The Clergy

I began my tenure at St. Francis in 2022. Before accepting my current call, I served as Rector at St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church in Austin and at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple, TX. Before that I was Associate Rector for youth and families at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Enough about the boring professional stuff and here is a quick snapshot about who I am and my family.

I am the happy husband of Vanessa and we are the proud parents of Lennox, our son, Brooklyn, our daughter, Hershel Walker, our chocolate lab, and Brisco, our English Pointer. Together we get into more trouble than I am willing to write on this page!

I love being able to form relationships with people and watch them grow deeper in their faith with God. This is not something I take for granted, but the core of my ministry as a priest and something I rejoice in every day.

Matthew 22:37-40

I began at St. Francis in July 2025, having served a variety of churches in the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

I have been married to my wife, Jaye since 1989. We love and cherish our daughter Caroline and her husband Cameron. We miss and mourn our son, Brooks, who we lost in 2023.

My favorite part of this journey in my ministry is that I truly believe in my heart that God has called me to this place in this season of life.

Ephesians 4:1-6 “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

The most obvious difference is our age; I have a few years on Fr. Justin. The most important difference may be our college allegiance; I having graduated from UF and he from UGA. Of course, we come from and are ordained into different denominations. Despite these differences, I give thanks for that which unites us – the one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.

I began my service at St Francis in November 2023. Father Justin Yawn extended an invitation to me during his Installation Service at St Francis. To his surprise I accepted months later. To my delight, Father Justin, Mother Sarah, and all of St Francis have welcomed me with loving arms.

Prior to St Francis I served as Deacon at All Saint’s Episcopal Jacksonville for seven years. For the last four years I have also been the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Florida and served as the Bishop’s Chaplain.

I lost my beloved wife Diane in 2021, after 46 years together. I have a daughter Amanda, son Jacob, and two grandchildren, who all live close, as does a large extended family. I share my home with two Scottish Terrier’s Macey, and Bentley.

I love building relationships and serving our Lord, by serving others. We are at our best when we reflect Jesus, through our love and service to one another.

Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”