Alex Barron, Jr. +

Alex is a life long Episcopalian who grew up in Rock Hill South Carolina. After graduation from The Citadel, he attended seminary at Sewanee and was ordained in 1970.

He has been married to Margaret for 42 years. After serving congregations in Upper South Carolina, Chicago, South Carolina, Southwest Florida, Western North Carolina and finally at the Church of the Ascension in Knoxville, he retired to Pawleys Island in 2006. After doing two interims in the Upper Diocese, it has been his honor to serve as Associate Rector of Holy Cross/Faith Memorial since the beginning of 2009.

 

Douglas G. Billings

Doug Billings is the Managing Director and Broker In Charge of Tradd Hospitality Resources located in Myrtle Beach, SC. The company is a local specialist with national connectivity. Billings' background includes more than 35 years in hotel and resort operations, acquisitions/divestments and management. The company is involved in the buying, selling and rental management of condominiums, hotels and hospitality projects. A partnership with Tradd Commercial, a licensed real estate company, allows clients to build inter-disciplinary relationships while dealing with just one leadership team. He is a former officer and board member of the International Association of Holiday Inns and was an inaugural member of the Resort and Tourism Advisory Board at Coastal Carolina University. He and his wife reside in Murrells Inlet, S.C. and are active members of Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Pawleys Island, S.C.

 

Frances L. Elmore

Frances is a native of Florence, SC, and has been a member of St. John's Episcopal Church since 1949.  After graduating from Winthrop College in 1964, she received her master's degree from Furman University in 1969 and doctoral degree from University of South Carolina in 1981.

Her professional career began in 1964 as a teacher at Greer High School in Greenville County. In 1968 she returned to Florence in to teach at McClenaghan High School, where she remained until 1970 when she was appointed Guidance Director of the newly constructed West Florence High School. Named Registrar of Francis Marion University in 1976, she retired in 1994.

Her church involvement at St. John's, Florence, includes adult Sunday School teacher for 20 years; vestry member, 3 yrs. and Altar Guild, 15 yrs. She holds membership in the Province IV Altar Guild, for which she served as Treasurer, 3 yrs., and the National Altar Guild Association, 12 yrs.

Daniel J. Ennis

Raised a Roman Catholic, Dan was received into the Episcopal Church in 1995 and has been a member of St. Paul’s in Conway, SC since 1999. He has served as a lector, chalice bearer, musician and on a number of committees, and helped establish the St. Paul’s chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.

Dan holds a B.A. in English from the College of Charleston, an M.A. from Appalachian State University, and a Ph.D. from Auburn University. He is a Professor of English at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. He is married and has two daughters.

 

Cynthia Lawson Harding

A native of Fayetteville, NC, Cynthia was brought up in the Baptist church. In 1994 she was confirmed out of St. Thomas' Church, Abingdon, VA. While a parishioner there she was active in the choir, foyer groups and was a member of the sesquicentennial celebration committee.

Upon moving to Columbia, SC, she joined St. John's, Shandon. There she was a choir member and served on the Altar and Flower Guilds. After moving to Florence, she and her family joined St. John's, Florence. Presently, she is a member of the Altar Guild and coordinator of the Families with Young Children group. She and three other parishioners recently formed a parish-based group for members who are committed to maintaining ties with The Episcopal Church.

She is married to Flint Harding, a "cradle Episcopalian", and they have two sons: Flint IV, a sophomore at Clemson University and Sam, who is three years old.

John Johnson +

Fr. Johnson is a native of Charleston and is married to Nicole R. Watts of Beckenham, Kent in England. One of his sons is a practicing attorney in Charleston; the other son works in New York City for the Sheraton Hotel. He has three granddaughters.

Until retirement on October 30, 2005 he was Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Staten Island. NY He was a member of the Council of the Diocese, an elected group of lay and clergy to advise the bishop of the Diocese also President of the Richmond County Interparish Council. He has appeared on local television on the topic of “Alzheimer’s, Caregivers, and Spirituality.” He presented the Island-wide Lenten Lectures on a “Depth Psychological Exploration of the Great Christian Mysteries.”

