2026
Vestry Candidates
Dear Christ Church,
Enclosed you will find photos and brief remarks from each of the eight candidates on this year’s Vestry ballot. According to our bylaws, we are required to place at least eight names on the ballot for consideration for the four openings in each year’s class. Our nominating committee is made up of the four outgoing Vestry members, the Rector, and two persons the Rector appoints. That committee is pleased to present this slate of eight faithful candidates for your prayerful consideration
Each of these candidates is an active part of the life of Christ Church and is already engaged in ministry among us in a myriad of ways. Each of them has accepted a nomination to serve in a new capacity: the important role of helping lead this congregation in response to God’s calling.
The Vestry serves as the legal representative and agent of the institution that is the Church, a responsibility laid out in the Episcopal Church’s canons Vestries work with Rectors to ensure that a congregation can faithfully and effectively carry out the church’s mission. Vestries are continually engaged in discernment - listening and responding to the invitation of God through the Holy Spirit. Vestries are entrusted with the stewardship of all of the parish’s resources, physical, financial, and even spiritual The Vestry helps craft the mission and vision of the parish
Our Vestry is composed of 12 members, each of whom is elected to a three year term By Episcopal Church canon, the Rector presides over the Vestry as a non-voting member. The Vestry elects the Senior and Junior Wardens, and is also served by electing a Secretary and a Treasurer, neither of whom need be an elected member of the Vestry. The Vestry’s work is supported by the parish staff and other lay leaders who serve on committees that report to the Vestry, like the Finance Committee or the Endowment Committee, for example
We seek diversity on our Vestry whenever possible, combining different areas of professional experience, length of engagement with the parish, and participation in the life of the parish and its many worshiping communities. Please prayerfully consider who you think God may be calling to serve in this important ministry, and give thanks for all eight of these candidates for their willingness to serve us all in this important way
Blessings,
Voting Procedures
Vestry Voting will take place at all services on January 24, and January 25, 2026. Our bylaws do not provide a provision for absentee voting or proxy voting All votes must be cast in person on that weekend Results of the voting will be reported at the Annual Meeting on January 25
Eligibility to Vote
We value all our members, yet we must follow the canons of the Episcopal Church when it comes to voting For that purpose, there are different categories of membership Only one category can vote: communicants in good standing
All “communicants in good standing” are eligible to vote in a parish election. Communicants are defined by church canon as: those members who are Episcopalian (or ELCA Lutheran) whose primary membership is held at Christ Church are active in the life of the parish (attending worship and/or supporting ministry) this includes anyone 16 years and older, assuming that person has been confirmed or received
This means that some seasonal members are ineligible if their “letter,” or primary membership, is held in another parish. It also means that members who have not joined the Episcopal Church officially through Confirmation or Reception are ineligible to vote
On the days when voting takes place, tellers will have a roster of communicants; however, there are sometimes mistakes, with some eligible members omitted. Anyone who believes they are eligible to vote will be provided a ballot. If that person’s name is not on the voting list, and they believe they are eligible, a provisional ballot will be provided. We will consult parish records to affirm eligibility, and if eligibility is confirmed, the ballot is counted
In England the annual election of churchwardens took place in Easter week The parishioners gathered at the church to hear the outgoing wardens render their accounts and elect their successors The parishioners assembled in the vestry, the room off the chancel where the clergy vested The assembled parishioners came to be known as the vestry These were open vestries in that all adult male parishioners could participate It was like a modern annual congregational meeting In Virginia the parishes were very large and it was difficult to get all the male parishioners together So they would meet only once and elect twelve of their number to serve for life This was known as a closed vestry The transition to a closed vestry was completed by 1633 or 1634, when a Vestry Act was passed It provided that “there be a vestrie held in each parish ” The current vestry evolved from this colonial pattern
The vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. The number of vestry members and the term of office varies from parish to parish. Vestry members are usually elected at the annual parish meeting. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. There are usually two wardens. The senior warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support person for the rector. The junior warden often has responsibility for church property and buildings. A treasurer and a secretary or clerk may be chosen. These officers may or may not be vestry members. The basic responsibilities of the vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances.
