at St. John’s. I have gained friendship and mentorship there that I have never experienced before. Also I love food, art, travel, and cats. Peace be with you.

Grady Enlow

Having grown up in Orlando, I moved to Tallahassee in 1984 to attend graduate school at FSU. My son was baptized at St. John’s in 1991. I married June Dollar in 2001 and at that time we attended another church in downtown Tallahassee. After living for some years in Sarasota and Thomasville, GA, we returned to Tallahassee in 2018 and joined in the summer of 2020.

I have served St. John’s in the Coffee and Conversations ministry since its inception. I love singing, playing the piano, and playing with our dogs, Gilbert and Sullivan. I also enjoy running, biking, and most recently, again, golfing.

I have a B.A. in Biblical Studies, an M.B.A., and a doctorate in education. I taught Sunday School at my previous church, led retreats, and served in music ministry. After a decade in the hospitality industry and 25 years in higher education administration, I now serve as Deputy Director for Administration for the Florida Department of Corrections Office of Health Services.

Myself and June feel like we belong at St. John’s and look forward to continuing to contribute to this faith community. I would be honored to serve my spiritual family at St. John’s by serving on the Vestry

Jennifer Guy-Hudson

I joined St. John’s with my husband, Matt Hudson, in 2019, and was baptized here later that same year. We appreciate our life in community at St. John’s as we celebrate our relationship with God, build meaningful fellowship and grow in our faith. I enjoy serving on the Flower Guild and previously attended EfM in Jim and Pat’s group for several years.

As I learn more about the Episcopal Church and deepen my spiritual life, I am grateful for the belonging I feel at St. Johns. 

George Mannheimer

I’ve been a lifetime member of St. John’s, and this church has shaped every chapter of my family’s faith journey. My wife, Michelle, and I were confirmed and married in this church, both of our children were baptized here, and our spiritual foundation continues to grow with this community.

Over the years, I’ve been blessed to serve St. John’s in many ways. I’ve bartended and DJ’d for multiple church fundraisers, helping create fellowship, energy and support for our ministries. I’ve had the honor of being a confirmation sponsor, walking alongside a member as they deepen their faith. I’ve also served as a “Shepherd”, reaching out to fellow parishioners in times of need, offering connection, prayer and care.

My father, Doug, and mother, Cricket, have been members of St. Johns for over 40 years, reflecting a family legacy of devotion and service. Alongside my wife, I lead MASH, a program designed to engage couples with young children and provide a welcoming space for their children to build friendships and community.

I feel called to serve on vestry to give back to the church that has given my family and me so much. I hope to support our ministries, be a good steward of our resources, and help ensure that St. John’s remains a vibrant, welcoming home for all.

Nan O’Kelley

I grew up in and was confirmed at St. John’s. I rejoined when moving back to Tallahassee in 2003 and am the daughter of longtime parishioners Mahaska and Tom Whitley.

At St. John’s, I have served in several capacities, including on the Vestry, the Stewardship Committee, the St. John’s Foundation Board, and as Co-Chair of the St. John’s Market and Co-Chair of the Market Preview Party.

I have a long track record of community involvement in Tallahassee. I have served in leadership roles with Leadership Tallahassee, the Big Bend Homeless Coalition, the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, Youth Leadership Tallahassee, United Way of the Big Bend, Goodwood Museum and Gardens, and the Trinity Catholic School Advisory Council. These roles have given me experience in governance, strategic planning, and working with diverse groups to move projects forward.

I currently work at Tallahassee State College in the Office of Transfer Services, where I support students as they navigate academic transitions and plan their next steps.

I would welcome the opportunity to serve on the Vestry again and contribute my experience to the continued health and direction of St. John’s. 

MEAGAN OWENS

I love the things of God and God’s people, and from my earliest years, life always revolved around the church body. The Evangelical tradition raised me, with most of my life spent in Southern Baptist and non-denominational churches serving in various ministries in my youth group and into adulthood. While I am grateful for what I learned in those spaces, there came a time when they very deeply no longer fit who I was. After a few years in a spiritual wilderness, meeting God in incredibly beautiful and new ways, I sensed a calling to something ancient and yet fully equipped to meet the world of today. I found both of those strengths in the Episcopal tradition, and joined St John’s six years ago.

Over the years, St John’s allowed me to serve in several capacities and try new ways of ministry, ranging from leading small groups, serving in the St Francis Ministry, the Capital Area Justice Ministry, participating in Education for Ministry, and teaching Sunday School. While I love everything God allowed me to do, I truly found my place in Eucharistic Ministry and serving as a Lay Pastoral Care Minister.

Ann Elaine Rowe

I officially began attending St. John’s after moving to Tallahassee from my home state of Maine in late 1991. I was raised a Baptist – yet thank my college best friend, Janice Cooke-Wright and Westminster Choir College voice professor Lois Laverty for introducing me to the Episcopal faith in 1982.

I became a member of St. John’s in 1999, have actively served in the choir since then, I experienced Cursillo as a candidate and served on multiple Women’s Cursillo Weekend teams at Camp Weed in Live Oak, and was an adult volunteer during my stepson’s Happening Weekend there.

I am a Stephen Minister, volunteer annually for the St. John’s Market and other parish-based fundraisers, activities, and have accompanied St. John’s youth as a chaperone during day trips the past few years. My favorite trip thus far was the St. John’s England Choir Tour in 2015. I serve as a volunteer for the St. John’s Choir School and mentors choristers as they grow in their music life.

St. John’s truly is my home – and its congregation my family, on so many levels. As a veteran risk/crisis communications professional and public servant, I would be incredibly honored to help in the planning for and shaping of St. John’s future. As always, with God and our St. John’s family’s help!

Will Scarboro

I was drawn to St. John’s by my love of the music and liturgy of the Episcopal Church and a desire to renew and deepen my spiritual life. I have found this parish to be a place of welcome and grounding since becoming a regular part of the community. Singing in the St. John’s Adult Choir has become a meaningful way for me to participate in worship, offering prayer through music and shared fellowship. Through weekly worship, thoughtful preaching, and the richness of our liturgical tradition, St. John’s has become a place of spiritual nourishment and growth for me.

I am standing for Vestry out of a strong desire to serve the church that has nurtured me, and to support its ongoing discernment, ministries, and faithful stewardship. If elected, I aim to listen deeply, collaborate faithfully, and offer my gifts in service to the parish and its ministries as we grow together in faithful discipleship.

Susan Shelton

I have been a member of St. John’s since moving to Tallahassee with my family in 2015. I am a “cradle Episcopalian”—baptised, confirmed, and married in the same parish where my parents met as high school seniors. Originally from middle Georgia, my adult life has taken me around the southeast, and a consistent grounding point has been the Episcopal church. I have enjoyed serving each church in a variety of capacities.

At St. John’s I have participated with youth activities, small groups and the market, and most often I am seen serving as an usher and now verger. I enjoy the different outreach ministries here, opportunities for spiritual growth and reflection, and engaging activities within the parish and larger community. I view participation through vestry as another opportunity to serve the church and grow more connected with others.