He also has maintained a small private practice of Jungian psychoanalysis in Manhattan. I am a senior member of the faculty of the C.G. Jung Institute in New York and a Supervising psychologist for the training program. He was a Jungian Analyst in private practice and Supervising Psychologist at the C. G. Jung Institute in NYC and held the position of “The Eugene Augustus Hoffman Professor of Pastoral Theology and chairman of the Pastoral Dept.” at The General Theological Seminary, NYC. He also held teaching positions at Berkeley Divinity School.

Eleanor B. Koets

Eleanor is a native of Greenville, SC, and was raised in the ARP (Associate Reformed Presbyterian) Church. Graduating from Vanderbilt University with a BA in English, she moved to Charleston in 1970, eventually settling in Summerville. In 1982, Eleanor was confirmed in the Episcopal Church at St. George's parish, later transferring to St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She was trained as a group leader in DOC and completed the four-year EFM program. She has served at St. Paul's on the Adult Christian Education Commission, taught adult SS, served on the Vestry 1998-2000, and is a Lector.

A photographer and owner of Eleanor Koets Studio in Summerville, Eleanor has enjoyed photographing people since 1976. Her photographs have been published in three books, and she helped co-author a history of Summerville (Porch Rocker Recollections). She was a founding Board member of Summerville DREAM, a downtown revitalization organization, and served for seven years on the Commercial Design Review Board there. Eleanor and her husband Don have two young adult children.

Richard Lovelace, Jr.

He is a cradle Episcopalian and resident of Conway, South Carolina and communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for 35 years, having served both on The Vestry and as Senior Warden. He currently has a Law Office in Conway, South Carolina, is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and is admitted to the Bar in numerous courts both state and national. He has been a Director and General Counsel of Conway National Bank 1984 to 2006. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, The Citadel and St. Stephen’s Episcopal School for Boys, Alexandria, Virginia. He was Commissioned Lieutenant Field Artillery, and served in Vietnam where he was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor and 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.

Melinda Lucka

Melinda was brought up in the Presbyterian Church; she was received into the Episcopal Church in 1987. Melinda is a member of Grace Church, Charleston, where she served on the vestry from 2004-2007. She has taught Sunday School at Grace since 1995, for young children, youth, and most recently for an adult Emmaus Program in 2008. Melinda has been a member of the St. Augustine choir.

Melinda graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1979, with degrees in Urban Studies and Religion. She went to law school in 1987 after having worked as an Urban Planner in the public and private sectors. She practices law in Mt. Pleasant with Austin & Rogers, P.A. with a focus on Land Use Development issues, Environmental law and Construction litigation. Melinda has taught a Land Use Law class as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston since 1994, and for the past 10 years, on a part time basis, has served as prosecutor for misdemeanor criminal charges for the city of Charleston. Melinda and her husband have two teenage sons and an adult daughter.

 

Barbara Mann

A native of Queens, New York, Barbara moved to Charleston, S.C. from Asheville, N.C. seven years ago, and is a member of Grace Church, where she chairs its Discernment Committee. She held parish, diocesan and provincial leadership positions in Asheville, and served on the National Episcopal Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development. A deputy or alternate to five General Conventions, she was elected to the National Executive Council in 1997, and chaired its Audit Committee. For the last 10 years she has served as the Treasurer of Province IV. Barbara is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

Dave Mann

Born in upstate NY, Dave moved to Charleston with wife Barb form Asheville NC ten years ago and is a member of Grace Church. He is active at Grace as co-chair of the Discernment Committee; he also ushers and is a chalice bearer. In the diocese of Western NC for 20 years Dave served as Warden, Diocesan Executive Committee and other capacities. In Charleston he is a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for abused and neglected children and enjoys golf for recreation.

