Clergy and Staff of the Diocese
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The roles and responsibilities of each staff member were refined at a Staff Retreat in March 2024. These areas of responsiblity are reflected in the listings below, but can also be found in bullet point form on the News Blog at this link.
Diocesan Bishop
The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley
The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley was elected the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina on May 1, 2021. Her consecration and ordination was held on Saturday, October 2, at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. Visit the Bishop's page here. Canon to the Ordinary
The Reverend Canon Philip Linder
[email protected] 859.940.1601 cell 843.588.5877 office The Reverend Dr. Philip C. Linder was called to serve as Canon to the Ordinary by the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley in November 2021. His position is intended to support the diocese’s work in healthy governance, leadership and development, and pastoral connections. Canon Linder serves as the Transition Officer for the diocese. He is also the Diocesan Office liaison to the Commission on Ministry, helping to raise up lay and clergy leaders for our diocese. Additionally, his areas of responsibility include: diocesan properties, the return of churches to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, and Constitution and Canons. Canon Linder is also responsible for clergy licensing, maintaining a supply clergy list, remarriage requests, pastoral concerns, and Title IV concerns. He also serves as liaison for the bishop's office with the Trustees, and as chief of staff in times of the absence of the bishop. A 1982 graduate of Villanova University and a 1985 graduate of the General Theological Seminary, Philip also has a doctorate in ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary and a doctorate in psychology from the Graduate Theological Foundation. In his years as a priest, Philip has led five parishes, including as Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, SC. Philip and his wife Ellen have three grown children and five grandchildren. They live on Daniel Island. Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Betsy Pritchard
843-259-2016 [email protected] The Executive Assistant to the Bishop is responsible for managing the bishop's calendar and travel, and works with staff to plan and execute diocesan meetings and gatherings including Clergy Conference and Annual Diocesan Convention. The position is responsible for Safeguarding Training, maintaining clergy records, clergy licensing and lay licensing. She provides administrative support to the Diocesan Council, Commission on Ministry, Trustees, and Standing Committee. Her office is located at Grace Church Cathedral (98 Wentworth St.) with the bishop. She works five days a week. Contact the Executive Assistant about: Scheduling a meeting with the Bishop, Safeguarding training, clergy records, clergy and lay licensing, Bishop's visitations and the Diocesan Prayer Calendar, diocesan meetings and gatherings, donor support, and reports of Diocesan Council or the Journal of the Annual Convention. Betsy joined the staff in March 2023 after serving as the assistant director of The Little School at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston for eight years. She and her husband, Thomas, live on James Island where they have raised their three children. They are members at Grace Church Cathedral. Canon for Common Mission
The Rev. Cn. Ryan Currie
843.580.4450 office 251.401.0823 mobile [email protected] As Canon for Common Mission, Ryan is responsible for stewarding the relationships and gatherings of our diocese, including Diocesan Convention, Clergy Conference, and various cohort groups and committees. Ryan assists the bishop in discerning the vision and developing the mission of our diocese, with an eye to keeping everyone mutually informed and supported. As our diocese enters a new phase of reintegration following schism, the Canon for Common Mission is an important “hub of the wheel” for leaders—lay and ordained—as congregations undergo the tasks of reentry into the Diocese of South Carolina. Contact Ryan about:
A two-time graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South (B.A., 2013; M.Div. 2018), Ryan served before becoming a priest as an administrative assistant in Sewanee’s President and Vice-Chancellor’s office and in other support roles at the university. Ordained in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, Ryan previously served as the Associate Rector of Holy Cross-Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Pawleys Island. In 2022 he married Lowcountry native Richard Culbertson. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys singing and playing piano, cooking and entertaining, and traveling. Canon for Justice and Future Leaders
The Rev. Cn. Ramelle McCall
843.580.2762 office 843.620.2846 mobile [email protected] As Canon for Justice and Future Leaders, he will focus his attention on advancing the ministries of justice in the public square (furthering the work of racial, social, and economic justice), and developing leaders for the next generation, including serving as the key liaison with the Children and Youth Commission. Contact Ramelle about:
Canon McCall was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University in 2006 and studied Anglican Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 2011 and began his ministry as interim rector at St. Philip’s in Annapolis, Maryland for a year before being called to serve as rector of St. Michael & All Angels in Baltimore, and chaplain to the Maryland Institute College of Art from 2012 to 2017. He has served as rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Baltimore and Urban Missioner for the Diocese of Maryland since 2017. He appreciates good food and enjoys playing pool, exercising, listening to great music, and singing karaoke. Canon for Strategy and Vitality
Andrea McKellar