I am married to Dayne Shelton who I met as a college freshman. We have three children who have all served as acolytes at St. John’s: Davis (23), Mary (21), and Forester (17). Professionally, I am a certified nurse-midwife and have taught undergraduate and graduate nursing in the university setting for nearly 20 years.

Wendy Wriggins-Ernst

I am a Miami native and lifelong Episcopalian, married to Jim, and mom to Brianna (28 yrs) and Matthew (23 yrs).  My journey at St. John’s began when Jim, Matthew and I moved to Tallahassee in 2020.  During a challenging move and career transition, St. John’s embraced us with warmth and support.  In gratitude, I am standing for Vestry to serve the community that has become our home. 

At St. John’s, I serve on the Community of Hope Pastoral Care Team, Daughters of the King, and Front Porch Committee.  I’m an EFM graduate and grateful for the many adult formation programs at St. John’s, and the opportunity to facilitate a Parish Discernment Committee.  At my previous parish home I served as verger, lay reader, outreach committee leader, and women’s group director.  I delight in inhabiting the seasons of the liturgical year and seeing God in everyday moments. 

Outside of church, I am an adjunct professor in healthcare administration at Tallahassee State College and an educational surrogate and reading mentor for Leon County Schools.  I hold a BA from Texas Christian University and an MBA from the University of Miami.  In my spare time, you’ll find me reading, gardening, or watching football. 

Jenny Blalock

I have been a member of St. John’s since 2008 and would be honored to represent our parish as a convention delegate. Over the years, I have served on the vestry and youth commission, taught high school Sunday School, helped start and coordinate a young adults ministry, co-chaired parish weekend at Camp Weed, served on the flower delivery ministry and as a greeter, volunteered at and served on the board of Grace Mission, volunteered with Vacation Bible School, participated in MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Foyers, and the Faith at 5:30 series, and currently serve as a lector.

I am married to Adam and we have two daughters, Anna and Eleanor. I work as a policy analyst for the Education & Employment Committee in the Florida House of Representatives.

Monique Ellsworth

I am the Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest of the Big Bend, where I lead regional efforts to address hunger and food insecurity across North Florida. I have worked in Tallahassee’s social services community since 2011, dedicating my career to serving individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing instability, and crisis.

Before joining Second Harvest in 2019, I served as the Executive Director of CESC, Inc., the nonprofit organization that operates The Kearney Center, providing comprehensive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. I hold a master’s degree in social work from Florida State University and continue to teach in FSU’s College of Social Work, helping prepare the next generation of social workers.

I am standing to serve as a Convention Delegate because I believe deeply in the Episcopal Church’s commitment to justice, compassion, and service in the world. My professional and personal life are rooted in the belief that faith should be lived out through action—by listening, showing up, and advocating for the dignity of every person. As a member of St. John’s, I am honored by the opportunity to represent the parish, contribute thoughtfully to the work of the Diocese, and help strengthen the church’s witness in our community.

Neil Rambana

I am honored to stand for election as a St. John’s Episcopal Church Convention delegate. My family has roots at St. John’s—my wife Elizabeth and I were married here, and both of our daughters have received sacraments at St. John’s. I currently serve as an usher and greeter, and I was privileged to serve on the rector search committee, helping guide our parish through an important transition to secure Fr. Lonnie.

Professionally, I have practiced immigration law for 25 years, specializing in complex immigration and deportation defense. Originally from Jamaica, I have become a recognized voice in immigration advocacy, with one of my cases featured on the cover of the New Yorker. I previously served as Congressional Liaison for the American Immigration Lawyers Association and have spoken at St. John’s about immigration.

I hold leadership positions throughout Tallahassee, including President of the Governors Club Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Tallahassee/St. Maarten Sister City Foundation. I am also an amateur pilot.

My experience in advocacy, governance, and community leadership has prepared me to represent St. John’s effectively, ensuring our parish’s voice is heard in the broader Episcopal Church.

Stephen Waltz

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida and Georgia. I am also a Licensed Psychological Examiner in Tennessee (retired, 1995). I have been a psychotherapist for 50 years.

I have been attending St. John’s since the early 1990s. I was, at the time, employed by Faith Counseling Center. While there, I joined with Father Dr. Bill Finlaw and Margie Watkins to serve on the Bishop of Florida’s Evaluation and Response Team, Commission on Human Sexuality, Episcopal Diocese of Florida from 1995 to 1997.

I have led a number of groups at St. John’s. in 1994, I taught a six-week course on Jungian Psychotherapist Thomas Moore’s Book Soul Mates: Honoring the Mystery of Love and Relationships. I have also conducted four 9-week courses on Dr. John Gottman’s The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.

I attend the early service each Sunday and the Sunday School that follows. I am honored to be asked to represent St. John’s in the Diocese.

ALEX BOLER

As a life-long Episcopalian, I have been active in the church from a young age at my family’s parish in the Clearwater area, then as a college student at Ruge Hall (The Episcopal University Center at Florida State), and at St. John’s since 2014. Shortly after joining St. John’s, I became an usher and then was tasked with coordinating the Usher ministry, and later came to lead the Greeter ministry, as well (both ministries contributed to our Invite-Welcome-Connect program). At St. John’s, I’ve also been involved in our fellowship groups, and occasionally volunteer doing audio/video and technical work. I appreciate the traditions of the Episcopal church, especially its liturgy, but my favorite part of St. John’s is the community that is formed amongst the congregation.

CATHERINE CONNOR

I was confirmed at St. John’s in 1990 while attending graduate school. After graduation, I moved away but attended and been active at Episcopal churches. When my husband passed away, I retired from 30+ years of teaching and moved back to be near my son and his family. I felt like I was “back home” when I came back to St. John’s. I’ve always had a servant’s heart and am the Sec./Treasurer for Daughters of the King, Bible school teacher, BEAT week, Lively Café, Hostess committee, Vacation Bible School, St. John’s Market, St. John’s Bible docent, and have helped serve at the SALT luncheon. I love St. John’s and its parishioners!

JEFF COUCH

I have been a devoted member of St. John’s Episcopal Church since 2012. My wife, Janine, is a current Vestry member who is now stepping down after her term of service. Together, we have two children, Charlie, who is in the 11th grade, and Georgie, who is in the 7th grade. I have actively contributed to the church community, serving as a Youth Advisor, participating in the Property Commission, and acting as a Eucharistic Minister. I am eager to continue my family’s tradition of service by joining the Vestry.

DINA FOSTER

I have been attending St. John’s since 2015 when my family moved to Tallahassee.  Prior to that time, I attended Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Shelby, North Carolina where I served on Vestry and was very active in my church.

My Husband, Skip and I have three children. Our two sons were both confirmed at St. Johns.  I participated in Camp BEAT when my boys were younger.  Skip was previously on Vestry and served on the Covid Task Force.  Since 2021, I have been involved with Altar Guild. I also worked in the Lively Café for about one year (I loved it and miss it!).  I currently assist with Weddings at the church. In the past, I have volunteered at Market and St. Mary’s.  I truly love St. John’s and would be honored to serve on Vestry. 

