Saint Mark’s Vestry

The vestry is the governing body of the parish and consists of 15 members of the parish who are elected by the congregation. It is the vestry’s responsibility to be the final decision-making body that hires the rector, approves the parish budget, makes parish policy decisions, and spends the parish’s money on mission, ministry, and maintenance.

The vestry consists of a senior warden, a junior warden, and a youth warden (high school age), each of whom are elected by the parish for a 1-year term. The other 12 members of the vestry are elected for 3-year terms, normally with four members elected each year. At its first meeting in each calendar year, the vestry appoints a treasurer and a clerk. The treasurer and clerk are not voting members of the vestry by virtue of being appointed to office.

The rector presides at meetings of the vestry, which are held on the first Tuesday of the month. In the absence of the rector, the senior or junior warden presides.

Cheryl Boop, Senior Warden

SeniorWarden@saintmarkscolumbus.org

Cheryl Boop has been making her voice heard since arriving at Saint Mark’s in 2013 by singing in the choir. And she has taken leadership roles by serving on the vestry and the Stewardship Committee. As a result, she said, “I believe I have a good understanding of our church, the current state and where we parishioners want to see us be down the road. Saint Mark’s is very important to me, and I am excited about who we are and what we can become! Our vestry is full of wonderful people who all have the same goal – but have very different viewpoints about how to achieve it. The wardens have the awesome responsibility to keep the big picture in mind while attending to the everyday issues affecting the church and congregation. “I have experience in my national and state professional organizations in leadership positions similar to Senior Warden, and I look forward to using my skills and experience at Saint Mark’s. I love the people of Saint Mark’s. I’m reminded of the children’s song with the words ‘The Church is not a building, the Church is not a steeple, the Church is not a meeting place, the Church is the people.’ The caring, honest, giving congregation — the incredible music program; the forward-thinking vestry; and the energetic, fun, thoughtful, and creative priest — this is what I love about Saint Mark’s.”

Kevin Fix, Junior Warden

JuniorWarden@saintmarkscolumbus.org

Kevin Fix said he wants to help Saint Mark’s grow into its future. “I love this parish, and Sunday worship and fellowship are an important part of my life and faith. I believe Saint Mark’s is having a positive impact on the community at large and has a bright future ahead. So many people have contributed to where we are today, and I simply want to do my part. “Saint Mark’s is a very welcoming and inclusive community. It is a comfortable place with deeply rooted traditions, but a place that also challenges me to pursue faith and discipleship in ways I have not done before.” He serves as a verger and a trustee for the parish’s Endowment Fund, plus helps out with St. John’s Street Church and with Marksmen events. Kevin has served on community boards in Upper Arlington and he thinks those experiences will help him as Junior Warden.

Anna, Youth Warden

Anna sang in the Canterbury Choir for eight years until she aged out of the group. She has participated in the parish youth group and has served as an acolyte. “I would like to be a youth warden because I value Saint Mark’s and I would like to be active in the vestry. I have been in leadership positions in (high-school) theater before and I enjoy them. (Anna is a 10th-grader.) My brother was a previous youth warden, and I think I would do a good job of representing the youth because I’ve been involved with Saint Mark’s since I was five,” she said.
Anna said she enjoys being part of Saint Mark’s. “I like the community of people at Saint Marks, I like how many opportunities there are for youth here, and all the ways that youth can get involved in worship. I enjoy being able to participate in services, and I also really like the hymns.”

Martha Belury

Like many active people, Martha Belury can find room for another project, such as serving on the vestry. She has served previously on vestries at Saint Mark’s and at the Episcopal campus ministry of Purdue University.

“Saint Mark’s is part of my living and part of my community, from fellowship to worship to refreshment. As a member of our parish, it’s my turn to give back,” she said about wanting to return to the vestry. She also has served as a chalice bearer, on the Stephen ministry team and as a teacher with Children and Youth Formation.

Martha enjoys Saint Mark’s because of “the people, the worship traditions and God. My sons, Mathias and Andrew, were choristers, members of the youth group and grew up in Saint Marks. My sons are now young adults. I am praying that at some point, they, too, find a church with the red doors.”