Dave graduated from St. Lawrence U and has an MBA from the U of Rochester. He founded a rep firm and has served as CEO for more than 20 years. Both grown children are active in the business and Dave enjoys with Barb having four grands in the Charleston area.

Jack Nietert +

Jack was born and raised in New York as an Episcopalian. He attended Hobart College and The General Theological Seminary. After being ordained in 1966 he served congregations in the Hudson River valley before moving to Mt. Pleasant in 1975. Except for nine year tenure as Rector of a church in Kansas City, MO, he served congregations in South Carolina for twenty-five years. Currently he is retired but assists with worship at All Saints’, Hilton Head, and serves as part time Interim Vicar of All Saints’, Tybee Island, GA. Jack and his wife, Chris, live in Beaufort and have four adult married children, three grandchildren and a cute dog.

 

Lynn A. Pagliaro

Lynn has been an active Episcopalian for more than 40 years in the dioceses of Newark, Maryland, Western New York, Cleveland and Connecticut. He is currently a member of Grace Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He has served on vestries, as senior warden, and has chaired search, outreach, finance and worship committees. He is a member of the Kanuga Board of Visitors.

A graduate of Clarkson University and The University of Rochester, Lynn spent 25 years in corporate management. For the past 20 years he has lived in Charleston and been a partner in Citadel Capital Group, providing financing and management consulting services for regional businesses and non-profit organizations. He has been President of the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club and Sea Island Habitat for Humanity. He has also served on boards of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, John Carroll University and The Nichols School.

Dusty Parker

A cradle Epsicopalian, Dusty attends St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, SC, where he has served on the Vestry, Diocesan convention delegate, Building and Grounds, Outreach, ERD, Worship Committee, Lay Euchuristic Minister, Lay reader and  is currently the Chair-person of the Hospitality Committee.
Originally from Greenville, SC, Dusty moved to Charleston in 1977 to attend the College of Charleston. Upon graduation he worked for ACH Food Brokers for 11 years before joining Unilever North America where he had various sales and marketing positions in the Southeast.  Dusty retired from Unilever in 2008.

Dusty is also active with the Spoleto Festival  USA and the Footlight Players. He lives in Mt. Pleasant with Lee Werry, his partner of 21 years, Their 8 year old son Jordan and their 3 dogs, Bella, Maggie, and Gigi.

Bob Pinkerton

Bob was born in Michigan and baptized at St. James’ Episcopal on Grosse Ile. He grew up in Southern California and was confirmed at St. James by-the-Sea in La Jolla and later attended Trinity Church while at college in the Boston area. He and his wife Barbara were members of Presbyterian congregations in their wanderings through the upper Midwest, but Bob returned to TEC after their 1990 arrival in Beaufort. He is currently a member of All Saints Episcopal on Hilton Head and involved with St. Mark’s Chapel in Beaufort where he serves on the Chapel Committee and as treasurer.

He has owned Athena Corporation, a manufacturer of custom products for the construction industry since coming to Beaufort. Prior to that, he was CEO of Blackstone Corporation, a multinational manufacturer for the OEM automotive industry. Bob is also a principal in Beaufort Land Co. and Village Renaissance, Inc., developers in Beaufort, and a member of the Boards of Directors of Coastal Banking Company, Inc. and CBC National Bank of Florida. He holds a law degree and two engineering degrees and is also chairman of the City of Beaufort Redevelopment Commission. He and Barbara have a son and two grandsons living in McLean, Virginia.

 

Philip Porcher +

As a retired Priest I have returned to my home in Mt. Pleasant with my wife, Georgia Ann, and we attend Grace Church in Charleston. I graduated from Clemson College, [Yes, it was still a military college back then too!!!] and went straight to Virginia Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia and was ordained in 1957. I began my ministry at St. Matthews, Ft. Motte, and Epiphany, Eutawville, then called as the Episcopal Chaplain to the University of South Carolina for five years. After serving a few years as the Assistant to the Rector of Holy Comforter and Good Shepherd, Sumter, I accepted a call to the Diocese of Southern Virginia serving at St. Thomas Church in Chesapeake, and Grace Church, Yorktown.