DAVID GRIMES

I have been a member of St. John’s for ten years. Growing up as a Mennonite, I came to the Episcopal Church later in life after becoming interested in the Anglican tradition while studying in England during law school.  I have two siblings. I am an attorney for the Florida Legislature. I’ve been involved in the following at St. John’s: Youth Confirmation Instructor, Verger, Eucharistic Minister, Rector Search Committee member, Greeter, and Strategic Plan Implementation member.

As I discussed in my “Faith at 5:30” talk, I spent several years as a young adult alienated from the Church believing that my faith journey would be an individual one. After finding a spiritual home at St. John’s, I’ve been happy to be proven wrong. My appreciation for the beautiful and unique community we share has only grown through the years, especially after my service on the Rector Search Committee exposed me to so many new ways our parishioners love and serve God and each other. After prayerful discernment, I am standing for vestry to lend my time and talent to support the continued work of St. John’s as a needed witness of Christ’s unifying love in a divided world. 

CHRISTINE HANSEN

I can tell you a lot about St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, my childhood faith community in Sunbury, PA, but I can most clearly describe the back of the sanctuary, with its stairs to the choir loft, dark wood paneling, and pews with red velveteen cushions. That’s because, I so vividly remember standing on the pew, facing backwards, and whispering with Mrs. Breeon. She would pass me a little bag of cheerios or a box of raisins and chat with me throughout the service. I’m not sure how Paster Kieffer felt about our hushed discussions during his sermons, but I am sure of how I felt, loved. That’s why my home at St. John’s Episcopal Church is so important to me. This church is also, first and foremost, a place of love, and I would like to take an active role in the work necessary to increase that love within our walls and carry it out into our community and world.

I have been a member of St. John’s since moving back to Tallahassee from Philadelphia, where I was a member of the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, and before that, St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Columbus, GA. I have one wonderful child, Davis, who also lives in Tallahassee and a sweet pup named CJ, short for Calamity Jane. I am the director of programs for the Askew Student Life Center at FSU and participate in lots of theatre in the area. Prior to my position here at FSU, I taught theatre for many years in Idaho, Georgia, and here in Florida. 

MEAGAN OWENS

I have been a member of St John’s since early 2020, and am so grateful to have found the Episcopal church. Loving the things of God and God’s people, I solidly identify as a church nerd. Over my time at St John’s I’ve been involved with the Capital Area Justice Ministry, Becoming Beloved Community, the Education for Ministry program, coordinated Lenten Prayer Partners, and served as a mentor to the Growing in Grace Adult Confirmation classes.

I currently serve as a Eucharistic Minister and participate in the Community of Hope International program for lay pastoral care.

MARTHA RAY-BROOKS

I have been a member of St. John’s for many years and serve as a Eucharistic Minister, founding member of the St. John’s Historical Society, volunteer for the St. John’s Choir School, and as a researcher and grant writer for the St. John’s Cemetery research project.  Past activities include high school youth Sunday School teacher and confirmation coordinator, EfM graduate and volunteer at Grace Mission.  I am a retired Leon County Schools High School Guidance Counselor.  St. John’s and it’s community are an important aspect of my spiritual life.

MICHAEL STEWART-MEZA

Since joining Saint John’s in 2018 and being confirmed in 2019, I have been blessed to be part of this wonderful faith community. I am an alumnus of FSU where I studied Philosophy and Religion. In my professional life, I lead FSU’s Medical Response Unit and am an adjunct instructor for TSC’s Emergency Medical Services Department, having previously worked as a paramedic in Gadsden and Leon Counties. These roles have given me opportunities to mentor students and serve the community.

My husband, Enmanuel, and I find deep spiritual nourishment at Saint John’s through attending the 10am Sunday service and Compline. I continue to learn and grow in faith through Education for Ministry (EFM) and Community of Hope classes. This church has blessed me with opportunities to serve in various ways, including as a greeter, usher, and Eucharistic Minister. Enmanuel and I have served as small group leaders, helped with New Members’ classes, and as discussion facilitators for Growing in Grace. Currently, I serve on the Adult Formation Committee and teach adult Sunday School classes.

I am willing to stand for Vestry because I have witnessed firsthand how God works through Saint John’s, particularly in the church’s dedication to welcoming all of God’s children, including those who may have felt excluded elsewhere. The grace and love I have experienced here has deeply touched my life and family, and I am inspired by the faithful leadership of the clergy and lay leaders. If nominated, I would prayerfully serve with God’s help, trusting in the Holy Spirit’s guidance through this process and wherever God leads.

QUINN TOWNSEND

As a mom of three children, ages 9, 11, and 13, I am drawn to the idea of serving on St. John’s Vestry because I see it as an opportunity to give back to the community that has been a cornerstone of support for my family. Since joining St John’s in 2016, our church has become a second home, a place where my kids have found friends, mentors, and a sense of belonging. By joining the vestry, I hope to help shape and sustain this space for other families and contribute to programs that nurture faith and connection.

I believe this role would be a meaningful way to serve, grow, and set an example of community involvement for my children. Serving on the vestry would allow me to help our church flourish and ensure it remains a vibrant part of our lives.

Gene Adams

I am currently an attorney with Pennington P.A., Attorneys, in Tallahassee. I am married to Susan Adams.

I currently serve as an usher at St. Johns. I also serve on the Property Committee and also served on the Search Committee to Select Father Lonnie as the  new priest after the resignation of Father  Killeen. I formerly served on St. John’s Vestry, a two-year term as  Junior Warden, and  with Susan as Stewardship Committee Chair. I have previously served as a member of the Finance Committee of St. John’s and as Chair of the Discernment Committee for Gray Hodsdon seeking Diocesan sponsorship to attend seminary and become a priest. Susan and I have attended St. John’s for over 24 years. I am a Past Board Chair of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Tallahassee and enjoy reading history and biographies.

Kristina Nilsson

A lifelong Episcopalian, previous to my St. John’s membership (as of 2021; my grandchildren were baptized here the following year), I have been a member of parishes in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Glad always to serve the Church in whatever capacity I’m called to do so, I have enjoyed the camaraderie, education and service opportunities that have come of my involvement at St. John’s, as part of the tower bell-ringing crew, as a member of the altar guild, as a Eucharistic Minister and lay reader, and as a violinist — when instrumental music is needed. I have garnered spiritual enrichment from the Sunday adult education offerings, from the Friday noon book discussions (zoom) — most recently, of C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, and from participation in one of the parish’s “small groups” (ours is dubbed “The Shepherds”) dinner/discussion gatherings. I’ve appreciated expanding my acquaintance with other members of every generation, through SPUDS and other social occasions at St. John’s, and I am in awe of the “something-for-everybody” nature of the many activities available at this parish. I feel strongly that God destined me to be here, and I embrace St. John’s as my Christian home.

Mary Byrd Sims

I am from a multi-generation St. John’s family, and was baptized and confirmed here before attending Sewanee with my husband, Ramsay. We returned to Tallahassee and rejoined this parish in 2004 with our daughters, Melissa and Holly (former choristers, acolytes and Quito team members). Since that time I have served twice on the Vestry, and found myself involved as Youth Director Search Committee Chair, Nominating Chair, the original Youth BEAT Co-chair, Parish Retreat Co-chair and the HVAC Fundraising Committee Co-chair. I have enjoyed serving alongside many of you at the Lively Café, Sunday School, VBS, Parish Life events, various Youth activities, as well as Adult Formation. It is truly a privilege to be able to faithfully serve and worship among family and friends at St. John’s.