Martha is a professor of nutrition at Ohio State University, where she teaches, mentors graduate students and runs a nutritional physiology lab; she is president-elect of the American Society for Nutrition, the oldest and largest nutrition-research society in the world. In her spare time, she and her husband, Jim, bike on trails in Ohio and surrounding states.

Steve Brindza

Steve made an observation about Saint Mark’s: “The parish can be whatever you need it to be to strengthen your own walk in faith. This church allows one to feel appreciated and recognizes contributions big and small.” Steve contributes to the parish in diverse ways: an usher for the 8 a.m. service, a parish website designer “in the early days of the Rev. Paul St. Germain” and a baker of breads for the Labor Day bake sale. In addition, “I’ve also been shown the best, optimal way to work the giant coffee maker by both Mark Drew and David Boop.
“Vestry is a significant area of service with Saint Mark’s, and my prior stint in 2010-2012 helped me get through both an expected downsizing and a happy term in business school. Saint Mark’s expects good utilization of time and talents from the parishioners, and now that I am in a job where my hours are more controlled by me, I can devote some time toward edifying and building up the church community and the church building itself. Additionally, I look at financial data daily, so revenue/ expenditure/budget sheets make sense to me. Steve says he has pride “in our historical/liturgical church. I’ve had several visitors tell me how good the music is; how poetic the texts are; and how nice the people and facilities are. And most have never known this building had so much Christian love within. I try to get the word out.”

Michael Bowman

Michael serves as a Saint Mark’s usher and is looking for other areas of the parish to participate in. “At my previous church, All Saints in New Albany, I helped to coordinate the Sunday School program and other children’s events, served on the Altar Guild, and helped with the Outreach Committee,” he said. “I am currently in discernment to potentially be ordained a deacon and joining the vestry will provide a great opportunity to get a greater understanding of all the activity going on at Saint Mark’s and what goes on in operating a parish. While all aspects of Saint Mark’s have been fantastic, perhaps the best part has been the great people that call it their parish home and the great sense of community that they create. The ‘church’ properly refers to the people, those ‘called out,’ and I hope as a member of the vestry to continue to cultivate and grow this resource.”

Betsy Gillespie

Betsy Gillespie might be most recognizable in her Saint Mark’s Choir robes. Now she’d like to become more active in the congregation.

“Serving on the Rector Search Committee helped me deepen my engagement with Saint Mark’s and learn more about its community. After the work of the committee ended I found myself wanting to continue my service. I have served on nonprofit boards and work in the non-profit sector, and I feel that experience will be relevant to vestry service,” she said.

Betsy is charitable giving director at Friendship Village of Dublin and has worked in philanthropy since 2007. She holds a music degree, has been a teaching artist in opera and has served as a school music teacher. She participates in the Contemplative Prayer group and supports her daughter’s participation on the Canterbury Choir.

“Saint Mark’s has become a second home for me and my children (Madalyn, 10 and Gabriel, 5). We love this community and feel loved and supported within it. It’s especially meaningful to be a member of a church where children are respected and included, and my children feel like full members of the Saint Mark’s community.”

Brenda Hammersley

“Since coming to Saint Mark’s I’ve found many outlets for my time, talents, and treasures,” Brenda said. She participates with the Outreach and Migration ministries and provides grief support for individuals and groups as a personal ministry. She also serves on the Altar and Flower guilds. She says her diverse career in healthcare “from bedside nurse to health system strategic planner to nursing faculty to executive over online operations for a large university” has given her experience helping people and organizations “work toward shared outcomes including improved financial performance. I bring a goal-oriented and analytical perspective to the table and want to offer my skills in whatever way will help Saint Mark’s build a thriving future. “I like the heart of Saint Mark’s, which is the parishioners. I’ve met so many amazing people – some who’ve attended for decades and others, like me, who are relatively new to both the Episcopal Church and Saint Mark’s.“

Jody Hess
Variety appears to be the spice of life for Jodi Hess. She worked as a dietician before switching careers to become a stay-at-home mom for her four children. Her volunteer work has included her children’s schools, USA Swimming, Y Swimming, Boy Scouts and Voicecorps Reading Service. Also, in the past couple of years she has put her love of cycling, hiking and camping to use part time at REI Dublin.

