Term Ending 2010
James has been a member of Calvary for a decade, during which time he has been involved in numerous ministries. A former Journey Group Leader, Care Team member, and Annual Giving Caller, James currently serves as a Eucharistic Minister, Growing in Faith Leader, Foyer Group member, and Usher and Greeter for the annual AIDS Healing Service. James has worked for 19 years in the Shelby County School System, and currently is director of Federal Programs. James has identified the need for the Vestry to focus on generating new ideas to enhance the “wonderful worship and Christian development in order for our faith-based community to continue to grow.” As a Vestry member, James focuses his energy on the growth of our parish and the development of our outreach programs to meet the needs of our community.
Sharon and her husband Jim have been members of Calvary for over a dozen years. Sharon has had a leadership role in numerous facets of parish life including Waffle Shop, web site development, youth and children’s ministries, stewardship, outreach, and pastoral care. A lawyer by training, she now enjoys “a variety of volunteer jobs” and the full-time parenting of children Claire (19) and Spence (14). She utilized her strong writing and editing skills first with the team who identified the core values of the parish and created the FAITH acronym, and again with the team who wrote the parish profile used in the search for our current rector. Sharon believes that “these core values of Forgiveness, Action, Inquiry, Togetherness, and Hallelujah should continue to guide us in all decisions about the life of the parish.” Her energies as a Vestry leader are focused on the parish community, youth programs, and outreach.
Allison Cates (Senior Warden)
Allison has attended Calvary with her husband Andy since 1999 and was received in 2003. Allison worked as a CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers for ten years before the birth of their twins Stephen and Frances (7). Andy and Allison chaired the Annual Giving Campaign in 2004 and she continues to make stewardship calls yearly. Allison has provided leadership to the Guild of the Christ Child, served on the Strategic Planning Committee, waitressed at Waffle Shop, and lead Children’s Chapel. Currently, she is working on the Human Resouces committee and looking into the parish’s security issues. She also is active with the Junior League, Grace-St. Luke’s school, and the Children’s Museum. Allison’s strengths include a balanced approach to problem solving, accounting/financial knowledge, a young family’s perspective, a commitment to downtown Memphis, and experience working with volunteers.
Len and wife Nina were married at Calvary in 1995 and he was confirmed here in 2005. Len is the current chair of the Evangelism Ministry Group, which benefits greatly from his extensive healthcare marketing experience. Len is a Eucharistic Minister and Visitor and has been active in West TN Cursillo. He currently participates in Fellowship groups and in Education for Ministry (EfM). Len identifies the following priorities for Calvary: focusing on creating intentional programs for youth, singles, young families, and older adults; expanding our outreach ministry to build on our role as a socially active downtown congregation; and updating, repairing, and maintaining our facility to ensure it loses none of its existing beauty. As a Vestry member, Len will focus his energy on worship, communications, outreach, and buildings and grounds.
Term Ending 2011
Mark and his wife Andrea joined Calvary in 2000 and are the parents of Lily (5) and Jessa (2). Mark is the former president of the Men’s Journey Group, a participant in the Family Sanctuary class, and a newly-trained Eucharistic Minister. In the past, Mark has taught 8th-9th grade Sunday school and volunteered at the Hospitality Hub. Mark joined the Memphis Fire Department in 1994 and is currently a Lieutenant. Mark enjoys finding ways to help other men get integrated into the life of the parish. He identifies three priorities for the parish: 1. Maintaining our level of outreach ministries, for which we are so well known, and which attracted so many of us; 2. Developing programming to strengthen our community of faith; and 3. Finding new ways to invite new people into our faith community. As a Vestry member, Mark focuses on ministries for families, men, inter-generations, and outreach.