From: An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A user-friendly reference for Episcopalians, Church Publishing, Inc
Don Baker
urch Frederica has the financial resources not only for the present but for future generations so that it can continue to fulfill its mission by offering a variety of programs and services that meet the interests and needs of the congregation and the broader community.
As the current chair of the Finance Committee, member of the Stewardship-Development committee, and chair of the Dodge Society, I am well versed on the church’s programming and financial affairs.
I understand nonprofit governance and how to optimize an organization’s resources to meet its mission. Currently retired, my career was in academia at Rochester Institute of Technology, where I was director of the counseling center, professor and dean of two colleges, and director of the Center for Quality and Applied Statistics In my final position, I provided training and consulting to numerous organizations on quality management and process improvement strategies. In addition, I have served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, most recently as treasurer of Journeymen Asheville, which provides rites-of-passage experiences for adolescent boys.
My partner, Randy Siegel, and I have been involved with Christ Church for the past 11 years. We were first attracted by the historic beauty of the church with its majestic oaks. What sustains us is the warm welcome we receive from the clergy, staff, and congregation, the variety of the liturgy at the various services, fellowship opportunities, Christian formation, and the church’s outreach to the broader community. We generally attend the contemplative service on Sunday evenings at St. Ignatius Chapel and at times the 9:15 service at Christ Church. We also regularly attend the Wednesday evening dinners, adult formation offerings, and have volunteered for the Tour of Homes, Vacation Bible School, and the labyrinth
Rick Burdick
Sharon and I attend the 9:15 service. We began attending Christ Church about five years ago, shortly after we moved to the area. Christ Church has become an important spiritual home for us. What I value most about Christ Church is the strong, supportive Christian community it provides one that is welcoming, engaged, and rooted in faith. Christ Church does an exceptional job of fostering meaningful relationships across generations, and it is a place where people feel known, supported, and encouraged to grow in their faith together.
I spent my career as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, practicing in a large international firm I have also served on the boards of several public companies and non-profits for over 30 years. In these roles, I have gained experience in professional leadership, finance, governance, strategic thinking, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving. In these roles, I have worked closely with diverse stakeholders to navigate complex decisions and focus on long-term sustainability and governance. Prior to moving to the area, I was a member at St. John’s Church in McLean, Virginia, where I served as a lay reader for a number of years.
My hope for Christ Church is that it continues to deepen its role as a vibrant, Christ-centered community while thoughtfully growing to meet the needs of families and individuals at every stage of life. I am particularly interested in continuing to develop an integrated approach to family ministry one that supports children, youth, and parents in a connected and intentional way, and that strengthens faith formation within the context of the broader parish community I also hope Christ Church will continue to balance spiritual vitality with strong governance and stewardship, ensuring that it remains a welcoming, sustainable, and faithful presence for years to come.
Louise Calhoun
I have had a connection with Christ Church my entire life. Although I grew up as a member of The Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Savannah I attended services often at Christ Church with my grandparents who lived here and were members Seven generations of my family are represented in the Christ Church Cemetery. Keith and I moved here from Atlanta in 2013 and joined Christ Church. We regularly attend the Saturday service at St. Ignatius. I feel that I am part of an active church family there and that God is working on my heart during those services. I am amazed at the willingness of the staff and of the members at Christ Church to answer the needs of the parish and our community
My recent retirement from a life of raising four children, caring for aging parents, and serving in leadership roles in various organizations has allowed me to prayerfully consider a new direction for my life. I have been thinking about how much it meant to me to be deeply involved with Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta for over twenty-five years. I would like to become more active here at Christ Church. Through attendance to Christ Church services, Bible studies, speakers, classes and volunteering at events like The Tour of Homes my spiritual life continues to be blessed and enriched in numerous ways I would now like to “give back” I have the time, the desire, and the gift of certain skills, including leadership, hospitality, teaching one-on-one, encouragement, and enthusiasm to share. I have had experience reviewing local non-profits to prayerfully consider the awarding of grant money. That brought to my attention just how many needs there are where we live and how challenging it must be for a church like ours to decide how to meet the needs of our community while at the same time addressing the needs of our membership.
