Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and all the members of her staff gathered for their annual retreat at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center March 11-12, 2024. Aside from opportunities for fellowship, prayer, and rest, the team used this time together to take an in-depth look at their collective work.
 
After time spent in prayer and “checking in,” the staff turned their attention to fine-tuning how each member would contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Vision adopted by the previous diocesan convention. While a great deal has been accomplished already, staff members discussed more nuanced aspects of the plan and what it would take to bring it from paper into reality over the near- and long-term. Because of the Vision’s ambitious and wide-ranging goals for our future, the staff identified ways to better align their own roles and responsibilities. The key job functions of the bishop and each staff member are listed below:
 
The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Bishop

• Chief shepherd and pastor of the diocese
• Ordinations
• Visitations
• Pastoral concerns
• Leadership of all bodies
• Strategic leadership
• Resources and partnership development
• Councils of the wider church
• Institutions and Community
• Working across lines of difference
• Shaping culture and values

 
The Rev. Philip Linder, Canon to the Ordinary

• Transitions
• Commission on Ministry
• Returning congregations
• Property issues and insurance
• Clergy in good standing and licensing
• Supply clergy
• New clergy to the diocese group with Canon Currie
• Remarriage requests
• Pastoral concerns
• Church governance/Constitution & Canons
• Title IV
• Trustees’ liaison
• Chancellor liaison for legal documentation
• Chief of staff in Bishop’s absence

 
The Rev. Ryan Currie, Canon for Common Mission

• Convention
• Annual and Special Events
• Gathering/convening groups
• Christian formation working group
• Calvary office site management
• Diocesan Council liaison
• New clergy groups with Canon Linder

 
The Rev. Ramelle McCall, Canon for Justice & Future Leaders

• Social justice initiatives
  • Racial justice
  • Environment Justice/Creation care (in collaboration with St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center)
  • Economic justice 
  • LGBTQ+ justice (in collaboration with Canon Currie) 
  • Anti-gun violence in South Carolina and for the Episcopal Church. 
• Ecumenical and Interfaith Initiatives
  • Global partnerships 
  • Community partnerships (with organizations such as CAJM (Charleston Area Justice Ministry), SCCAC (SC Christian Action Council), SC Fair Lending, and FSA)
• Youth Ministry
• College Ministry
• Young Adult Ministry
• Latino Ministry 
• Congregations of African Descent: Resources for Sustainability and Ingenuity

 
Andrea McKellar, Canon for Strategy & Vitality

• Metrics
• Project management
• Church planting
• Congregational development
• Benefits

 
Molly Hamilton, Director of Communications

• Public and media relations
• Social media content creation
• Weekly e-newsletter creation and distribution
• Website maintenance and content creation
• Maintaining branding/identity consistency
• Producing messaging consistent with the bishop’s voice and diocesan vision
• Diocesan communications quality control
• Communications support, resources, training for congregations
• Updating the Episcopal Asset Map

 
Betsy Pritchard, Executive Assistant to the Bishop

• Staff hospitality 
• Bishop’s travel
• Visitation scheduling for the bishop
• First point of contact
• Support the Office of the Bishop
• Support the Office of the Canon to the Ordinary as needed
• Maintain the bishop’s calendar
• Maintain records including point of contact spreadsheet
• Background checks
• Safeguarding
• Thriving in Ministry schedule
• Coordination/scheduling/minuting leadership bodies

 
Comptroller

• Accounts payable
• Accounts receivable
• Diocesan grants
• Payroll
• Audit compliance

 
Additionally, before the retreat time began, several staff members held a discussion with a special guest of the Diocese, Steve Mullaney, who serves as chaplain and executive director of the University Episcopal Community in Minneapolis, MN. In addition to his long experience in young adult and campus ministry, Steve has been deeply involved in Latino congregations, intentional communities inspired by monastic spirituality, camp and conference center ministry, and several different kinds of church plants. Steve was staying at St. Christopher for a portion of his sabbatical this spring, where he preached in their weekly chapel service and proved a valuable thought partner for the staff of St. Christopher and the Office of the Bishop.
 
While there was a great deal of work to be accomplished, the chance for members to reconnect with their ministries and with one another in such a sacred and restful place was a true blessing. The bishop and her staff are grateful for the hospitality of the entire St. Christopher team. 

The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Reverend John Robert Spainhour to serve as priest-in-charge of The Church of the Epiphany in Summerville. While Father Rob most recently served in the Diocese of Vermont, his ministry in The Episcopal Church began in the Diocese of South Carolina and he is grateful to return to where he has spent much of his life.

Bishop Woodliff-Stanley is thankful for the experience Father Rob brings to Epiphany, Summerville, where the Rev. Len Williams has served the congregation faithfully for a number of years. “I am so grateful for the gracious and seasoned leadership of Father Rob and look forward to the continued growth and vitality of Epiphany as he and the congregation build upon the good work done during Father Len’s strong tenure,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley.

