Josephine Hicks, Chair
I joined St Peter’s in 1997, attracted by good preaching and adult education, good people of good faith, and the diverse congregation. I have served on the vestry, including a year as senior warden, and the Stewardship Committee, including co-chairing the Every Member Canvass. I have been a delegate to Diocesan Convention for many years. Nationally, I have served on the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, including three years as Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee. I am currently a Deputy to The Episcopal Church’s General Convention. I also serve on the Board of Episcopal Relief & Development. In the Anglican Communion, I am the lay representative from The Episcopal Church to the Anglican Consultative Council, a group of two to three representatives from each church in the Anglican Communion, chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury. I am a litigation partner at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein and currently serve as the Church Attorney for The Episcopal Church. My father was an Episcopal priest, as was my late partner Ann Brewster Jones.

 

 

William Bellamy
I have been a member of St. Peters since 2001, and a lifelong Episcopalian. When we moved to Charlotte, St. Peters stood out because of its welcoming congregation, excellent youth program, and outstanding music. My current activities include the vestry, Front Door Ministry – ushering, the Planned Giving Committee, and the Steele Creek Masonic Lodge. My past activities include the Kanuga planning committee, Capital Campaign, Discernment committee, Chair of the School Leadership Team at Barringer Elementary School, and Technical advisor for the Urban Ministry Center. For the past 21 years I’ve worked as a software engineer at Microsoft. My wife Joanne, and daughters Rosy and Nelly (when she’s home from Chapel Hill) live in south Charlotte.

 

 

 

Steve Bentley
I have been a member of St. Peters since 1991. I was drawn to St. Peters by the warmth and caring of the congregation and the focus on outreach, love of liturgy and music, and clear presence of the Spirit in this place. I currently serve on the vestry, on the Diocesan Pastoral Response Team, co-captain of St. Peters RAIN Team, the St. Peters Hospital Foundation Board of Managers, and the Augustine Project Board of Directors. Past activities have included the Adult Choir, Outreach Commission Chair, vestry, Sr. Warden, Search Committee Chair, and Augustine Project Board Chair. I am retired from Wachovia and presently work as Executive Director of Time Out Youth, a non-profit support organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens and young adults. My partner, David Deal, and I live in the Cotswold neighborhood.

 

 

 

Sydney Burgess
I joined Saint Peter’s after a move to Charlotte in 2001. We felt at home in the church’s diverse community. I have served one term on Vestry and several on the Outreach Commission. I am an Augustine Tutor and a RITI volunteer. Professionally, I am a homemaker, making home for Al McMillian, my husband, and our four children, Ginny a college freshman, Cullen a high school sophomore, Tait and Rebekah, 7th and 4th graders respectively. The children have grown up at St. Peter’s. I persistently volunteer at their grammar school, Trinity Episcopal. My church interests focus on community life, youth education and programs, outreach, pastoral care and worship. I look forward to what’s next for us!

 

 

Kent Carpenter
My name is Dr. Kent Carpenter. I am married to Mary Paige Abeel Carpenter and we have one lovely daughter Margaret. Mary and I have been members at St. Peters for 4 years now. I was baptized Episcopalian and grew up in the Church. I am an internist, practicing in Charlotte since 1987. Although I now practice in Huntersville, I have been chief of the department of medicine and chief of staff at University Hospital previously. Having served on numerous committees throughout the hospital systems and numerous church committees including search committees for ministers in the Methodist Church, I look forward to working with this search committee and am honored to have been selected.

 

 

 

Jim DiMartino
Joined St. Peter’s in 1991. St. Peter’s has always been my touchstone – the consistent anchor of caring, committed, and dedicated people who remind me how blessed I am to be a member of this congregation. I am a former member of the Adult Choir; was a leader for the J2A class from 2006-2008; co-chaired Room In the Inn when it initially began at St Peter’s. I have served on the Vestry, and currently serve as one of four leaders of the Rite 13 Class. I am employed by Elsevier Publishing as a Sales Representative selling Health Science texts, references, and digital media in North and South Carolina. My partner of 22 years, Sam Gardner, and I live to serve and obey our newly rescued puppy, Amos – the devil dog of Cotswold.

