CLERGY

The Reverend Alan M. Gates has been Rector of
St. Paul’s since 2004, overseeing the full range of ministries and staffing at the parish.  In the diocese and wider church his interests include the mentoring of candidates for parish ministry, and US-Russian church relations.  A graduate of Middlebury College and Episcopal Divinity School, Alan has previously served parishes in the dioceses of Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and Chicago.  Prior to ordination, he was a linguist and Soviet analyst with the federal government.

Contact Alan at agates@stpauls-church.org.

The  Reverend Lisa E. Hackney serves as Associate Rector with particular responsibility for Apostleship (outreach) and Liturgical ministries. Lisa is passionate about building up the Body of Christ within the congregation and building St. Paul's' identity as a leader in Greater Cleveland; she serves on the boards of  InterAct Cleveland  and Episcopal Community Services (ECS), and is a member of the Diocesan Commission to End Racism.  As a member of the clergy team, she shares in offering sacramental ministry, preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. Ordained in the Diocese of Chicago, Lisa served parishes there in both lay and ordained capacities. She is a graduate of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and in her first career, played harp professionally while raising her four children.

Contact Lisa at lhackney@stpauls-church.org.

The Rev. Richard C. Israel is an ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) called by the Northeastern Ohio Synod, ELCA to serve as Associate Rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  This call is made possible by the joint fellowship agreement between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church known as Called to Common Mission.  Rich's responsibilities include coordinating the staff's work in pastoral care along with sharing in ministries of worship, education, and outreach.  Rich is a graduate of Valparaiso University, Yale Divinity School and Christ Seminary Seminex.

Contact Rich at risrael@stpauls-church.org.

Deacon Kirby Colwell has served as St. Paul’s Volunteer Coordinator for about ten years.  His personal and clerical mission is to facilitate parishioners’ involvement in hands-on ministry concerning peace and justice issues in the local community and the world.  A native Texan, he has also lived and worked in Colorado and New Mexico and now lives in Orange with his wife Gail. His hobbies include cycling and gardening.

Contact Kirby at kcolwell@stpauls-church.org.

The Reverend David R. Mason, Ph.D., is Priest Associate at St. Paul’s and professor of religious studies at John Carroll University where he is also director of the Tuohy Chair of Interreligious Studies. He came to Cleveland following doctoral studies at the University of Chicago in 1972. David is a graduate of West Virginia University and The General Theological Seminary. At John Carroll he teaches a variety of courses in religion and theology, and his publications focus on “God” and topics in philosophical theology. His most notable achievement has been to have married Margaret Curtis Mason.

Contact David at dmason@jcu.edu.

Philip A. (Denny) Anderson has served as a Deacon at St. Paul's for over 10 years.  His is also a primary care internist and Clinical Associate Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  Denny holds degrees from Harvard College, Episcopal Divinity School, and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  He serves the National Church as a faculty member for two 8-day CREDO conferences per year for Episcopal clergy from across the country.

Contact Denny at paa@case.edu.

Kate Gillooly serves as Minister for Christian Formation and Program, and has been on staff at St. Paul’s for 13 years. She coordinates educational offerings for people of all ages, and seeks to strengthen the links between education and liturgy and outreach. Over the past 20 years, she has worked in small, medium and large parishes, as well as diocesan staff and individual consulting. She is currently the President of NAECED (National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors). Kate has a BA in Religion from Case Western Reserve University and a MA in Ministry from Ursuline College, and is a licensed pastoral care specialist with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She and her husband, Greg, live in Cleveland Heights, Ohio with their son, Jami and daughter, Madeleine.

Contact Kate at kgillooly@stpauls-church.org.

Barbara Pelowski has served as Director of New Member Ministries at St. Paul’s since 2001. Facilitating a ministry of hospitality, she works with parish volunteers to welcome visitors and provide opportunities for newcomers to learn about St. Paul’s and the Episcopal Church. A graduate of Lake Erie College, Syracuse University, and Michigan State University, she brings to St. Paul’s 35 years experience as an educator working in college and school administration both nationally and abroad.

Contact Barbara at bpelowski@stpauls-church.org.

R. Matthew (Matt) Humm, Youth Minister at St. Paul’s, was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Bishop of Ohio, on December 19, 2009. He is a graduate of the Virginia Seminary and also holds a BA in English from Southeastern University in Florida. Matt is passionate about the spiritual formation of young people and their families, helping young people to understand themselves as an active, integral part of the Church today as much as being the Church of tomorrow. Matt also serves as priest-in-charge at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights. He lives with his wife Charity, and their sons Gareth and Tristan in Shaker Heights.

Contact Matt at mhumm@stpauls-church.org.

Karel Paukert has been Organist-Choirmaster at St. Paul's Church nearly thirty years. He is the Curator Emeritus of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Before coming to Cleveland, Karel was associate professor of Organ and Church Music at Northwestern University and directed music at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Evanston. He continues to concertize and teach internationally. He especially likes to return to his native Czech Republic.

Contact Karel at kpaukert@stpauls-church.org.

Steven Plank has been an Anglican church musician for close to forty years, serving parishes in Louisville, St. Louis, Oberlin, and Cleveland.  He is a Professor of Musicology at Oberlin College where he teaches courses in pre-modern music and directs the Collegium Musicum Oberliniense.  His research focuses on performance practice, English music, and the relationships between liturgy, spirituality, and musical style.  His hobbies are antiques and Louisville Cardinal basketball.

Contact Steven at steven.plank@oberlin.edu.