Jeff Kitterman (Junior Warden)
Jeff was confirmed at Calvary 20 years ago. He has raised his two sons in the parish. Barrett, 20, is in hissecond year at Savannah College of Art and Design, and Sam, 14, is in 8th grade at Grace-St. Luke’s School. Jeff is a partner in the Memphis office of Dixon Hughes, a North Carolina CPA firm. A member of the finance committee for the past 16 years, Jeff also has served on the Vestry, as parish Treasurer, an Usher, and on search committees. Jeff views serving on Vestry as an opportunity to be involved with clergy and lay leadership and to represent the families of Calvary. To the Vestry, Jeff brings his long finance background. Jeff sees Calvary’s top priorities in the coming years to be: greater numbers active in church attendance, communion, and fellowship; youth programs/ Christian education; and attention to parish facilities. As a Vestry member, Jeff focuses his energies on continuing in Calvary’s balance of inreach and outreach.
Andy Mathes (At Large)
Andy joined Calvary in 1997. With wife Hester, he is a parent to daughter Neeley (6) and son Zander (4). Andy holds degrees in finance and biology from Texas Christian University. He spent 12 years in debt structuring and now works as a fixed income specialist at Duncan Williams. In the past, Andy has taught Jr. and Sr. High Sunday School, assisted with the youth program, and served as president of the Men’s Journey Group and member of the Strategic Planning Committee. He currently attends the Family Sanctuary class, and was the Co-Chair with Hester of the 2009 Annual Giving Campaign. Andy’s priorities are for our attendance and membership to grow, to assist members in actively participating in our outreach and inreach projects, and to see the youth program given the support its leaders require.
Ginny is married to Philip Strubing, is the mother of a grown daughter, and has two grandchildren. She has been a member of Calvary Church all her life, and a member of the Altar Guild for 30 years. Ginny twice has served on the Vestry, and is the past president of the ECW and chair of the Parish Life Ministry Group. She currently serves on a Care Team, teaches Godly Play with her sister Cristina Pinkham in the 4-year old Atria, and is the Special Events Chair of parish life programs. Ginny’s list of civic involvement is long and includes leadership roles in Les Passes, Junior League, BRIDGES, and diocesan ECW. Ginny describes herself as project-oriented, a team-player, and open to different viewpoints. Ginny identifies “seeking out and making use of parishioners’ gifts and talents” as a priority for Calvary. Maintaining our fiscal health and ensuring the best use of capital campaign funds are her other concerns.
Beebe Woodside (Clerk)
Beebe is a life-long Episcopalian, who transferred to Calvary in 2000 from St. Mary’s Cathedral, where she served on the Chapter (Vestry). Beebe holds a degree in Mathematics and is a part-time grant writer for the Memphis Library. For two years, Beebe coordinated the Calvary Lenten Preaching Series. She is an enthusiastic outreach volunteer, currently tutoring at the Grizzlies Academy, participating in our Gulf Coast missions, cooking Soup Sunday soup, and assisting with the Emmanuel Meal. She is a member of the Emmaus Ministry and a Foyer group, and has knitted prayer shawls, served as a Greeter and a member of the outreach committee. Beebe brings to the Vestry her years of volunteering and work experience to assist Calvary in accomplishing its mission as a downtown church in worship, outreach, and growth. As a Vestry member, Beebe focuses her energy on outreach.
Term Ending 2012
Lucia Crenshaw (At Large)
Lucia and her husband Hal have been members of Calvary Church for the past 25 years, where they have raised their three daughters, Lucia (23), Wendy (21) and Molly (19). Lucia holds degrees in Psychology and Counseling. She has a long history of civic involvement with the Junior League, the Children’s Foundation, the Women’s Foundation, and the Children’s Museum. At Calvary, Lucia currently serves on the Memorials Committee and tutors at Carnes Elementary. She is the past President of the ECW, and committee member for the Lenten Preaching Series and Community Service. To the Vestry, she brings her skills in organization, team-building, communications, and hospitality, and focuses her energies on addressing her priorities for the parish: community-building, and Christian education and spiritual growth/development.