Jodi was raised Episcopalian and has been a member of Saint Mark’s for about 15 years; she serves as a lector and a Stephen Minister. She has served on the vestry in a previous parish. Also at Saint Mark’s, “Under (organist-choirmaster emeritus) Gary Garber, I was the Canterbury Choir Mom for many years. I was responsible for fundraising and put together two pilgrimages to the National Cathedral and spring trips in the off years,” she said. “Saint Mark’s has allowed me to raise my children in the Episcopal tradition.” Jodi, her husband, Steve, and their family live in the Hilliard area.

Bruce Johnson

Saint Mark’s has been the church home for Bruce Johnson, and his wife, Michele, for 30 years. “We were made to feel welcome from the very beginning and the warmth of the welcome has never faded,” Bruce said.

He has returned the favor: singing in the choir for more than a decade, a lay reader, chalice bearer, trustee of the parish endowment fund and a member of the Marksmen. He has served on Saint Mark’s vestry twice previously and also served on vestries in Columbia, SC and Ann Arbor, MI. Plus, he is “Exalted Scheduler” (Bruce’s term) of the parish Golf League.

Bruce retired in 2014 as a professor at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. He said he is interested in returning to the vestry because “assisting in the governance of Saint Mark’s is an important way to serve this parish and its members.

“I have liked the four rectors (each very distinct) I have known here, its liturgical style (not too high, not too low), its wonderful music, its architecture (very good mid-century modern), its gardens and, above all, the people of Saint Mark’s.”

When it comes to serving Saint Mark’s, Barb Keyes’ response is ‘yes.’ Barb has been a member of Saint Mark’s for nearly 40 years; this would be her third vestry term. In her previous term she also held the posts of junior and senior warden.

“You’ll usually find me around at most things going on in the parish,” she said. That includes Outreach activities, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Sacred Conversations, book groups and more. She said she’s excited about the future of Saint Mark’s: “Despite the Covid restrictions I have watched Saint Mark’s adapt, change and grow to meet the needs of the congregation. I am so proud of how we have pulled together to keep Saint Mark’s active.”

“I find the people of Saint Mark’s caring and resilient. We adapt to situations with a smile and hard work. I love that we are able to reach outside our walls and help others through all our outreach projects. We check on each other and are there to help when needed. The lasting friendships I’ve made here at Saint Mark’s are a great joy. Saint Mark’s is a wonderful, vibrant place to be.”

Julia Johnson-Davis

Julia, her husband Scott, and daughter (Charlotte) have been members of Saint Mark’s since 2014, enjoying the neighborly feel of St Marks as well as the music and youth programs. Julia is a cradle Episcopalian, raised in San Antonio, Texas, received her BA at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and MBA at University of Texas at Austin, then moving to Columbus in 2003. She serves on the 2nd Sunday coffee hour team and volunteered with VBS, and Charlotte is in the Canterbury Choir. Julia is the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at the Wasserstrom Company. Scott teaches math at Olentangy Liberty High School, and Charlotte is in fifth grade at Tremont Elementary in Upper Arlington.

Barb Keyes

When it comes to serving Saint Mark’s, Barb Keyes’ response is ‘yes.’ Barb has been a member of Saint Mark’s for nearly 40 years; this would be her third vestry term. In her previous term she also held the posts of junior and senior warden.

“You’ll usually find me around at most things going on in the parish,” she said. That includes Outreach activities, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Sacred Conversations, book groups and more. She said she’s excited about the future of Saint Mark’s: “Despite the Covid restrictions I have watched Saint Mark’s adapt, change and grow to meet the needs of the congregation. I am so proud of how we have pulled together to keep Saint Mark’s active.”