Greg Springer

I love St. John’s. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 2009 at St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Jackson, Mississippi), and I joined St. John’s when I moved to Tallahassee in 2018 with my partner Jonathan Jackson. I remain active at St. John’s through music and worship, singing with the Adult Choir on Sunday mornings and the Compline Choir on Sunday evenings. I also participate in various ministries and programs throughout the year (e.g., the Greeter Ministry, Invite Welcome Connect Ministry, Men’s Bible Study, Integrity Tallahassee, St. John’s Choir School Advisory Board, Growing in Grace class discussion leader, Education for Ministry program), and I completed a term on the Vestry in 2023. It would be an honor to represent St. John’s as a delegate at Diocesan Convention during this important time in the Diocese of Florida.

BRIAN ARSENAULT

Brian Arsenault was raised Roman Catholic in Massachusetts and moved to Tallahassee in 1998 to attend FSU. In 2015, after 22 years of not attending any church, he joined the St. John’s Choir in search of community. His wife Valerie joined St. John’s that same year, and they were both received into the Episcopal Church in 2016.

At St. John’s, in addition to choir, Brian has been involved as Welcome Committee Chair, Compline Choir member, Evensong Officiant, member of the Discernment Committee for a candidate seeking Holy Orders, Communications Advisory Board member, Parish Profile Committee member, and member of the 2021-22 Rector Search Committee. This Fall he began attending the Education for Ministry program.

Brian is a Faculty Librarian at FSU’s Strozier Library where he is the lead developer for a National Institutes of Health-funded online repository of learning and development research data. Outside of work, he performs on viola and sings with the Tallahassee Bach Parley and other groups in the area. He is also a regular retreatant to the Society of Saint John the Evangelist monastery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In his service at St. John’s as well as at the university, he strives, with God’s help, for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being. If chosen for the Vestry, Brian will prayerfully serve this church community that he loves.

LISA ASKINS

Lisa Askins was raised in Winter Park, Florida and moved to Tallahassee in 2010. Lisa was raised a United Methodist until she and her husband, Jeff, decided to move their membership to St. John’s in 2019. Lisa’s home church in Winter Park was much more formal, and with time was beginning to miss the formal liturgy which is part of what brought them to St. John’s as well as the welcoming community.

Lisa serves as the chair of the Angel Food Ministry. She and Jeff are past chairs of the Stewardship Campaign. They both enjoy participating in the SPUDS ministry and various activities within the life of the church.

Lisa’s husband Jeff is a Financial Advisor with Synovus Bank and she has the unique job of being his assistant. Lisa and Jeff both love the St. John’s community and are so grateful to be here. Lisa has always been involved in her local church as well as the church at large, she believes being a member of a church community is the giving of your gifts as well as the giving of your time and talents.

KATHY BYE

Kathy Bye has been a lifelong Episcopalian and has been a member of St. John’s since 1996. She has served on St. John’s vestry and served as senior warden in 2011. In 2016, Kathy served on the leadership team for the most recent capital campaign. She has served as chair of two discernment committees for parishioners seeking to understand and respond to God’s calling to the ministry. She has helped with the wedding committee and served as director for 10 years. She is a regular volunteer in the Lively Café and served on the grant committee for the Market. Kathy is a member of St. Mary’s Circle.

Kathy and her husband, Ray, and two children moved to Tallahassee from Washington, DC in 1995. Before moving to Tallahassee, she worked for the US House of Representatives for 23 years. Once in Tallahassee, she worked for the Florida Legislature and Senator Bob Graham. She retired in 2000. Kathy currently serves on the boards of the Tallahassee Symphony and Capital City Country Club. She has served on the boards of the Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE), the Oasis Center for Women & Girls, Refuge House, Oleander Garden Circle, and Leadership Tallahassee.

She and Ray, both retired, love to travel, play golf and visit their two children and five grandchildren, all living in the DC area.

Kathy would be honored to serve on the vestry as St. John’s continues to grow in faith and fellowship. She understands the challenges St. John’s faces in the coming years and is committed to supporting the mission and vision of St. John’s in whatever way she can.

GRADY ENLOW

Having grown up in Orlando, Grady Enlow moved to Tallahassee in 1984 to attend graduate school at FSU. He married June Dollar in 2001 and they attended another church in downtown Tallahassee. After living for some years in Sarasota and Thomasville, GA, they returned to Tallahassee in 2018, began attending St. John’s in 2019, and joined in the summer of 2020.

Grady and June sing in the choir and volunteer in other ways, including June teaching yoga and Grady joining a home group for the Capital Area Justice Ministry. Over the years in other churches, Grady has taught Sunday School, delivered sermons, led retreats, and served in music ministry. Currently, June and Grady also assist with the Coffee and Conversation time following the 10:00 service.

Grady has a B.A. in Biblical Studies, an M.B.A., and a doctorate in education. After 25 years in higher education administration, he now serves as Deputy Director for Administration for the Florida Department of Corrections Office of Health Services.

Grady and June feel welcome and loved at St. John’s and look forward to continuing to contribute to this faith community. Grady would be honored to serve his spiritual family at St. John’s by serving on the Vestry.

JEN GARRETSON

Jen Garretson has been a member of St. John’s since April 2017. She moved from Rome, Georgia where she was confirmed at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. She was highly involved at St. Peters and knew she wanted to be a part of a similar community in Tallahassee. She would describe her time at St. Johns as a wonderful experience of creating community with her church family and growing in her faith. She has had the pleasure to serve in a plethora of areas at St. John’s, but she most enjoys the New Baby Ministry, Stewardship Committee, Small Groups, and the Usher Ministry.

Jen is an accountant and a lover of all things spreadsheets. She works as a Business Analyst with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection where her love for numbers and the environment collides. Outside of work, Jen loves creating and learning new things! Always jumping at the opportunity to bake something, start a woodworking project, or travel somewhere new. Jen is excited about the possibility of bringing a different perspective to the St. John’s Vestry and would be honored to serve St. John’s in this role.

CHARLES O. HINSON (CHUCK)

Chuck was born in Thomasville, GA, and raised in Tallahassee where he was a lifelong member of Trinty United Methodist Church. In 2017, Chuck and his wife, Jen, began considering other churches and, after attending a wedding at St. John’s, started attending services. They became members in 2020, and Chuck and Jen joined the Episcopal Church in 2021, with Chuck being confirmed and Jen being received at the beautiful outdoor service at Holy Comforter.

Chuck and Jen soon found ways to serve together by hosting Growing In Grace retreats and acting as small group facilitators. Together, Chuck and Jen are members of the Flower Ministry and, bi-weekly, they make PBJ sandwiches for Grace Mission. Chuck serves as an Usher/Greeter for worship services, weddings, and funerals, and is a member of the St. John’s Diggers team which maintains the church cemetery. He also serves as a docent for The Saint John’s Bible and is a member of the Men’s Bible Study group.

Now retired from a career in government relations, Chuck is ready to give more in service to the St. John’s community. He would be honored to serve on the Vestry.

