Parish Leadership
St. Francis is guided by compassionate clergy, skilled staff, and an enthusiastic laity. Click on the images for brief biographies of the St. Francis leadership team.
Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Maly Hughes,
Rector
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Michael Burroughs, Director of Music and Spiritual Life
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Michelle Sousa, Parish Administrator
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Leah Tedeschi, Director of Children & Family Ministry
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Kristine Adams,
Communications
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The Rev. Stephenie Cooper,
Deacon
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The Rev. John Avery Palmer,
Deacon
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The Vestry
In the Episcopal Church, the vestry is the governing board of the parish. It is elected by the congregation as a whole, and conducts its secular business. The rector is an ex officio member of the vestry and usually chairs its meetings. The leaders of the vestry are the rector, Senior Warden and Junior Warden. Originally the word vestry referred to the room where the priest would put on his vestments, at which time and place the members of the congregation would often gather to discuss the affairs of the parish. Later, the word came to refer to the lay leaders themselves instead of a room.
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The Episcopal Church uses a representative form of government instead of a pure democracy and members of the vestry are elected at the parish’s annual meeting. As its primary responsibility, the vestry oversees the parish’s financial health. In partnership with the rector, it develops and approves the annual parish budget. At St. Francis, the vestry meets on the third Tuesday of the month to conduct its business and on special occasions as needed.
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Vestry Members:
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Delegates to Diocesan Convention
Delegates represent St. Francis in the councils of the church, through their participation in deanery meetings and Diocesan Convention. Delegates ratify the diocesan budget, pass resolutions for diocesan government, and elect members of the diocese to various bodies and commissions, including the election of clergy and lay deputies to the national triennial General Convention. Delegates also have the privilege of electing diocesan bishops from time-to-time.
All active clergy are automatically members of the diocesan convention. In addition, each congregation in good standing elects lay delegates and alternates. The number of delegates and alternates is based on the average Sunday attendance of the previous year.
Deanery meetings are regional gatherings that occur two or three times per year. The Annual Meeting of Diocesan Convention is held in November.
The rector of St. Francis, the Rev. Maly Hughes, recently stepped down as Secretary of Convention, a position she held for eight years; she serves as Vocations Secretary of the Commission on Ministry and deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of El Camino Real. Mr. Joe Head serves as chair of the diocesan finance committee. The Rev. Stephenie Cooper is a clergy member of convention for Holy Family, San Jose.
All active clergy are automatically members of the diocesan convention. In addition, each congregation in good standing elects lay delegates and alternates. The number of delegates and alternates is based on the average Sunday attendance of the previous year.
Deanery meetings are regional gatherings that occur two or three times per year. The Annual Meeting of Diocesan Convention is held in November.
The rector of St. Francis, the Rev. Maly Hughes, recently stepped down as Secretary of Convention, a position she held for eight years; she serves as Vocations Secretary of the Commission on Ministry and deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of El Camino Real. Mr. Joe Head serves as chair of the diocesan finance committee. The Rev. Stephenie Cooper is a clergy member of convention for Holy Family, San Jose.
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Lay Members of Convention (Delegates):
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Alternates:
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