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 is Sunday,
December 7, 2025
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+ 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.”
Liz+ has been married to her husband Kees since 1990, and they have two adult children. Liz+ loves the north Georgia mountains, where her great-great grandparents had a hotel in the mountains of Dahlonega in the late 1800’s, and where the family still has a home. In her spare time she is an 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+ may be reached by email 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.