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Staff Bios

Rector: The Reverend James K. Polk Van Zandt

Father Van Zandt comes to St. Paul's Murfreesboro from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma, Alabama where he has served as rector since June 2000. Previously, Polk was vicar then rector at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in West Point, Mississippi from 1994 to 2000, where he led the church from mission to parish status. Polk received his Master of Divinity from The University of the South, in Sewanee, as well as his undergraduate degree. Before experiencing his call to the priesthood, Polk was a cotton farmer in the Mississippi Delta. Polk is married to Mary Jo, and together they are marvelous hosts and cooks. They have three adult children.

Polk has been involved in diocesan leadership in both Alabama and Mississippi. He is involved with and supports Cursillo. A major focus of Polk's ministry is to let others know about the "good news" of Jesus Christ through whatever means are appropriate, but particularly through pastoral care, outreach and preaching. Contact Polk at rector@stpaulsmboro.org.

Associate Rector: The Reverend Colin M. Ambrose

Father Ambrose joined the St. Paul’s family in July 2009. A native of Knoxville, TN, he received his BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After college, and following several years in the business world, Colin attended Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin. He was ordained in Diocese of Springfield in May of 2009. Colin is married to Trisha and the Ambroses have three young children: Clara, Henry and Adel.C ontact Colin at associate@stpaulsmboro.org.

  

Rector Emeritus: The Reverend Gene Wise

The Rev. Gene Wise served as Rector of St. Paul’s from 1991 to 2007. He had previously served parishes in West Palm Beach, FL and Lake Worth, FL. Fr. Wise holds degrees from Florida State University and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was in the insurance business for twenty years prior to responding to his call to Holy Orders. He served on Cursillo teams and Commissions plus serving on the Diocese of Tennessee’s Standing Committee for nine years, and was a Diocese of Tennessee representative to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention four times. Father Wise has been married to Janelee for more than forty-seven years. They have a daughter, Kelley, who works for State Farm Insurance Company in Bloomington, IL, a son-in-law who served eighteen months in Iraq, and two teenage granddaughters. The Wises have a passion for our Lord, the Christian Community, for travel and lots of laughs. Contact Gene at wisegene@bellsouth.net.

Office Administrator: Susan Greenall

Susan and her family moved to Christiana Tennessee from Pompano Beach Florida in 2004. She and her husband Colin have been married for 23 years. They have two daughters and one grandson, Kelley, Meghan and Parker. In addition to her ministry in church administration, Susan has worked as a real estate agent and specialized in property management of shopping centers for 13 years. Susan came to St. Paul's in April of 2006. She has worked in church administration for 15 years in the Methodist, Presbyterian and Disciples of Christ denominations. Susan has been certified in Church Business Administration through the Candler Theological Seminary at Emory University in Atlanta. She also has extensive continuing education in business & church law as well as human resource management, office management, and staff & congregational development. Susan is an active member of the National Association of Church Business Administrators, the United Methodist Church Business Administrators Association, and the National Association of Episcopal Church Business Administrators. Contact Susan at office@stpaulsmboro.org.

Administrative Assistant: Kathy Warlick

A native of Rutherford County, where she attended school and has worked most of her life, Kathy has worked in several clerical and administrative settings. She worked with Samsonite Furniture in Murfreesboro in Accounts Payable and Customer Service for many years. Before coming to St. Paul’s, she worked for the Rutherford County School System at Buchanan Elementary School as an Educational Assistant and Attendance Secretary. Kathy is active and faithful in her own church and feels blessed to be a part of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Her husband is William and they have one son John. Contact Kathy at frontoffice@stpaulsmboro.org

Minister to Youth: Josh Courtney

Joshua Courtney has been serving St. Paul’s Episcopal Church since October 2007. Josh has been a Youth Minister since 2000. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Trevecca Nazarene University where he is also pursuing his Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies. Joshua has been blessed with a wonderful wife Jennifer since 2005. Joshua and Jennifer, both originally from Murfreesboro, were thrilled by the birth of their son Jon-Mical in January 2008. Contact Josh at youth@stpaulsmboro.org.

 

Minister of Music: Angela Tipps

A native of Murfreesboro, Angela Tipps graduated from MTSU with a Bachelor of Music in organ performance, and she received a Master of Church Music from Scarritt Graduate School in Nashville. She is currently the state president of the American Choral Directors Association, and has served as Past Dean of both the Nashville and Savannah, Georgia, chapters of the American Guild of Organists. Angela was a full-time church musician for ten years, and for six years she was Assistant Professor of Music at MTSU, where she conducted the Women's Chorale and taught choral music education and conducting classes. She continues to teach organ at MTSU. Contact Angela at adtipps@comcast.net.

Assistant to the Rector: David Rowe

Dr. David Rowe came to St. Paul’s when he moved to Murfreesboro in 1981 to teach in the History Department at Middle Tennessee State University. In 1987, following his Cursillo weekend, he began a long ministry at St. Paul’s that has taken many forms but that focuses in three areas: spiritual formation for adults, developing and administering liturgies, and administration in the parish and the diocese. His principal effort is directed to teaching in the Pilgrimage, St. Paul's program for Christian initiation that takes place each year. One will see him any Sunday singing in the choir, assisting at the altar, preaching, or sharing a cup of coffee with any of his many friends here. In many ways his ministry extends to his other environment–MTSU. Contact David at drowe@bellsouth.net.

Assistant to the Rector: Ralph Smith

Ralph is the Pastoral Care program leader at St. Paul's. He and his family have been members since 2004. His primary responsibilities include: Eucharistic Visitors, Stephen Ministry and the Food Ministry. Ralph is also a member of St. Paul's Outreach Ministry and is a Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife Jane are very active in other areas of parish life as well. Ralph and Jane reside in Rutherford County along with their two teenage children. Contact Ralph at rsmithone@comcast.net.

Co-Treasurer: Kathy Jones

Kathy has been a Member of St. Paul's since 1963. She is Co-Treasurer with her husband Bill since May, 2006. Their two children are Alison, 20, who attends Rhodes College in Memphis and Sutton, 17, who attends Webb School in Bell Buckle. Her outside charitable activities include - the Murfreesboro Charity Circle, the Rutherford County Heart Association, the Murfreesboro Planning Commission, the Webb School Parent's Association and the Webb School Board of Trustees. Kathy is employed by Stewart Title Company (STC on the NYSE) as the President and CEO of both Stewart Title of Tennessee, Inc. and Stewart Title of Arkansas, Inc.Contact Kathy at kathy.jones@stewart.com.

Co-Treasurer: Bill Jones:

Bill is the Area Executive for Pinnacle Financial Partners in Rutherford and Bedford Counties. Bill was born in Keflavik, Iceland but has resided in Murfreesboro for 46 years. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University since 1972, with degrees from Southern Trust School (Birmingham Southern College) in 1989 and the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in 1999. His charitable and civic interests include the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation (President 2001-2002), Middle Tennessee Medical Center (Director 2008 to present), Middle Tennessee Medical Center Foundation (Chairman, Investment Committee 2001-2008), Saint Thomas Health Systems Foundation (Investment Committee, 2005-2008), Destination Rutherford (2003-2010, Chairman 2007-2010), and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce (2001-2007, Chairman 2005). Bill was awarded "Business Person of the Year for 2007" by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Bill is married to Kathy. Contact Bill at bill.jones@pnfp.com.