 

 

 

 

Mary Griffin
I became a member of St. Peters in 1983. Having been recently divorced I wasn’t yet used to attending alone, but found some people that I knew and appreciated the warm welcome from all. Since that time I’ve served on the Vestry, joined St. Mary’s Guild, am a board member of the Senior Class, and a Coffee Hour worker both in the old kitchen and the new. I’ve been part of a St. Peter’s Soup Kitchen team since my retirement from Central Piedmont Community College a number of years ago. Throughout these years St. Peter’s has continued to be the caring body that has welcomed all. I try to pass on the kindness that I received when a newcomer there.

 

 

 

 

Ann Hinson
My mother’s family came to St. Peter’s in 1923 and I was baptized here 68 years ago. Bill and I were married here, our three children and several of our six grandchildren were baptized here, and I plan to “find repose” in the garden one day, hopefully not too soon. So St. Peter’s is home to me, in so many ways. Over the years, I’ve served as Vestry Member (two terms), Christian Education Chair, Church School Teacher, Episcopal Churchwomen Chair, Kanuga Family Weekend Chair (twice), Lay Reader, Chalice Bearer and Search Committee Member. My “choir life” began when I was six and continues today – a source of great joy for me – and now that I am retired from my executive suite business, I take delight in my involvement with St.Peter’s Soup Kitchen, St. Mary’s Guild, the Altar Guild and the Augustine Project. I am so grateful for all that St. Peter’s has meant to me, my family and our community, and am truly honored to be invited to take part in the search for our next rector.

 

 

 

Des Keller
Des Keller moved to Charlotte five years ago with his wife, Susan Dosier Keller and daughters, Lucy, 15, and Frances, 14. While both daughters are active in the youth group, Des and Susan continued volunteering in programs in which they had participated at their former Episcopal Church in Birmingham, AL. Susan teaches in the children’s Sunday school program, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, while Des volunteers with Room In The Inn, which houses the homeless at St. Peter’s one night a week during the winter. He has been co-coordinator of that program the past two years. Des works as a freelance writer, mostly in the field of agriculture, and served on the vestry at their former church during a search process.

 

 

 

Jan Keny
When I joined St. Peter’s in 1983, there were 7-10 people in the choir on Sunday and a bit of space in the pews! Though smaller, even then St. Peter’s was a vibrant community that impressed me with its commitment to ‘the least of these’. Little did I know then what St. Peter’s would become and how it would continue to serve, challenge, enrich and bless me. I’ve focused my service to St. Peter’s in the youth program, serving on the Education Commission and as one of a teacher, youth activities leader and pilgrimage leader for J2A. I also serve on the Diocesan Pastoral Response Team, helped to establish and work at the first North Carolina Kids4Peace Camp in 2008, the Charlotte Convocation Pastoral Counseling Advisory Board, stewardship campaign work and ushering. I also have served for 8 years on the Catholic Diocesan Review Board which investigates and responds to allegations of inappropriate behavior by clergy and/or staff. I’m a psychotherapist in private practice, working with both kids and adults. I was married to my husband, Wesley Sturgis, as part of a regular Sunday service at St. Peter’s in 1996, and live with him in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood.

 

Judy McLeod
I began attending St. Peters shortly after moving to Charlotte in 1998 and have been a member of St. Peter’s for twelve years. I am currently on the vestry and previously served on and chaired the Outreach Commission. I coordinated volunteers for Habitat for Humanity for three years and participated in Disciple I, II, and III classes, as well as assisted with teaching Disciple III. I serve as lay reader, subdeacon, and Eucharistic minister at both services. I was married in 2003 at St. Peter’s to Richard Pierce and I have two young grandsons. I am an attorney working for a federal agency.

 

 

 

Toni Moore
I began attending St Peters in the early 1970′s, and formally joined in 1979. Though St Peters has seen many changes over the years, the spirituality, love, and caring that called to me have remained a constant. I am currently an usher and a volunteer receptionist; and have served on the Vestry, the Outreach Commission, the choir, the Kanuga planning committee, Room in the Inn, and the Senior Class Board. I have been a lay reader and a licensed chalice bearer. I am a retired CMS employee, having taught ninth grade English for 30 years. I live in the University area and am a member of the University City Women’s Group and the Red Hat Mamas.