Administration and Leadership
An important ministry of any organization, including the church, is effective administration. The coordination and planning of all activities of the church, as well as the care and maintenance of the physical plant represents appropriate stewardship of the time, talents, and grounds of the church. Good administration, at its best, is care for people.
Episcopal parishes are led by lay leaders who are elected to three year terms to the parish’s board, called the “vestry,” in partnership with the senior priest (known as the rector, vicar or priest-in-charge). Each parish also has a lay treasurer and clerk of the vestry.
St. Clare’s Annual Meeting was Sunday, November 19, 2023.
The 2022 Annual Report may be viewed here.
Vestry
Our current vestry members are:
Frank Kinmonth, Senior Warden
Pat Murray, Junior Warden
Lamar Barber, Treasurer
Jo Ellen Clow, Clerk
Mary Buonagura
Amy Cox
Butch Duryea
Lynne Joynes
Lisa McElfresh
Michael Smith-Foot
Steve Wilson
Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Liz Schellingerhoudt, OA
Rector’s Welcome
Liz+ has served St. Clare’s since Palm Sunday 2015. Prior to St. Clare’s she was the associate priest for outreach and pastoral care at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in midtown Atlanta. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a BA in Religion from Converse College. Prior to her ordination to the priesthood she worked in non-profit management at the national office of the American Cancer Society and several Atlanta-area colleges and universities.
Liz+ has been married to her husband Kees since 1990, and they have two young adult children. Liz+ loves the north Georgia mountains, where her great-great grandparents had a hotel in the Porter Springs-Dahlonega area in the late 1800’s, and where the family still has a home. In her spare time she is a budding amateur potter, water colorist, knitter, and fly fisher. Her passion is connecting people to the love that God has for each and every person.
Liz+ is a member of the Order of the Ascension, a dispersed Benedictine community which takes vows “To seek the presence of Jesus Christ in the people, things and circumstances of life through stability, obedience and conversion of life.” More information about the Order may be found at http://www.orderoftheascension.org/.
Liz+ may be reached by email by clicking here or by calling the church office at 706-645-0607.
Karen Calloway
Organist/Choir Director
Karen Calloway began work at St. Clare’s as organist/choir director on December 1, 2013.
Karen holds a B.M.E. in Choral Conducting from Indiana University and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Florida State University with additional vocal studies at the New England Conservatory and privately with Irene Harrower in Atlanta.
Karen has performed opera, oratorio, musical theater, as well as Medieval and Renaissance vocal music. Karen has played chamber music as a flutist and recorder player in Boston, Tallahassee and northeastern Georgia.
Click here to reach Karen by email or call the church office at 706-745-0607.
Kitty Taylor
Parish Administrator
Kitty grew up in Murphy, NC, studied Literature and Professional Writing at Western Carolina University, and completed a Master of Theological Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. While in Nashville, Kitty also participated in a year-long hospital chaplain residency program where she fell in love with pastoral care. Since returning to the area, she has worked in the nonprofit sector doing outreach, advocacy, and program development. In 2021, she received a Grief Support Specialist Certificate.
While serving as a chaplain resident, Kitty found her niche as an essayist and has written for Ministry Matters, an online resource for church leaders. Alongside her love of words, she also loves her fiancé (Greg), her three cats, and the peace (and pace) of life in the mountains.
Kitty’s days in the church office are Monday through Thursday. Click here to reach Kitty by email and she will return your email on her next day in the office, or call the church office at 706-745-0607.