If elected to the Vestry, I look forward to being a part of the process to ensure the stability, growth, and effective operation of Christ Church. I am particularly interested in ministry support in areas of outreach, youth, and pastoral care. I would be accessible to all members of our congregation and draw on the experience of our more seasoned leaders while providing fresh perspective. My hope for Christ Church is that we will continue to be a bright light in our world and make a positive difference in the lives of many
Slyvia Greenwood
My name is Sylvia Greenwood. My husband and I have been attending Christ Church for approximately 10 years We attend the 11:15 service and have served as ushers, greeters, and lectors I am a member of the Chancel Choir, Docents, Altar Guild, and Martha Guild, and also help with backpackers. I have found that there are so many opportunities to get involved at Christ Church, and one can always find ways to serve. I admire and appreciate our welcoming spirit As a Docent, love to see the look on the faces of people who visit our church for the first time. They so appreciate that the church is open for them to visit and learn about our history and the Episcopal Church.
My life's vocation was education I taught 8th-grade math and algebra in middle school for 24 years I then became a middle school principal for 7 years in a school which had 1000 students and a large staff. I have held positions, including president, of several nonprofit organization boards, including Children's Welfare League, Friends of the Earth, and the Aston Park Health Care Center, which is a community-owned nursing facility. My strength is organizational skills If I become a member of the Vestry, I want to see Christ Church continue on the path of encouraging new families to visit and become members of our wonderful church. I think the Vestry and staff have worked very hard to develop ideas to achieve this goal. They are thinking "out of the box," and that is so important in today's society It is very important to continue seeing Christ Church as a relevant part of St. Simons Island and Glynn County.
The strength of Christ Church is its willingness to be ever-changing and inclusive to meet the needs of its members and the community We have so many members who are always ready to do whatever is needed at any given time. I have met so many energetic and talented people in the staff and membership, and I am so grateful and proud to say "I belong to Christ Church", and would welcome the opportunity to serve.
Pam Hamilton
with Dennis. I have been a member of Christ Church for almost 20 years om Ohio. I was drawn to Christ Church initially by its rich history, ngs – and then by the warm welcome and sense of belonging I love the aura hurch, both inside and out.
My background, professionally, is as a Physician. I enjoyed thirty years of busy Solo practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology I had leadership roles as President of the hospital Medical Staff and President of the Cleveland Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Here in the Golden Isles, I was a member of the Citizen Review Panel for the Glynn County Juvenile Court System and a Board Member of the Cassina Garden Club. Currently, I am Secretary/Board Member of the Rotary Club of St. Simons Island and a Board Member of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia. My activities at Christ Church have included Co-Chairing a home for the Tour of Homes, Assistant Wedding Coordinator, and member of the Bell Choir.
The future of Christ Church lies with its younger members and those with young families Encouraging ways to continue attracting younger people to the congregation and to further develop children’s programs are important. I fully support Christ Church in growing its already successful outreach programs for the needy in the Community. My hope is to help further these and similar goals, thus supporting the mission and growth of our beloved Christ Church
Debbie Holland
I attend the 9:15 service and have attended Christ Church since 2021. I really enjoy the people at Christ Church and enjoy working with many of them on Christ Church events, Wednesday night suppers, and mission outreach programs. For me, I have found that the more I have become involved, the more I feel that I belong at Christ Church. Particularly in these unsettling times, Christ Church is a constant, known quantity in my life. I know that I will attend services with the same liturgy, see many of the same people, listen to beautiful music, and hear a meaningful sermon. That constancy in my life brings me joy and security.
