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

Br. Jonathan Liu, Chinese Missioner

Michael Langham, Organist

Leah Tedeschi, Director of Children & Family Ministry

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.

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.

Pictured from left to right: Chris Peacock, Jack Roach,
Joe Head, Renee Lowe, Phil Steinke, Lisa Smith, Patti Holderman, Laura Trovato, Bob Zeroun, Nathaniel Lim

Vestry Members:

Phil Steinke, Senior Warden
Renee Lowe, Junior Warden
Nathaniel Lim, Treasurer
Patti Holderman - Clerk of the Vestry

Jack Roach
Lisa Smith
Beth Heise
Oscar Acevedo

Laura Trovato
Chris Peacock
Gale Hazen

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.

Lay Members of Convention (Delegates):

Joe Head
Yvonne Head
George Jewett
Isabelle Wright