Following graduation from the College of Charleston in 1978, Father Rob began his career in education, as a teacher and later as assistant principal, while remaining deeply involved in lay ministry at Trinity, Pinopolis. After discerning a call to the priesthood, he earned a Master of Divinity from Trinity Episcopal Seminary and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of South Carolina in 1992. In his first call, he served for 10 years as rector of St. John’s, Oakland in West Ashley (Charleston). In 2005, he was called to the Diocese of East Carolina to serve two congregations while simultaneously working as principal of two public high schools in eastern North Carolina. He continued as a bi-vocational priest for nine years before answering a call to serve as full-time priest-in-charge of Church of the Advent in Williamston, NC.

In 2015, Father Rob was called as rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Swanton, Vermont, where he served for eight years before retiring from full-time ministry and returning to South Carolina in March 2023. Not long after his return, he soon became active in the Diocese of South Carolina again, serving as supply priest for a number of congregations over the past year. Father Rob is joyfully looking forward to serving part-time at Epiphany, Summerville. “Epiphany is a wonderful, historic parish with an energetic and lively congregation located in the heart of beautiful, historic downtown Summerville,” said Fr. Rob. “Building upon the great things of the past, I trust we will continue to see marvelous things together in the future.”

Though he was born in North Carolina, Father Rob has lived most of his life in South Carolina, first moving to Edisto Island while in elementary school. He was confirmed in The Episcopal Church in 1981 at St. George’s, Summerville. Throughout his ministry, Father Rob has been active in diocesan service as well, including as President of the Standing Committee and a member of the Diocesan Council in the Diocese of South Carolina, as well as a variety of diocesan roles in the Diocese of East Carolina, and the Diocese of Vermont. In addition, he has served The Episcopal Church at several General Conventions.

Father Rob is the proud father of his daughters, Cantey—who followed in her father’s footsteps as a teacher—and Avery (who unexpectedly died in 2016 and is interred at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston), and five grandchildren. He lives in Goose Creek and joyfully spends time with his daughter and grandchildren whenever he is able.
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About Epiphany, Summerville
Epiphany Church of Summerville was founded in the 1880s and built in 1887 on land donated by Catherine Springs, a free person of color who operated a thriving business on King Street in downtown Charleston before opening a hat and dress shop in Summerville. In addition to donating money and land to Epiphany Church, she also donated the same to build the Banks School, which provided the first public education for Black children in Summerville. It was operated by Epiphany Episcopal Church, which was then a mission of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Summerville.

With the enthusiastic support of its vestry, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called Michael Crandall as rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Summerville. He brings a unique background and ministry to this call, and the people of St. George’s are excited to welcome him and his family to their congregation in June.
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Following 26 years of ministry in the Baptist church, Crandall’s faith journey led him to service in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in 2017. During his time as chaplain, and with the support of the Diocese of Hawaii, he discerned a call to continue his ministry in The Episcopal Church and return to parish ministry. Crandall is currently enrolled at The University of the South: Sewanee, working toward a diploma of Anglican studies (May 2024) and doctorate of ministry (2025). God willing and the people consenting, pending his successful completion of all necessary requirements for ordination in The Episcopal Church, Crandall will be ordained to the transitional diaconate in Hawaii in the spring and is expected to be ordained to the priesthood in the fall at St. George’s, Summerville.

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shared her joy about this call to St. George’s, Summerville. “Michael is a gifted pastor with a heart for evangelism,” said the bishop. “He brings wonderful skills to St. George’s. I am inspired by his love for Jesus and his contagious enthusiasm about the parish. I look forward to welcoming him and his partner, Brayden, to our diocese!”
 
Crandall’s greatest passions in ministry include meeting people where they are and walking alongside them in their journey, as well as helping parishes discern God’s call for them and navigating the path to get there together. Crandall and his family look forward to the future with the people of St. George’s, Summerville. “Brayden & I are excited to partner with St. George’s on this journey, and we look forward to serving in the Diocese of South Carolina,” said Crandall.
 
A native of Tennessee, Crandall considers himself an avid life-long learner, and in addition to his current path of study at Sewanee, he previously earned multiple degrees at Union University including a Christian Ministry Diploma (2004), associate’s degree of divinity (2005), and Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership (2009). He completed a Master of Divinity at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014. His 26 years of ministry in The Baptist Church began in service as supply clergy at the age of 16, and later as hospital chaplain, minister of students, and senior clergy. He also served at a convention level in various roles including vice-chair of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. As noted above, in 2017 he began serving in in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy, which brought him to the Diocese of Hawaii and The Episcopal Church.

When he moves to Summerville this year, Crandall will be joined by his partner, Brayden, and three children Hayden (19), Carter (17), and Brynlee (16). In his free time, Michael enjoys supporting his children in all that they do, reading, traveling, and exercising.  

About St. George’s, Summerville
Organized in 1979, St. George’s Episcopal Church is located at 9110 Dorchester Road, on the border of Summerville and North Charleston. St. George’s is a welcoming, diverse and stable congregation, dedicated to growing and expanding ministries to serve the families in a continually growing population. One of the church’s most active ministries is a Bookbag Buddies program that helps provide food security for students on the weekends and while they are not in school. The church offers services of worship each Sunday at 8 am (Holy Eucharist Rite I) and 10:30 am (Holy Eucharist Rite II). A time of Christian education and fellowship is held between the services from 9:15-10 am.