News Blog

January 17, 2024

Updated – January 22, 2024

St. George’s Annual Meeting will occur during a combined 10 am worship service on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Part of the Annual Meeting will include electing four new members to our Vestry (lay leadership council). We give thanks for the nominees who have offered to serve. You can read more about them in their bios below.

Beth Klein served out a previous vestry member’s term after they were unable to continue on the Vestry. She is eligible to run in the election again this year and has opted to put her name forth as a nominee.

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Katie Green – Attends 9 am Service

After being asked to consider becoming a candidate for vestry, I quickly realized that “yes” was the right answer. St. George’s has given me so many opportunities of spiritual growth. I fondly recall my time in “Pilgrim’s Class,” and the lovely challenges of EfM. We, at St. George’s are gifted weekly with extraordinary sermons, music, and formation gatherings. And then there are service opportunities like Monday Night Dinners and the Table that open our hearts and make us beloved community. If elected, I would be honored to support our current ministries, and to help to envision our future ones.

When we moved here in May 2012 to be near family, Bill and I quickly found the disapproving references to “gay lifestyle” from local Catholic pulpits quite uncomfortable. We decided to try something new, and one St. Georgian Sunday was all it took to make us Episcopalians. By October, we were at Shrine Mont! As proud grandparents of two trans grandchildren, we are very grateful for the support St. George’s and The House offer to young adults who are simply trying to become the selves God leads them to be.

Ministry Involvement:

• 1980s: Member, Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (in Phenix City, AL), tasked with responding to “Partners in the Mystery of Redemption,” a letter from American Bishops questioning the limitations placed on women in the Catholic Church
• 2000s: Lector, first at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green, KY; and now, at St. George’s

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

• 1992-2012: Professor, Western Kentucky University (English Literature, Composition, and Women’s Studies)
• 2019-2023:  Racial Justice and Healing Book Group, St. George Episcopal
• 2023: Member of the Association of Visual Artists of the Diocese of Virginia (formed in 2023)
• 2023: Shrine Mont TED talk: “So, What Kind of Brushstroke am I Today?”

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Patricia Johnson – Attends Celtic Service and 9 am Online

I moved to Fredericksburg 8 years ago and joined St. George’s about the same time. I was invited to St. George’s by friends who were members in the same /shared Episcopal community in Germany for many years. In that community I had the opportunity to serve in various roles on both the Parish Council and with the Bishop of the Armed Forces umbrella. Those experiences along with vestry memberships in 2 congregations in MD instilled a sense of community contribution and involvement in serving and increased partnership wherever you are” planted”.

Originally from Boston area, grew up a baptized Catholic participating in Sunday School, CCD, Youth groups, teams, activities. My hometown was ~95% Jewish culminating in extensive exposure to faith groups through joint activities, individual relationships. I questioned the Catholic teaching of being “chosen”. At 17 I decided to explore. I married a Lutheran and by fate we became Episcopalians in ~1982 at St Stephen’s, Sierra Vista, AZ. As a military family we spent 23 years in Germany, mostly Heidelberg & that Episcopal community. My journey includes multiple formations, session at Sewanee, EFM, 3 vestries, 1 TEC outreach service, conferences, committees.

Ministry Experience

While at St George’s I’ve been most involved with the Tuesday evening book group for the past several years. In 2023 I joined the Writing into Wholeness group. Additionally, I’ve participated in workshops, and retreats.

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

I am 2022 civilian retiree from Dept of the Army, where I spent a 44yr career as a Child, Youth&Family Specialist in both garrison(community ) and HQs staffs. My responsibilities and focus areas were vast, to include child care and youth program development, delivery and accreditation to meet the needs of the particular command mission, parents and children ages 0-18 yrs. Additionally, I directed and managed the Child & Youth facility requirements and full construction program for the European Command. I expanded my focus as a strategic program analyst and lead community planner. While in Europe from 1986-2006 I served as the volunteer liaison and coordinator for the Episcopal Bishops of the Armed Forces. My professional roles greatly contributed to supporting the Bishop with clergy needs and placements, Search processes, clergy and family conferences, and representation to the TEC European “Diocese”. These experiences helped me to learn and adjust to the very different vestry needs of smaller local civilian parishes that I served on in MD.

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Gabriela Kelly – Attends 9 am Service

I have not previously considered the Vestry because I felt I still was new to the Episcopal faith and the specific church. However, now that I have attended St. George’s for almost 7 years, and I have put down roots here in the area, I feel compelled to off er my time and insight to the church body. I have strong views on what I feel church should be in my 49 year old mind, and I look forward to finding out if that can be a reality.

I was baptized in the Catholic church in approximately 1976. I joined the Episcopal church in Virginia Beach at Emmanuel, but I do not know a date, but it was likely in 2006. I reaffirmed my faith at St. Paul’s in Richmond May 15, 2016. I have now bought a townhouse in Stafford, VA and live with my mom, Sandra Bock who moved down to VA from MD after retiring. My son is in Virginia Tech majoring in cinema. My hobbies are cooking, watching movies, listening to true crime/paranormal podcasts, walking, swimming, and attending concerts.

