Clergy
The Rev. Brad Whitaker, Rector
The Rev. Brad Whitaker is a native of Atlanta, GA. He is a graduate of Young Harris College, the University of Georgia and The General Theological Seminary. Brad was ordained a priest in 1990 and was on staff at St. Peter’s in Rome, GA and at Holy Innocents’ in Atlanta. He has served as the Rector of Christ Church in Newton, NJ and at Christ Church, Grosse Pointe, MI. Recently he served as the transitional priest for Trinity Church in Farmington Hills, MI and St. Andrew’s, Waterford, MI. Brad also served as the Chief Operating Officer of a human service agency in Detroit that serves homeless and high risk girls.
Brad has been married to his wife, Harriett – a middle school teacher – for 26 years, and they have three children: Sarah, Robert and Henry. Brad loves to play golf (just ask about his 2008 sabbatical in Scotland and Burundi), hike and fish. whitaker@stpaulschatt.org
The Rev. C. Murdock Jones, Associate Rector
The Rev. Murdock Jones was born and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is a graduate of The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, majoring in English, and attended seminary at The School of Theology at the University of the South. Before seminary, Murdock served as youth minister at Christ Episcopal Church Little Rock. Murdock was ordained a priest in December 2020 while serving as curate at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers, NC.
Murdock and Mary Catherine have been married since 2015. They have a loyal old dog named Bishop. When not working, Murdock enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially if he can cook a meal to be enjoyed together, and rooting on the Arkansas Razorbacks. cmjones@stpaulschatt.org
The Rev. Suzanne Burch,
Deacon
STAFF
Paul Thomas,
Director of music
As Director of Music, Paul’s focus is to share the living tradition of Anglican music and liturgy, and lead the congregation in making beautiful music unto the Lord. Paul holds degrees in organ performance from Furman and Yale Universities, and earned the Certificate in Church Music Studies from Yale. Before coming to St. Paul’s, Paul served at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke & St. Paul in Charleston, SC and the Episcopal Church at Yale. Aside from music, Paul enjoys playing golf, watching Liverpool FC, doing projects around the house, and spending time with his wife Meredith and their children Graham and Eloise. Contact Paul about musical opportunities: paul@stpaulschatt.org
Janet Hale,
Pastoral Care Minister and Adult Handbell Director
ERic Fitch, Bookkeeper
eric@stpaulschatt.org
Patty Brigham,
Facilities Coordinator
Mackenzie Teal, director of youth ministries
MacKenzie grew up in Newnan, Georgia as the youngest of four children. She is a recent graduate of Young Harris College with a degree in English Studies. From a young age, MacKenzie has been active in the Episcopal Church as an acolyte, working in diocesan and parish leadership as a youth, and worked as a Youth and Young Adult Ministry Intern for the Diocese of Atlanta. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in helping youth claim their faith journey as their own. In her free time, MacKenzie loves tending her houseplants and spending time outside. mackenzie@stpaulschatt.org
Natasha durst, director of connection and engagement
Steven Richardson Severin, Assistant Organist
Steven Richardson Severin, raised on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi, has been a church organist since 2016, when he started working for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Honolulu. Notable pieces Steven performed at St. Mark’s include the Duruflé Requiem, Messiaen’s l’Ascension, and numerous works from the Anglican choral tradition. He is also a pianist, having earned a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Before that, he earned a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2011.
As a collaborative pianist and organist, he has worked with ensembles such as the Gay Men’s Chorus of Honolulu, the chamber choir Nā Wai, and the Hawaiʻi Youth Opera Chorus, where he also taught group piano classes. As an educator, he worked with the middle school choirs and instrumental ensembles at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama campus. He also teaches private piano lessons for youth and adults.
Steven enjoys singing in choirs as well, and is a member of the Sewanee School of Theology Choir. While in Honolulu, he sang in the chorus for the world premiere of Kinohi by Herb Mahelona, the first Hawaiian-language oratorio. As a member of the Oʻahu Choral Society, he performed works by Brahms, Orff, Howells, and others.
His wife, Erin, is a seminarian at the School of Theology, and they live on the mountain with their cat, Mahina. Steven’s non-musical hobbies include cooking, bicycling, and computer/ tabletop games.
Calvin Yearby, Harry brigham, Brian johnson - Sextons
VESTRY
The Vestry of St. Paul’s is the legal and financial “board of trustees” for the church. Members are elected for three-year terms and lead the parish in setting policies and goals, maintaining the buildings, and raising financial support for the mission of the parish. The Vestry is chaired by the Rector and consists of fifteen parishioners. The Wardens are the “Executive Officers” of the Vestry.
Typically five new members are elected to three year terms. The elections are held each year at our Parish Meeting in November. Any member of the parish is welcome to attend Vestry meetings and is encouraged to approach any member of the Vestry with any questions or concerns they may have with any spiritual or non-spiritual aspects of the church and its leadership and management.
Vestry Members:
Class of 2024
Amy Arrowsmith
Will Hopping
Nelson Irvine
Trip Smith
Julie Taylor
Class of 2025
Nelson Eiselstein
Eliza Williams
Carrie Stefaniak
David Spiller
Rhett Bentley
Class of 2026
John Beard
Katherine Betts
Greg Miller
Jeremy Weldon
Harriett Connor Whitaker