SARA BETH SHIPPEN

Sara Beth Shippen is honored and thrilled to be considered as a candidate for the Vestry. Sara Beth and her husband, Bo, have raised their four children in the church, spending time with several denominations before settling permanently here at St. John’s. Sara Beth enjoyed visiting St. John’s with her grandparents when she was a child and especially loved the candlelit service on Christmas Eve.

The Shippens have been actively participating in St. John’s worship and fellowship for several years and officially joined the church a little over a year ago. At St. John’s, Sara Beth has served in many capacities including being a volunteer with the youth, a cashier in the Cafe, a member of EfM, and co-chair of the 2022 St. John’s Market. Sara Beth is currently serving on the Stewardship Committee, The Saint John’s Bible steering committee, and is a member of St. Mary’s Circle.

Sara Beth has had the privilege of serving her previous church in various capacities. She has formed two prayer groups, been the moderator of her previous church’s women’s organization, led Bible studies, and chaired a Thanksgiving food drive.

Sara Beth looks forward to serving St. John’s for years to come.

KELLY KIBBEY SMITH

Kelly Kibbey Smith came to Tallahassee to attend FSU in 2009 and never left. She and her husband, Ryan, had visited St. John’s through the years but decided to make it their spiritual home when they got engaged in 2019. In 2020, Mother Abi performed not one, but two wedding ceremonies for them! Kelly and Ryan are co-chairs of the Stewardship Committee this year. Kelly has also been active in the Flower Guild, Small Groups, and Children’s Ministry.

Kelly is a board-certified health care attorney. She serves on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors and is Chair of the Florida Bar’s Government Advocacy Committee. Her greatest achievement is her almost 2-year-old Lawrence Lee (who many of y’all have heard at the 10 AM service). She and Ryan look forward to building their family at St. John’s. In her spare time, she loves hiking with their dogs and experimental baking.

Kelly was born and raised in an Episcopal Church in Fort Myers. She watched her parents, Keith and Lorna Kibbey (now St. John’s members), contribute their time, talents, and treasures to the church. Keith served on the Vestry and Lorna volunteered for seemingly everything else. The parish merged with another and became the nation’s second Lutheran Episcopal congregation. The parish struggled and without several dedicated parishioners, would not have survived. Being a part of the thriving St. John’s community often feels surreal to the Kibbeys. Kelly would be honored to contribute to St. John’s by serving on the Vestry.

MICHAEL STEWART-MEZA

Michael moved from South Florida to Tallahassee in 2011. Coming from a conservative evangelical tradition, he deeply appreciated the welcoming and loving embrace that the Episcopal tradition and St. John’s offered. He visited St. John’s for several years before finally joining as a member in 2018 and was confirmed in 2019. His husband, Enmanuel, joined St. John’s in 2022. The two of them can usually be easily spotted on Sundays because of their matching outfits. They do this as a way to make others smile and to be a visible testimony to visitors that St. John’s is an inclusive church home for all to worship and serve.

At Sunday morning worship services, Michael enjoys serving as a greeter, usher, and Eucharistic Minister. He loves ending his week by attending the Sunday evening Compline service. He serves as a small-group leader and is a student in St. John’s EfM class.

Outside of St. John’s, Michael works for FSU’s Medical Response Unit providing emergency medical training and mentorship to student-responders. Before working at FSU, he worked as a paramedic. Serving the community as a paramedic allowed Michael to comfort and care for people at the most delicate and difficult times in their lives. In addition to working at FSU, he continues to serve as an adjunct EMS instructor at TCC.

Michael has experienced God’s grace, love, and acceptance at St. John’s. He would be honored to now have the opportunity to serve his church family through the Vestry.

ANDREW WIGGINS

Andrew Wiggins moved to Tallahassee from Jacksonville, in 1998, after graduate school at the University of Florida to begin working in public policy. Raised a Southern Baptist, he was drawn to the grace and community offered by the Episcopal tradition. Andrew and his girlfriend Jenni Henderson, a lifelong St. John’s member found their spiritual home at St. John’s. In 2022, Andrew joined St. John’s and further explored his faith and what it means to be Episcopal, he was confirmed by the Bishop in May 2023.

Andrew enjoys serving as a Small Group leader with the purpose of fully exploring our blessed faith and delving into why we believe what we believe and living our faith out daily.

Andrew is the Political Director for the Florida Chamber of Commerce and has more than 25 years of experience in public policy.

His family has truly found a home at St. John’s, and Andrew would be honored to support a faith community that means so much to him through serving on the Vestry.

SARAH MICHAEL ANDERSON

Sarah Michael Anderson has been a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church for 24 years. She was baptized as a baby at the Episcopal Church of the Advent – Tallahassee and her family joined St. John’s shortly after. During her youth, she was extremely involved on a Diocesan level with Camp Weed, New Beginnings, and Happening. Within St. John’s, Sarah Michael has been involved in our youth group, as an acolyte, a Club 45 volunteer, a Sunday School teacher, and a Eucharistic Minister in addition to being a member of the Stewardship Committee (2015) and the Renewal Works Committee (2020). Some of her greatest joy has come from serving on the Rev. Gray Hodsdon’s Discernment Committee (2017), the Same-Gender Marriage Consultation (2019), recently on the Rector Search Committee (2022), and on Sundays as a Verger.

Outside of St. John’s, Sarah Michael works as a Program Coordinator for Florida Virtual Campus and as an Adjunct Professor teaching College Success at Tallahassee Community College. Sarah Michael is the daughter of St. John’s members, Pam and Paul Anderson, and she has three siblings who also attend St. John’s. She and her fiancé, Giuseppe Trupiano, are excited to be married at St. John’s this December.

SUSAN CROSS

Susan Cross was baptized, confirmed, and married in the Diocese of Connecticut and became a member of St John’s on moving to Tallahassee in 1984 with her husband, Tim.  They have been choir members since the late 90’s, following their 2 now-grown children who served as choristers from the ages of 6 & 5 till high school graduation.  Susan served once as a convention delegate in the early 2000s and was on the vestry 2014-16.  Since retirement she has worked at the Lively Café, been a booth chair and a knitwear, marmalade, and bread maker for Market, is on the advisory board for the choir school, and was privileged to visit our companion parish in Cuba in 2019.

She is a retired pediatrician, having practiced full time from 1985-2017, primarily at Tallahassee Pediatrics, also serving as assistant and then Medical Director at Children’s Medical Services for the last several years of her practice life, and teaching both family practice residents and FSU medical students till 2012.  She continues to serve on the boards of the Tallahassee Pediatric Foundation and Tallahassee Primary Care Associates.  During the pandemic supply shortage 4/2020-6/2021 she made over 2000 masks, most for donation to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (TMH), and volunteered with other retired physicians and nurses giving Covid shots at the drive-by vaccination site in the TMH parking lot during the spring of 2021.

Susan is grateful to St John’s for both the inspiration and the opportunities continue to serve.

KEITH KIBBEY

Keith Kibbey grew up at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Middletown OH. serving as an acolyte through high school.  After marrying and settling in Fort Myers FL, he and his wife Lorna became active members of Saint Joseph’s Episcopal, where he served on the vestry as Secretary, Junior Warden, Senior Warden, and convention delegate.  In the early 2000’s St. Joseph’s merged with Lamb of God Lutheran Church forming the second combined Lutheran Episcopal Congregation in the nation, where Keith served on the Board of Trustees. 