Desi began attending Calvary in 1992 and was confirmed in 1994. She has raised her son Alex (17) in the parish. She served on the Interim Rector Search Committee in 2001, and on the Vestry from 2002-2004, as the Jr. Warden in 2003 and the Sr. Warden in 2004. Desi is a former Godly Play teacher, Waffle Shop volunteer, and was a member of the Parish Choir and Messiah Chorus for many years. A 1993 graduate of Leadership Memphis, Desi is a former board member of the Samaritan Counseling Center, is the chair-elect of Memphis in May, and is the Legal Counsel for the RISE Foundation. Desi received a a law degree in 1984 from the U of M, and has been a shareholder with Baker Donelson since 1992. To the Vestry, she brings this legal skill, plus an “ability to make high level decisions regarding church business, experience as a former Vestry member and Sr. Warden, knowledge of Calvary’s culture, and good people skills.” As a Vestry member, Desi focuses her energy on addressing Calvary’s top priorities: dealing with shrinking attendance and financial support, and strengthening core missions of the church—preaching, pastoral care, and Christian education.
Dana Sue has been a member for almost 50 years and received the Calvary Medal of Honor in 2007. Dana Sue has held numerous leadership positions within the parish, including Chair and Team Captain of the Altar Guild, President of the St. Elizabeth’s Guild, President and Treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), Secretary of the Memorials Committee, Dining Room Chair of the Waffle Shop, and co-founder of the Joy Chapter of the Daughters of the King (DOK). She currently is the Treasurer of the West TN DOK, takes reservations for monthly St. Clare Retreats, serves on the BRIDGES board of advisors, volunteers with Special Olympics and the Hospitality Hub, reads to Pre-K students at Carnes Elementary, and serves as an Acolyte with daughter Ann (42), a Eucharistic Minister, and a Eucharistic Visitor. Dana Sue completed the four-year Education for Ministry (EfM) program, received a nursing degree from UT-Memphis, raised three children, worked in the family’s country store, and kept the books for the family farm. She says, “My skills are to listen to different points of view and seek answers or actions for the group to work with.” Calvary’s top priority in the next three years “should be to continue to seek new ways to make God visible in downtown Memphis, and to strengthen programs for members of all ages, from children to older adults.”
Jerry was confirmed here in 1988, transferred to St. Timothy’s in Southaven, MS in 1991, and returned to Calvary with his wife Wendy in 2004. Jerry is an EfM graduate and former mentor, has facilitated the DOCC adult Christian education program, and participated in the Calvary Street Ministry. He currently serves on the Emmaus ministry. He has used his skills as a Registered Nurse on numerous medical mission trips to Honduras, and was instrumental in establishing Calvary’s relationship with the Latin American Mission & Bible (LAMB) Institute and Orphanage in Honduras. Jerry identifies himself as a “good listener and able to find common ground with others,” skills he brings to the Vestry. Jerry focuses on adult education, ministry to member’s needs, and building maintenance.He identifies the Vestry’s top priorities to be: Creating excitement about Calvary’s mission; Identifying and doing things that lead to growth; Supporting and nurturing our younger members; Ministering to members through pastoral visitation, counseling and education; and Being good caretakers of Calvary’s heritage.
Gary and his wife Noell were confirmed here in 2004. They regularly attend the 9:00 a.m. service with their three children, Elliott (6), Winnie (4), and Hugh (almost 1). Over the last 8 years, Gary has twice chaired the Annual Giving Campaign, and participated in the Men’s Journey Group, Men’s Thursday Morning Bible Study, Community Breakfast and Soup Sunday Ministries, served as a Sunday School Teacher and Greeter. He currently teaches the Sr. High Sunday morning class with Ellen Coleman. To the Vestry, Gary brings an ability to get to the heart of an issue and work well with others, diligence in preparation and following through on a task, and a background in finance. As a Vestry member, Gary focuses his energies on: increasing membership and participation by existing members, budget and finance, pastoral care, and outreach.