At that point I made a very different and difficult decision to move from being a parish priest to accept a call by Bishop David Rose to serve on his Diocesan Staff. For the next twenty years we lived in Norfolk and served under three different Bishops in the general position title as "Assistant for Clergy and Parish Development, and Clergy Deployment." This proved to be the most fulfilling and growing and rewarding time of my active ministry. I enjoyed helping a Bishop be a Bishop. I discovered new gifts and skills in consulting with and helping clergy and vestries and congregations learn to work together, to settle their differences and problems, to develop mutual visions and goals, become healthy in a "Mutual Ministry" concept. I enjoyed being a part of the growing and developing "Interim ministry " training on national and ecumenical basis during that time.

After over thirty years in Virginia, Georgia Ann retired from her job with Verizon, we returned to our family land and build a new home in 2000. We have three children, two in Charlotte and one in Alaska, and seven grand children. I have been an active member of the Forum since the beginning and now look forward to working with all of you on the Board.

Marilyn Medlock Roper

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Marilyn grew up a Southern Baptist. She was confirmed at St. James' Episcopal Church in Potomac, MD, in 1986. She graduated from the Education for Ministry program in 1989 and has been a Mentor in the program ever since. She served on the Vestry and Executive Committee of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Annapolis, MD; on the Board of Trustees of St. Anne,s Day School; on the Parents' Board of the Key School in Annapolis, and on the Parents' Advisory Council of Kenyon College. She and her husband Dan moved  to Hilton Head in 2004 and are members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Hilton Head.

Marilyn graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Mathematics and has a MA from St. John's College in Annapolis, MD. She was with IBM for 20 years, starting as a software engineer on the space program in Houston, working with IBM France on a  proposal to the French National Railroad (SNCF), serving as IBM's on-site representative with the New York Stock Exchange, leading a joint study by IBM France and the Credit Lyonnais in Paris, and managing a number of projects in the Washington, DC, area.

Marilyn has five grown stepchildren and many grandchildren. She and her husband Dan have one grown daughter, Allison, who is just completing graduate school.

Scott Shaffer

Scott was confirmed fifty years ago in the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. A member for over thirty years at St. Helena’s-Beaufort, he has served as Sunday school teacher, co-chair of ad hoc committees, diocesan convention delegate and for several terms as vestry member and warden. More recently, he has been serving as warden for St. Mark,s Chapel, a Beaufort house church.

After earning his Ph.D. from Emory University in clinical psychology, Scott joined the Navy and served two years as a psychologist at Parris Island during the Vietnam era. After that, he established an independent practice of clinical psychology. He has been president of the South Carolina Psychological Association and the South Carolina Association of Professional Psychologists. A diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychologists, Scott serves as an examiner for that board.

In addition to church and professional related responsibilities, he has participated in numerous local community endeavors. Currently, he is a board member of the Friends of Caroline Hospice, an organization he chaired for five years.

Colton M. Smith +

Colton was born and grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from the University of the South and the General Theological Seminary he was ordained. He served congregations and worked in the Diocesan office in Mississippi for 30 years. He participated on various committees in the Diocese and was a deputy to General Convention three times.

He moved to South Carolina in 1991 to serve as Rector of The Church of Our Saviour, Johns Island. Again he served in various capacities within this Diocese before retiring from full-time ministry in 2001. He and his wife, Angela, attend St. Stephen’s Church, Charleston. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.

 

Carolyn "Sparkie" Sparks

Born in West Virginia, Sparkie was raised Methodist but began her quest for spiritual knowledge early that has led her to investigate a fuller understanding of most of the worlds major religions. The understanding gained deepened her faith as well as culminated some 30 years later in an MA in Religion.