Keith a retired chemist, is a graduate of the University of South Florida and spent most of his career in environmental laboratory management and automation.

In 2019, Keith and Lorna moved to be close to their daughter Kelly who had relocated to Tallahassee ten years earlier.  With Kelly already a member, and being familiar with St John’s from multiple visits over the years they quickly became members.  Keith and Lorna now enjoy being able to worship with Kelly, her husband Ryan, and their infant son, Lawrence.

LAUREN SOTO

Lauren Soto has been attending St. John’s since July 2020. Prior to Tallahassee, Lauren was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral throughout her childhood and young adult life. Since moving to Tallahassee at the height of the pandemic, St. John’s has been a place of comfort and community through an intense period of transition and adjustment. 

Music has been an integral part of Lauren’s spiritual life for over 20 years. Lauren is currently a member of the St. John’s choir and enjoys helping the choristers during Sunday worship. She has earned her Gold Award from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), which is the highest possible level to achieve. In addition to her musical contribution to St. John’s, Lauren is a member of the Junior League of Tallahassee and has chaired Kids’ Boutique since 2022, which focuses on providing back-to-school clothes and supplies to 250 children in the Big Bend area. She has also assisted the youth at B.E.A.T. Week.

Lauren graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South with a double degree in music and chemistry. During her years at Sewanee, Lauren credits the University Choir and the time she spent worshipping in the chapel as critical to her adult spiritual life and formation. Currently, she loves teaching AP Chemistry, Advanced Honors Chemistry, and Honors Physics at Maclay. Lauren and her husband, Israel, have been married for two and a half years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling.

STEPHANIE AMIDON

Stephanie Amidon joined St. John’s in 1998 when she moved to Tallahassee with her family. Early on she was a regular, helping Chef Fran in the Café and with Vacation Bible School. Stephanie’s three children – Molly, Joseph, and Sean-Patrick – were all baptized at St. John’s. When her children attended Holy Comforter Episcopal School, the family joined that parish for several years. In 2015, they returned to St. John’s for the vibrant youth group.

Stephanie currently volunteers each summer with Youth B.E.A.T. Week and she is in her second year leading the first-year students in St. John’s Global Philanthropy Leaders (GPL), a program now in its third year at this parish. As an AP Economic and AP Government teacher at Maclay School, Stephanie enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion with the youth in GPL. Stephanie and her husband, Frank, participate in small groups and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know other families within the parish.

ALISON PARKER DILLEHAY

Alison Parker Dillehay grew up at a Baptist church in Crestview, Florida. She and her husband, Joe, have been attending St. John’s since 2019.

At St. John’s, Alison serves on the Front Porch and Adult Education committees. Recently, she joined Global Philanthropy Leaders (GPL) Year 3 as an adult mentor. She is a spirited proponent of St. John’s small group ministry, believing that it is an accessible mechanism to strengthen one’s faith while concurrently bolstering the faith of the other group members. She is a fervent member of the Friday lunchtime Bible Study and relishes the mentoring she has received from the other participants.

Alison is an attorney and yoga teacher by trade and you can occasionally find her subbing the St. John’s yoga classes. She has worked at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation since 2014. St. John’s has been a balm to her and her family and hopes that it is for you as well.

WHITNEY LANGSTON FASON

A life-long Episcopalian, Whitney has been a member of St. John’s for over 25 years. Growing up she was active in many of the youth ministry programs, and after returning to Tallahassee after college, she has served as a Sunday school teacher, eucharistic minister, and verger. Whitney previously served on the Vestry from 2017-2020, where she co-chaired the adult education commission.

Whitney is the daughter of Lance and Cary Langston. She and her husband Brandon were married in 2020; they have three very large dogs (including two Great Danes). Professionally, Whitney is a senior attorney with the Florida Division of Bond Finance where she works with a legal and financial team to issue bonds to finance public works projects for state agencies and universities; she is also a member of Tallahassee Women Lawyers. Outside of work, Whitney enjoys spending time with her nieces, baking, running, and riding mountain bikes with her husband.

DEBBY MCNAMARA

Debby McNamara moved to Tallahassee from South Florida in 1990 to attend FSU. Previously Roman Catholic, she was comforted and inspired by the familiar liturgy of the Holy Eucharist and the warm and welcoming parishioners of St. John’s and became a member in 2018. Her partner, Patti, became a member the following year, and their son, Nate, is an active youth member. In 2021, Debby was received into the Episcopal Church at the beautiful outdoor service at Holy Comforter.

Debby enjoys serving as a Eucharistic Minister and member of the Choir. She is a Small Group leader, Choir School Advisory Board member, Youth Commission member, and Capital Area Justice Ministry house member. She is happy to serve on the Bread Run Team, driving bakery donations from Tasty Pastry to the Kearney Center. She performs the altar guild functions for Compline, serves as the Choir’s card minister, and volunteers annually with the Summer Choir Camp. She served as coordinator or volunteer for the 2019 England Choir Mission trip fundraising events and volunteered for the St. John’s Market and VBS Service Squad. Most importantly, she has been able to do most of these activities with Nate!

Debby is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Project Management Professional working as a healthcare consultant with a focus on publicly funded healthcare programs and systems. Her family has truly found a home at St. John’s, and Debby would be honored to support a faith community that means so much to her through serving on the Vestry.

LESLIE REDDING

Leslie Redding was born and raised in Tallahassee and grew up in the Catholic faith. She and her husband Charley were previously members at Advent Episcopal Church and have been members at St. John’s for about 10 years. Leslie and Charley have three children and three grandchildren (and one more on the way!). They spend much of their free time at St. Teresa Beach with friends and family.

Leslie has served as Co-Chair of the Stewardship Committee, is a regular volunteer in the Lively Café, has served on the Advent Luncheon Committee, as a volunteer at the St. John’s Market, and is a member of a St. John’s small group. She is currently the Chairwoman of the Boys Town North Florida Board of Directors and has been a board member for five years.

STEVE ROGERS

Stephen Rogers grew up in Rochester, NY in the Roman Catholic faith. He began attending the Episcopal church after completing college in Colorado. Upon moving to Florida in 2005, Steve found St. John’s Episcopal Church and became a member. Both of his children, Abigail (12) and William (10), were baptized at St. John’s and enjoy the many activities St. John’s has to offer its children and youth. Abigail is a chorister in the St. John’s Choir and William currently enjoys Club 45. Steve hopes to continue serving with the church youth programs as his children grow in their faith. Steve has enjoyed participating in Men’s Bible Study and leading Children’s Chapel for numerous years. He is a Sunday School teacher at St. John’s and an active member in the Children’s Ministry.

In his free time, Steve enjoys running, walking, and biking and is known to run obstacle course races to keep in shape. He currently works for the Florida Department of Transportation in the Project Finance Office where he oversees the financing of major transportation projects and the Department’s State Infrastructure Bank lending facilities.