With my work as an accountant, I am comfortable with reviewing financial statements with an understanding of what we should be able to determine about operations and what could/should be included to enhance communication of our financial condition. I have held membership and board positions in several local organizations and believe in developing relationships with fellow board members. Understanding each member’s skills and talents helps the group make better decisions.
One significant goal for Christ Church is to increase our efforts in attracting young people and young families. While I feel this issue is already recognized as a need, it remains a goal we should continue to address with persistence and optimism Continuing to fund our community outreach programs and encouraging broad-based membership participation should remain a focus for our vestry.
Bud Keller
When my wife, Diane, and I moved to St. Simons Island, we were immediately attracted to the beauty and storied history of this church.Since those first days three years ago, we have felt the love and care exhibited for everyone in their daily lives and in their times of need. I love that Christ Church is a communal and welcoming space for people of all backgrounds. I will do my best to continue that tradition of hospitality.
My gift in life has been in my ability to work with people. I have been the president of several trade associations. I have been the regional governor for a fraternal organization working with the major universities in Georgia.I have been a volunteer at several churches over the years, including the one I helped found in Peachtree Corners.
The backbone of our church is our volunteer ministries. I support the invitation for everyone to participate as able in these opportunities of excellence that help our neighbors. I am honored to have been asked to sit in the monthly Mission and Outreach meetings. My experiences with our church volunteers at the Salvation Army, and this past year at Manna House, have been enlightening and rewarding. Christ Church outreach programs are doing good work and need our continued support.
I believe that grace comes from God, and that we learn to share in that grace through our worship services and our programs of Christian Education. Our children and youth groups require our continued efforts and support. We have available adult groups as well. I have enjoyed being a part of the Interpreter’s Table classes that are held each Thursday. I have had a great learning experience with the fine gents of the Men’s Book Study Group on Wednesdays. It has been my pleasure to facilitate this group. Our choir and music programs are wonderful in bringing us together.
Our communion with one another is paramount in our worship and life together as a church. Coming to the table as a part of our worship services sets the example for us to reach toward God and to one another in other settings. The Wednesday night dinners have been a great success in that communion. I have been happy to help with the set-up and clean-up of these important gatherings.
Although I am not a member of any of our important guilds (the Van Guild excluded), I believe that they deserve our appreciation and support. These sometimes-thankless jobs that provide service behind the scenes help make our church experiences sure, safe, sacred. Our paid staff and volunteers in the office also need our recognition and encouragement.
My vision for Christ Church Frederica is one of constant growth. We have so much goodness to share between ourselves and those we touch by our many outreach programs. It would be my honor to serve on the vestry and contribute my best efforts toward building a strong, hospitable, growing parish, where loving God and our neighbors is our daily practice and mission.
Please don’t let me miss saying hello to you.Diane and I attend the 9:15 services, and I still drive the church van when needed.
Charles McMillan
I attend the 8 AM Sunday service most of the time and the 5:30 St. Ignatius service occasionally. I grew up attending Christ Church until I was in college We have been back on St Simons full-time for about 4 years since my retirement.
What is important to me about Christ Church is the intertwined sense of Christian community and the heritage of learning that flourishes. Our lively spirituality and deep local historical legacy are the two primary gifts that help define Christ Church to the larger world.Since we have been given much, I hope my involvement at Christ Church continues these blessings into the future (Luke 12:48).
I have a sense of curiosity and interest in the church's teachings, which is fed by the strong preaching and study at Christ Church. On the practical side, I started and ran a civil engineering firm for over 25 years, which has given me valuable insights into both business operations and facilities management. For the last part of my career, I ran the Savannah office for the Georgia Conservancy, which gave me a deep dive into the non-profit world.
I have served on the vestry at St David’s in Roswell, Georgia, and St Paul’s in Savannah Vestry service is important for the long-term viability of a congregation. I would be honored to serve in this capacity.
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.