“I find the people of Saint Mark’s caring and resilient. We adapt to situations with a smile and hard work. I love that we are able to reach outside our walls and help others through all our outreach projects. We check on each other and are there to help when needed. The lasting friendships I’ve made here at Saint Mark’s are a great joy. Saint Mark’s is a wonderful, vibrant place to be.”

Ted Meyers

Ted joined Saint Mark’s in 2005 and like many parishioners has kept busy within the congregation. For Ted that includes singing in our choir, serving on the 2008 capital campaign, participating in Guatemala mission trips, and serving as a lay reader, chalice bearer and helping with St. John’s Town Street Dinners. He has previously served two terms on vestry. “Saint Mark’s is an incredible community of caring people from diverse backgrounds. The term ‘ancient faith, open minds’ rings very true here: we follow a common, traditional liturgy filled with very thought-provoking words and music that activates the Holy Spirit within each of us. I love that we’re excited to share this with the wider Columbus community through our increased involvement in community events. I have seen wonderful transformation at Saint Mark’s in the 18 years since I first walked through the doors. Through my service on vestry, I’ve been part of that journey. Through serving on vestry again I look forward to seeing, and being part of, how Saint Mark’s will continue to grow, adapt, and flourish over the next 18 years.”

Roman Skoracki

Roman, together with his wife Laura and their two sons Lukas and Alexander have been members of Saint Mark’s since 2015 shortly after moving to Columbus. While he has enjoyed participating in worship and helped in and around the church, he has not held an official office at St Mark’s. Laura has served on the vestry and both Lukas and Alexander were members of the Canterbury choir and Lukas has since moved on to the adult choir. During weekdays Roman is a professor at the Ohio State University within the Department of Plastic Surgery with most of his time spent at the James, performing reconstructive surgery for cancer patients. He hopes that he will be able to contribute to the St. Mark’s community especially in this time of transition.

Andi Waller

Andrea Waller (Andi) has been a member of Saint Mark’s since 2003. She was a member of the Vestry during an early transition time, thus serving under three priests and overseeing the Hospitality Committee and continuing that ministry via Coffee Hour for many years despite never liking coffee! During her time on Vestry she also participated in the Diocesen convention held in Cincinnati. Andi was extensively involved with the Guatemalan mission trip, having visited five times and made sure ample pairs of children’s shoes and other necessary items were collected for each trip and remains in contact with friends made there. Currently Andi participates in Diapers and Spices and has been a Stephen’s Minister for six years. Andi retired from Nationwide Children’s Hospital several years ago to care for her parents in Connecticut for multiple years in case you don’t remember her face. Outside of St Marks she served on the board of CASA (court appointed special advocates), was a member of the Junior League and worked on fundraising for She Has a Name as well as The OSU then-Botany Department. She and her husband Kelly have three grown children and are currently also busy with a 2 year old grandson. Andi looks forward to reconnecting with Saint Marks by serving on the Vestry. She fully embraces Hebrews 13:2.

Officers Appointed by the Vestry

Each year, the Vestry appoints a Treasurer and a Clerk. These officers are not voting members of the Vestry by virtue of being appointed to office.


Phil Glandon, Treasurer

Phil and his wife, Lynn have two married adult sons.  PJ, his wife Grey, and their three daughters live in Gambier, OH.  Kyle lives in Normal, IL with his wife Lacey and their two daughters and one son.  Lynn is a retired pre-school teacher and Phil is retired after selling the battery pack manufacturing company that he started in 1982, Nexergy, Inc.

A cradle Episcopalian, originally at Saint Stephen’s on the OSU Campus, he joined Saint Mark’s after his family moved to Upper Arlington in 1962.  He has been a member ever since and has known every Rector of St. Mark’s.  His father Jack Glandon was a former Senior Warden, Chairman of the Endowment Fund Trustees, and Search Committee chairman.  Phil followed in his father’s footsteps and has also served in each of those positions.  In addition, he has been an usher for over 30 years, and has been our Treasurer since 2017.  He is also an Endowment Fund Trustee.

 

Barb Hyre, Clerk