ERIK SALSGIVER

Erik Salsgiver was raised in a small non-denominational church in Western Pennsylvania. He has been married to his wife Melanie for 32 years, and they have two children (Mason and Emma), as well as two grandchildren (William and Wakefield). Erik and Melanie were very active in the Southern Baptist churches they attended while living in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida. Erik was ordained as a deacon in the Southern Baptist Church in 1999. He also served as an Elder for an ARC congregation in Destin, Florida. His ministries over the years included outreach, evangelism, children and families, couples, Sunday School, small groups, hospital visitation, benevolence, and family financial planning prior to coming to St. John’s.

Erik and Melanie moved fully to Tallahassee in 2018 and began attending St. John’s along with Erik’s father Jim. They knew St. John’s would be their new home after experiencing the loving spirit of the people and the richness of the worship on their first Sunday. Erik and Melanie became members in April 2019 after attending the “Growing in Grace” classes.

Erik has been active as a Greeter and is one of St. John’s Stephen Ministers. He is also one of the leaders/facilitators for Walking the Mourner’s Path grief recovery care at St. John’s. Additionally, Erik has been a Board Member at Grace Mission since 2019 and is very active in their ministries to the homeless and underserved in our community. Recently, he also began serving as the Faculty Sponsor for the Ruge Hall Episcopal University Center at FSU.

Erik has been a Nurse for over 28 years serving in multiple roles in that time. He is currently a doctorally-prepared Family Nurse Practitioner and teaches in the College of Nursing at Florida State University. Erik has always believed his career in nursing is both a ministry and a profession. He has observed that striving to serve people through healing and maintaining their health is a true blessing to both the caregiver and care receiver. God faithfully shows up to intervene in people’s health and uses nurses and other health professionals to participate in administering His grace (and occasionally miracles) in this aspect of their lives. If chosen for a vestry position, Erik will prayerfully seek opportunities to serve God in this role and further His work in this world through the ministries of St. John’s.

CORINNA STRAYER

Corinna Strayer and her family have been members of St. John’s since 2011. She is married to Wayne, and they have three children who were all confirmed at St. John’s.

Corinna has been involved in many St. John’s ministries throughout the years including the Rector Search Committee, Rector Transition Team Co-Chair, Parish Profile Chair, Vestry, Eucharistic Minister, Greeter, Market volunteer, Youth Bible Study leader, Youth Commission, Mothers of High Schoolers co-leader, Youth B.E.A.T. Week planner/volunteer, Cafe volunteer, St. John’s Bookstore volunteer, Preview Market Committee, Parish Weekend Activities Chair, Foyer Group coordinator, Advent Luncheon Speaker, Flower Ministry, Block Party Chair, Sunday school coordinator/teacher, Universal chaperone, and Newcomers’ Ministry.

Corinna has also served on two missions to Ecuador and is looking forward to returning to Ecuador in July.

KATHY SULLIVAN

Bio available in office.

SUSAN WALTON

Susan Walton was raised in the Roman Catholic Church, married her husband, Jay, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA and joined St. John’s after moving to Tallahassee. They have two married daughters and two granddaughters. Both daughters were baptized, confirmed, and served as acolytes at St. John’s.

Susan has degrees in education from the University of Florida, taught grades 4 & 5, and served as a Reading Specialist in Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. At the Florida Department of Education, she oversaw Intergenerational School Programs and served as the director of three programs: Special Projects, Family Involvement, and School Volunteer Programs before retirement. At St. John’s, Susan’s activities include Sunday School teacher at most grade levels, VBS co-chair, B.E.A.T. Week team, Market volunteer, Grace Mission’s Summer Reading Academy, and Chair of the Mentor/Lend a Hand Project. She is a member of St. Mary’s Circle and has supported Front Porch activities and events.

As a community volunteer, Susan has served as president of the Junior League of Tallahassee and as State Junior League SPAC Treasurer, and has served on the Tallahassee Museum Board and also as Tallahassee Museum Market Days Chair, Friends of the Library Board, and Florida Association of Partners in Education Board. She is a lifetime member of the Florida PTA and Leadership Tallahassee.

LISA ASKINS

Lisa Askins was raised and was actively involved in the United Methodist Church for most of her life before joining St. John’s.  Lisa and her husband, Jeff, joined St. John’s in February of 2019. They have loved and appreciated how welcoming and supportive the St. John’s community is. Lisa lived most of her life in Winter Park, Florida and joined Jeff in Tallahassee 10 years ago. Currently, Lisa and Jeff are serving as this year’s Stewardship Chairs.  Lisa is also the chair of the Angel Food Committee and participates in Team 3 of the Altar Guild.  Lisa and Jeff both work for Synovus Securities, Jeff is a Financial Advisor and Lisa is his assistant.

REBECCA BROWN

Rebecca and her family have been attending and active at St. John’s for more than five years. Rebecca has co-chaired Vacation Bible School and the St. John’s Market, been active in church outreach including Habitat for Humanity and The Kearney Center, and taught Sunday School. She is also active in St. Mary’s Circle, the Fruits of the Vineyard Implementation Team, and the St John’s Mentor/Lend a Hand Project leadership team. Rebecca is currently completing a one-year term on Vestry and would be humbled to continue to serve the parish in that role for another term if elected.

JEN GARRETSON

Jen Garretson has been a member of St. Johns since April 2017. She and her wife, Emily, moved from Rome, Georgia where they both were confirmed at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Jen was highly involved at St. Peters and knew she wanted to be a part of a similar community in Tallahassee. Jen and Emily found the familiar welcoming, inclusive, Christ seeking atmosphere the first time they visited St. Johns. After a Sunday morning full of smiles, scripture and a tour of the Bell Tower they knew they’d found their new home. 

Jen is so grateful for the community that St. John’s provides for her family and Tallahassee. She has had the pleasure to assist with St. Johns youth, currently serves on the Usher team, is a part of the stewardship committee, and is a board member of Integrity Tallahassee. She has also really enjoyed merging her love of cooking with providing meals for members of the church community through the Angel Food Ministry and the New Baby Ministry. 

Professionally Jen works as an accountant for the Department of Environmental Protections. A lover of rules and all things Excel, she earned her Bachelors in Accounting this year. Personally, she is involved in the foster community through Emily’s job as a Foster Family Support Specialist.

JR SAGINARIO

JR Saginario, and his husband Ken, joined St. John’s in 2018, having grown up in the Methodist Church. He currently serves on the Stewardship and Fr. Wallace Transitions committees, has helped out on Market Days and looks forward to the work of St. John’s Social Justice ministry.

Professionally, JR is a financial planner and he enjoys helping people make important financial decisions.  The dedication to helping others started in the Boy Scouts of America where he learned early on, “he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows, greatest.”

JR hopes to carry forward the spirit to the vestry, supporting the framework in which we can all serve God by helping others and creating a more just and sustainable society.

Outside work and church, JR loves live music and attends nearly every concert of the FSU Orchestras, Jazz ensembles, Opera, Tallahassee Symphony and Bach Parley.  In addition to music, he enjoys gardening, nature walks and travel.

MARCY MULDROW SANDERS

Marcy is a native Floridian, and grew up in the Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. After spending many years in a New Thought Church with her husband the call of liturgy became too strong to ignore in 2016 and she made her way back to St. John’s.