Rick and Beth Nelson have been Directors of Music for Children and Youth since 1998.  Before coming to St. Paul's, they served Lutheran and Episcopalian congregations in Georgia and New York.  They enjoy traveling to hear the great choirs of the world sing Choral Evensong.
Beth Nelson holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Eastman School of Music.  An avid player of the modern and Baroque flute, she has taught music on virtually every level during the last thirty years.  Presently, she teaches music theory fundamentals to non-music majors at Case Western Reserve University.   At St. Paul's she works with all of the choirs for children and youth.  She is known affectionately by the choristers as "Dr. Beth."
     At St. Paul's, Rick Nelson serves as the organist for the 9:00 service, and he also works with all of the choirs for children and youth.  At the Cleveland Institute of Music, he is Professor and Head of Music Theory.  A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Conservatoire Américain, and the Eastman School of Music, he enjoys mixing the musical worlds of the church and the academy.

Contact Rick at richard.nelson@case.edu.

Contact Beth at beth.nelson@case.edu.

David Osburn's parents were married by St. Paul's Rector Ted Evans in 1941. He was baptized here in 1943. His mother Ruth was Parish Secretary at St. Christopher's in Gates Mills and ran the nursery school for 30 years. David played the 8 bell chime there before it became a 23 bell carillon. He studied organ at St. Paul's with Walter Blodgett, later with Marilyn Mason at University of Michigan where he also studied carillon with Percival Price. David has been carillonneur at St. Paul's since 1990 and by day he is a private piano teacher. He is a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA).

Contact David at drdhojr@mindspring.com.

Elke White has been active in the northeastern Ohio handbell community since 2002.  She has organized numerous handbell workshops, festivals and concerts in the area and currently serves as Cleveland District Leader for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.  A lifelong church musician, she most recently served as music director at St. Lucy Mission Church in Middlefield and was an active part of the choral and handbell programs at St. Noel Catholic Church in Willoughby Hills.  Elke holds graduate degrees in Biology from John Carroll University and Kent State University and teaches part-time at John Carroll University in addition to working as a registered nurse at Hillcrest Hospital.

Contact Elke at emwhite@jcu.edu.

Carol Wipper graduated from Case Western Reserve with a degree in Art History, but continued piano studies and eventually began organ and harpsichord studies. For several years she was Assistant Organist at Christ Church, Shaker Heights.  Since joining St. Paul's 10 years ago, Carol has been in the Senior Choir, played for various services and, for the last 4 years, accompanied the youth drama group’s annual musical. She also plays services at Judson Park and accompanies several small chamber groups.  Interests other than music include travel, photography, tennis, skiing, and her grandchildren.

Contact Carol at carolyn@wipper.com.

Mark Finkenbine is the Parish Manager, which means he oversees building maintenance and tries to ride herd on the calendar of events and room assignments.  He also spends a fair amount of his time excoriating balky computers.  He has been at St. Paul’s, with a variety of titles, for over 25 years.

Contact Mark at mfinkenbine@stpauls-church.org.

Betsey Bell's primary function is to provide administrative support to the Rector. She also provides administrative support to the other clergy members, the Program Staff and the Vestry.  She is responsible for the publication of all service leaflets.  Betsey originally joined St. Paul’s staff during the interim, providing part-time administrative support to the Stewardship Committee; she transitioned into her current role when Alan Gates accepted his call to our parish. 

Contact Betsey at bbell@stpauls-church.org.

Brenda's primary responsibility is to oversee all of the financial operations at St. Paul's.  Brenda has served as Controller since January 2002.  She is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant and holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Miami of Ohio University.  Brenda also earned her MBA from Case Western Reserve University.   Prior to joining St. Paul's, Brenda worked 18 years in the private business sector in the area of finance.  She works part-time and is able to use her spare time improving her tennis game. 

Contact Brenda at bburton@stpauls-church.org.

Gail Emmet joined St. Paul’s in August of 2003 after a 17 year long career as a travel agent.  As Parish Secretary her duties respond to the varied needs of the parishioners and staff. Every day is different in the Parish Office and there is never a dull moment.  Gail provides administrative support to the clergy, church school and youth programs, parish groups and activities, and she oversees the details of the church database.  These duties, in addition to being the voice on the phone when you call St. Paul’s, make for full and fulfilling workdays.

Contact Gail at gemmet@stpauls-church.org.

As the Communications Coordinator at St. Paul’s,
Kim Fry is responsible for the design and editing of publications, the design and maintenance of the Web site and the promotion of special events. She is a graduate of the School of Radio and Television at Ohio University, and has worked as a designer and layout artist for more than 16 years.

Contact Kim at kfry@stpauls-church.org.

Eric helps prepare, coordinate, and facilitate parish events, primarily those involving youth and young adults. He also co-leads the Junior High Youth Group with Allison Paetz. Eric is in his fourth year of undergraduate study at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. He plans to continue his studies to become an acute care Nurse Practitioner. Eric also holds certification as a firefighter and EMT in Ohio. He is the son of Randy and Gini Barbato, has two brothers, Matt and Dave, and has been a member of St. Paul’s since 1987. When he is not at work or school, Eric enjoys films, playing guitar, and spending time with his friends and family.

Contact Eric at ebarbato@stpauls-church.org.

Clara Coughlin serves as the Intern for Youth and Family Outreach at St. Paul’s. She coordinates outreach ministry with youth, families, and members of the parish. In particular, she is working to develop and strengthen the partnership between St. Paul’s and St. Luke’s on the West Side, as well as assisting Matt and Kate with youth ministry. Clara is a recent graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts where she was a rower and studied mathematics and classics. She is a lifelong member of St. Paul’s.

Contact Clara at ccoughlin@stpauls-church.org.