Ministry Involvement:

I have been involved in the Table with the Sunday produce team since I joined in 2017. I also was a volunteer in the One Body Response Team in 2017 and later took over the leadership of emailing for a year before returning to being just a member. I joined the Episcopal Church Women maybe in 2019. I joined the Racial Justice and Healing book club but realized I could not keep up with readings, and this 2023 year joined the Racial Justice and Healing Committee with Joe, Jake, Michelle, Gabe, Caroline and Cindy. I also briefly helped build one ramp with Saws and helped bring them lunches.

 

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Beth Klein – Attends Celtic Service

I currently serve on the Vestry as I am finishing Suzan Duffee’s term. I am running on my own for this term. I have been actively involved in a variety of ministries since 2011. Through my career as a Disability Advocate for the past 25 years I am aware of a variety of services and organizations available in the Fredericksburg Region. I also ran a small non-profit and applied for grants.

I am an experienced event planner and organizer and love working with my fellow St. Georgians on a variety of projects.

One of my favorite quotes is by Madeleine L’Engle “We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” This to me is St. George’s. I am drawn to St. George’s for our diversity, acceptance and curiosity.

My husband Dale and I have been together for 35 years and live in Stafford with our cats: Gallaudet, Noah and Lilycat Diana.

Ministry Involvement:
I have been involved in a variety of ministries since 2011 when I started attending St. Georges. Currently I am a Delegate to the Diocesan Convention and a Member of the Regional Council. I was the Admin Assistant for the Episcopal Conference of Deaf from 2019-2022. I have been involved in a variety of feeding ministries at St. George’s including the Table 2012-2020, Community Dinners 2019-2021, and Micah Christmas Am 2012-present. I was also actively involved in the Grace in Action (Outreach) Commission.

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

• 2022- Present: Disability Rights Advocate- disAbility Law Center of Virginia
• 2005- 2022: Owner- Employment Solutions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, LLC
• 2011-2018: Founder/Executive Director- PAH: Providing Access to Healthcare for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• 2004- Present: American Sign Language Interpreter

 

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Rogers Lawson – Attends 9 am Service

I am a truly blessed individual and feel the need to share these blessings with others. My wife and I have found a home at St Georges. I would like to apply my experience to enhance the church’s effort to reach out and serve the broader community. I have been in leadership roles and have learned that leadership must also be performed with compassion. It is important to me that I practice the open acceptance and love for all individuals that I see at St. Georges.

I grew up in Poquoson, VA and was a member of the Tabernacle United Methodist Church. I was baptized as an infant around 1949. I served as an aviation electronics technician in the US Navy/Navy Reserves from 1969-2002, retiring as a Master Chief Petty Officer. Carol and I were married in 1969 and have two beautiful daughters (one born in Key West and the other in San Diego) and 3 wonderful grandchildren. We have lived in 8 states and attended a variety of Presbyterian and Methodist churches. We have been attending St Georges since 2010.

Ministry Involvement:

• 2015 – Present: The Table
• 2019 – Present: SAWs of Virginia
• 1988 – 1990: Christmas in April (house repairs)

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

Senior Enlisted Advisor US Navy providing leadership and counseling to approximately 225 enlisted personnel.

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Jennifer Vaughan – Attends 9 am Service

The mission of the Episcopal Church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer, speaks to my heart as it calls us “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” In step with that mission, I want to serve within my local community by supporting the creation & maintenance of community that is loving, liberating, and builds life-giving relationships with God, with each other, and with the earth. I feel called to lend my administrative gifts and energy toward supporting, aligning, and sustaining our local St. Georgian ministries with this mission.

My husband Brian and I began attending St. George’s as soon as we moved to Fredericksburg in 2011. I was confirmed at St. George’s and he was received in 2012. Before moving to Fredericksburg, we met and were married in Charlottesville, VA. I am originally from Reading, PA where I was baptized at age 13. I have also spent time living in Wheaton, IL, North Andover & Cambridge, MA, Oxford, UK, and Charlottesville, VA. Brian and I live in Celebrate Virginia where we spend most of our spare time attending to every whim of our two cats, Fred and Ginger.
Ministry Involvement:

• 2023: House Mom
• 2023: Lay Eucharistic Visitor
• 2021 – 2023: Education for Ministry
• 2007 – 2023: Personal Prayer Minister
• 2015 – 2023: Lay Eucharistic Minister
• 2019 – 2021: Chair, One Body Response Team
• 2016 – 2019: Chair, Adult Christian Education
• 2015 – 2019: Adult Christian Education Committee
• 2012 – 2016: Choir
• 2009 – 2011: Clerk of Session (Presbyterian equivalent of Warden) Gordonsville Presbyterian Church
• 2008 – 2011: Session Member (Presbyterian version of Vestry) Gordonsville Presbyterian Church

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

I am currently working at Riverside Counseling as a Professional Spiritual Director, a Trauma Coach, and a Pastoral Sex Addictions Treatment Provider (providing support for those impacted by addictions or intimate or institutional betrayal—i.e., “hurt by church”). I also work for Empower House providing training for batterers in the Men’s Fresh Start program. Before moving into collaborative work with my husband at Riverside, I worked in academic management and administration at Tufts, Harvard, UVA School of Medicine, and most recently Prince William County Schools.