Professionally, she is a retired Navy Commander. Marcy has worked over 20 years in accounting, budget, finance and contracts and grants representing the State of Florida. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting, and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Epidemiology. She is a Florida licensed Certified Building Contractor and is a servant leader in Tallahassee. She has served on a few not-for-profit boards and is a member of Leadership Tallahassee.

She has enjoyed serving at St. John’s since becoming a member last year. She currently serves as the Invite Chair of the Invite, Welcome, Connect Committee. She is Co-Chairing the Becoming Beloved Community Consultation, and has served on other ministries in the church. She is the Parliamentarian of the Father David Henry Brooks Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians. She is committed to helping continue the inclusive legacy of St. John’s.

CHRIS SCHOONOVER

Chris Schoonover and his wife, Alli, joined St. John’s in 2013. They have the three children, Liberty (6), William (3) and Andrew (3), who were all baptized at St. John’s. Chris moved to Tallahassee from Orange Park, FL twenty years ago to attend Florida State University, where he served as Student Body President. Chris has served on several committees at St. John’s including the Stewardship Committee and the Invite, Welcome, Connect Committee. St. John’s and its importance to the Tallahassee committee plays a critical role in the Schoonover household. Chris is humbled by the opportunity to become a member of the Vestry and to deepen he and his family’s commitment to St. John’s for years to come. Outside of work, Chris enjoys cooking, fishing and hunting. Professionally, Chris is a member of the Florida Bar and a Partner at Capital City Consulting, a governmental consulting firm.

DAYNE SHELTON

Dayne and his family came to St. John’s in 2015 after relocating to Tallahassee. Raised in the Presbyterian church in Valdosta, GA, he was confirmed into the Episcopal church at St. John’s Bainbridge, GA where he served on the vestry. He and his wife Susan have 3 children, Davis, Mary, and Forester (all of whom are enthusiastic acolytes). At St John’s he serves as an eucharistic minister, usher, and Sunday school teacher. Having relocated a couple times over the years, he is excited to put roots down in Tallahassee and grow in his faith at St. John’s. Professionally, Dayne is a Finance Director for Georgia Pacific Corp. He has engineering and MBA degrees from Ga Tech as well as a CPA license. In his spare time, Dayne enjoys all things outdoors (running, fishing, and boating) and cooking.

KATHY SULLIVAN

Bio available in office.

TRAE WYLIE

Trae was born in Rockledge, Florida, and moved with his parents, Jim and Sandra, and sister, Tiffany, to Tallahassee in 1976. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1985 and The Florida State University in 1990. Trae attended Faith Presbyterian Church until graduating from college where he was a member of the Youth Choir and Youth Group. He married his wife, Angie, in 1992 and they attended Christ Presbyterian Church.

After the birth of their daughter, Sydney, they began searching for a new church home. They fell in love with St. Johns after visiting in 2013. Later that year, Sydney was baptized on All Saints Sunday. In 2014, Trae and Angie completed Growing in Grace and were confirmed by Bishop Howard. Sydney received confirmation in 2018.

Since joining St. John’s Trae and his family have been immersed in St. John’s ministries. The entire family has worked in some capacity with the St. John’s Market for several years. Trae has served as a Eucharistic Minister, and more recently, at the request of the clergy became a Verger. He also served in 2018 as a member of the Stewardship Committee. Angie is currently Co-Director of the Altar Guild, and will become the sole Director of in 2019. Angie has also been involved in Invite-Welcome-Connect, Sunday school, and the Strategic Planning Committee. Sydney has served as an acolyte for several years in addition to other youth activities.

Professionally, Trae has enjoyed a long and diverse career in the legal field and is currently employed as a paralegal at Sniffen & Spellman, P.A.

PAM JORDAN ANDERSON

The 60th anniversary, on January 1, of my Baptism by the late Father Harry Douglas reaffirms my love and care for the Diocese of Florida. I was confirmed by Bishop West, attended Sewanee thanks to a DuPont-Juhan Scholarship, and married to Paul by Father Bob Snell almost 35 years ago. We came to St. John’s from Advent in 1998 with our 4 children, Jordan, Elizabeth, Sarah Michael, and Katherine. I have treasured past opportunities to serve as a Sewanee Trustee, member of Standing Committee, Alternate Deputy to General Convention, and St. John’s Delegate to the Diocese of Florida Convention. Friends from across this Diocese are part of “my personal church” . . . those who have helped me become the Christian that I am today. I would be grateful to give of my time to again serve St. John’s, our Diocese, and God’s people as a Delegate to Convention.

JIM APTHORP

Jim Apthorp is married to Cheri Boyd Apthorp. They have seven adult children and thirteen grandchildren. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s and later active with church youth groups. He also served as an acolyte. As an adult, he served as Senior Warden at St. Stephen’s Church in Miami.

Jim has worked in government as Deputy Secretary of State, Director of State Lands, and as Chief of Staff for Gov. Reuben Askew. He served as Founder and Director of the LeRoy Collins Institute and Chairman on the FSU Foundation. He has also handled real estate in Miami and Tampa.

TOM BATEMAN

Tom Bateman was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, served as an altar boy, and considered attending seminary before life’s challenges led to a change in direction. Tom is married to Mary Ellen Bateman. They became members of St. John’s in 2013. Tom was received and Mary Ellen was confirmed in the Episcopal Church at St. John’s. They attended the Growing in Grace class and the following year served as facilitators for the following Growing in Grace class. Tom and Mary Ellen have attended St. John’s on and off since moving to Tallahassee in the early 1980’s and, having found their church “home and family,” have faithfully attended and participated in the ministries of St. John’s since becoming members.

Tom serves as a Greeter and on the Do Justice Ministry. He has an ongoing interest in the Tallahassee Community Remembrance Project and participates in the Capital Area Justice Ministry. For the past three years Tom has served as one of St. John’s representatives on the Grace Mission Episcopal Church’s Advisory Board, has represented Grace Mission at the annual Alternative Market, and serves Grace Mission children and families at their annual Thanksgiving dinner held at Grace Mission and Christmas dinner held in Alfriend Hall. In 2015, Tom and Mary Ellen traveled on a pilgrimage to England with Father Dave, Mother Abi, and other St. John’s members.

Professionally, Tom is an attorney and retired judge. Currently he serves full time as a mediator, arbitrator, and neutral. Tom enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking, birding, and travel to our nation’s National Parks.

Tom and Mary Ellen have been married for 37 years. They have four children and two grand-children.

VIRGINIA PERKINS

Virginia Perkins was confirmed at St. John’s in 1965 after being raised in the Methodist Church. She is married to Earle Perkins whose family has been at St. John’s for many generations. They have two grown sons, John and Lewis, who were baptized and confirmed at St. John’s. Their grandchildren were also baptized at St. John’s.

Virginia is currently serving on the Adult Education, Memorials, Cemetery and Communications Committees. In the past she was a member of the Vestry, and chair for the Altar Guild, the Needlepoint Committee and the St. John’s Bookstore board. She also taught Sunday School and was a delegate to the Diocesan Convention.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family at St. Teresa, reading, Pilates, bridge and gardening.