Sparkie joined the United States Marine Corps and served on active duty in the primary specialty of Air Traffic Control in an expeditionary environment. Having an affinity for research and development, she now works at a scientific research corporation in North Charleston as a senior engineer, supporting multiple projects/customers in R&D, ATC, and meteorological electronics systems. She is a board member of Team SRC, the community outreach organization within the company. Sparkie's experience includes being a rape counselor and as a mentor of second and third graders. Additionally, she spent time on the board for the Philip Simmons Children's Garden, as part of Agape Ministries.

Sparkie began attending Old Saint Andrews Parish Church in 1992 and is Episcopalian by choice and the grace of God. Since arrival she has become very active in a number of areas of parish life and ministries including Sunday School Teacher, ECW Board, Community Ministries Secretary/Communications Liaison, Lay Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, chancel choir, and bell choir. Additionally she is a Cursillo member, a member of Daughters of the King, and supports the Dominican Republic missions as well as being very active with Saint Andrews Mission in humanitarian aid shipments to Liberia.

Ginny Trolley

Ginny (Virginia Hill Gaumer Trolley) is a cradle Episcopalian and a member of All Saints Hilton Head for the twelve years she and her husband, John, have lived in South Carolina. Born in Philadelphia, she lived in Maryland for 14 years where she attended Cursillo and served on the vestry, Deanery and Diocesan Council. In Hilton Head, she completed Education for Ministry, serves as a Lay Reader, a member of the Bell Choir and as a member of the vestry at All Saints, coordinating the Local Mission and Outreach Commission.

Ginny graduated from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing and received a Masters in Health Care Administration from Towson State University in Baltimore. She retired from the Georgia Department of Human Resources Chronic Disease Prevention Branch and is happily involved in many local mission projects in Beaufort County.

Betsy Walker

Betsy was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina and raised in the ARP (Associate Reformed Presbyterian) church. She was received into the Episcopal Church in 1996 and has been a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Charleston for over 10 years. She has served on the vestry and has served as junior warden, senior warden and Diocesan Convention delegate. She is currently active on the Building and Grounds Committee.

Betsy is a graduate of Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy. She has worked as a community pharmacist for 30 years. For several years, Betsy owned an independent pharmacy where she served the Kiawah-Seabrook Island community. Betsy is an active member of the local pharmaceutical association and the South Carolina Pharmaceutical Association (SCPhA).

Ginga Wilder

A native of Summerville, SC, Ginga was born into the Episcopal Church and was a member of St Paul's Episcopal Church, Summerville for over 58 years. Ginga served through St. Paul's beginning in her adolescent years and continuing through her adult years until transferring her membership in 2005. She has served in various lay ministries within Christian education and pastoral care commissions. Ginga was employed as St. Paul's first Christian Education Coordinator.  At St. Paul's, she also served as president of Episcopal Church Women, a member of the parish Altar Guild, an adult Christian education teacher, a Lay Eucharistic Minister and Visitor, a Lector and a member of the Vestry. Ginga helped establish and also chaired the Adult Christian Education commission at St Paul's. In addition, she helped develop several pastoral care ministries at St. Paul's, including the Parish Shepherd'sministry and pastoral care visitors programs.

Ginga is an active member of Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston, where she serves on the Emmaus team and teaches in that program. She has given programs and retreats for South Carolina churches and is a classically trained spiritual director, having completed the Sursum Corda Spiritual Directors' Formation Program.

Ginga is licensed as both a professional counselor and a marriage and family therapist and maintains a private practice in Summerville. She is a graduate of MUSC School of Allied Health Sciences, Charleston Southern University, and The Citadel Graduate School. She is a clinical member of both the American and South Carolina Associations of Marriage and Family Therapists. In 1980, Ginga, along with Margaret S. Kwist and Eleanor B. Koets, published Porch Rocker Recollections, an oral history of Summerville. She is married to John Wilder and they have three adult children and three grandchildren.