843.580.1227 office, 843.412.2411 mobile [email protected] Andrea is currently transitioning from her role as Canon for Finance and Administration. Those responsibilities have included oversight of all fiscal and accounting activities of the Diocese of South Carolina including budgeting and forecasting processes, financial analysis, reporting, and financial planning, accounting operations, and insurance needs. The Canon for Finance and Administration has served as a resource to congregations and ministries within the diocese to ensure that the congregations’ fiscal matters follow accepted procedures and comply with applicable laws and regulations and works closely with diocesan committees and boards, staff, and volunteers, to support congregations through financial training for clergy, treasurers, and wardens. The majority of these financial roles will soon transition to a new position, diocesan comptroller. Contact Andrea about: Grants, Budget, Parish financial questions, and Diocesan Events. As she transitions to Canon for Strategy and Vitality, contact Andrea for help with:
Andrea joined the staff as part-time administrative assistant in January 2014. She currently serves on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church and on the board of the Episcopal Church Foundation. Andrea graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in Business Marketing and worked in hospitality before beginning church work in 2011. She worships at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Charleston. Andrea enjoys reading, swimming, and nature hikes. Andrea and her husband Mark live on Johns Island with their two children. Comptroller
Stephenie Benes
[email protected] As diocesan comptroller, Stephenie serves on the bishop’s staff on a full-time basis, with responsibility for general accounting duties including day-to-day bookkeeping, preparation of quarterly financial statements, federal and state tax reporting, and annual budget support. In addition, she will handle all accounts payable, accounts receivable, diocesan grants, payroll, and audit compliance. In partnership with our diocesan treasurer, Stephenie will work to ensure the overall financial health of the diocese. Contact Stephenie about: Financial needs, general accounting questions, financial needs for returning congregations, and information about applying for diocesan grants. A 2004 graduate of Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, with degrees in Banking and Finance and Business Management, Stephenie has worked for more than 20 years in banking, accounting, and insurance. For the past eight years, she has been managing the financials for multiple companies with an accounting firm. Stephenie and her husband, Neil, live in North Charleston with their two children, and their dog Ellie. Director of Communications
Molly Hamilton
843.580.1416 (office) 843.327.6479 (mobile) [email protected] Molly Hamilton oversees communications within the Diocese and to the wider community as a member of the Bishop's staff. Contact Molly about: The diocesan website, episcopalchurchsc.org, email newsletter, Facebook and other social media. She wants to hear from you when you have photos and stories to share! She is also available to consult with individual churches on websites, email newsletters, social media, news releases and other communication questions. Molly is also responsible for maintaining the diocesan brand and ensuring consistency and communications quality control across the diocese. She works to produce messaging consistent with the bishop's voice and diocesan vision. Additionally, she is the point of contact for our diocese on the Episcopal Asset Map. A 1997 graduate of the College of Charleston with degrees in corporate communications and business administration, Molly also earned a master's in mass communication from the University of South Carolina. She has worked collectively for more than 25 years in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, public affairs, digital communications, and media relations; and she took off about 10 years in between to work full time as a stay-at-home mom. Molly and her husband, Trey, have two sons and live on James Island. They are members of Grace Church Cathedral and a military family; Trey has served for more than 20 years in the Air Force Reserves. |
Appointed to serveIntake Officer
The Rev. Ross Tortora, Deacon at Grace Church Cathedral serves as the Intake Officer for the Diocese of South Carolina. He can be reached at [email protected].
Intake officers are defined in, and required by, Title IV, the church’s disciplinary canon. Intake officers, designated by the bishop, listen to, document and respond to the complaint. They also serve on the reference panel. Note that this is not, in any way, a role of mediation. We chose our intake officers because of their history in handling delicate human situations. They are compassionate individuals trained in the art of active listening. Your comfort in this process is of primary importance. Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer and Liturgical Officer
The Very Reverend J. Michael A. Wright, Rector and Dean of Grace Church Cathedral, is Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer for The Diocese of South Carolina. He is also Liturgical Officer and chairs the Diocesan Liturgical Commission.
As Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer, Dean Wright followed the Reverend Dow Sanderson, Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion in Charleston, in the important work of building and sustaining relationships with other faith communities. Diocesan Disaster Coordinator
The Reverend Fred Thompson serves as Diocesan Disaster Coordinator for The Diocese of South Carolina. Fred, a priest of our diocese, is responsible for coordinating disaster planning and response at the diocesan level, as well as working with congregations to develop their own disaster plans. Fred also will serve as liaison in times of emergency with relief agencies and with groups such as the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy and Episcopal Relief and Development.
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