The Vestry - St John's Episcopal Church

2011 Vestry

In the Episcopal Church in the United States of America the vestry is the body of lay members, elected by the congregation as a whole, which elects the rector of the church and conducts its secular business. The rector is an ex officio member of the vestry and usually chairs its meetings, but usually only votes in order to break a tie. The leading lay members of the vestry are generally the wardens.

Fred Wright, Senior Warden
Deanna Soulis, Junior Warden
Ruth Ann Ogle, Registrar
David Davis, Treasurer
William P. Young, Jr., Chancellor
Gaye McGovern, Ivor Knight, Pieter Bickford, Robert Hershey, Nicole Martin, Kelly Slocum, Bill Alexander, Gary Lambert, Ray Raab and David McKinley.

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VESTRY NOMINEES FOR CLASS OF 2012 - 2015

TINA ANGLE
Tina’s family includes former husband, Larry (Lawrence) and sons Lawrence (presently in the US Army serving in Afghanistan), Peter Nicholas and wife, Nicole. Tina is a lifelong member of St. John’s. She is a retired English teacher, reading specialist and library media specialist. Tina also served as a long term acting principal, and was a Washington County Teacher’s Association Representative. Parish Activities include Junior Choir, Girls Friendly, Sunday school teacher, helped establish Parish Library, Mayfest, St. John’s Garden Club, Lector, Welcoming Bouquet, Third Chairman of the Preschool and current Board Member and Grant Writer, Stephen Minister and Legacy Society. Community Involvement is with Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Hagerstown Rotary Literacy Initiative, ACBL, The Woman’s Club, Washington County Historical Society, Washington County Arts Council, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, American Legion Auxiliary and Friends of the Library. Tina will bring the gifts of organizational skills, team builder, leadership ability and profound gratitude if elected to the Vestry. Her hopes, and/or dreams for the future of St. John’s are to continue growth in membership and stewardship, and to bring out the best in each of us.

DUSTY GRAHAM
Dusty has been a member of St. John’s since 1961 - minus four years while in college and living in Annapolis. Dusty and husband Bill’s immediate family include Megan Graham, Beth Graham, and Scott and Allie Christian...She is a retired FACS teacher with the Washington County Board of Education. Parish activities include Chalicist, Intercessor, and at present, collecting books and coats for Bester Elementary School. She has worked with the Growth Committee for the past several years. In the community she is active in the Alpha Delta Kappa women educator’s sorority, the Honor Flight (escort WWII Vets in DC for a day). She is a Master Gardner with Washington County University of Maryland Extension. Dusty will bring the Gift of knowledge of the history of St. John’s Parish to the Vestry. Also, through her previous Vestry and Newcomer Committee involvement, she will have a base on which to form her opinions. Her vision, hope, or dream for our parish in the future is to continue to grow, reach out to our visitors and new members, and to continue to foster a sense of community.

WILLIAM (BILL) LUCHT

Bill Lucht has been a member of St. John’s for ten years. Bill and his wife Sandra, have one son, Carl. Bill helped establish the Blue Ridge Community College in Martinsburg after they were separated from Shepherd College. They started with 700 students and now have an enrollment of 4300. He serves on the President’s staff and also serves on the Board of Governors as Staff Representative. He teaches psychology and political science. Bill also serves on the local Mental Health Center and Tourism Boards. Bill helped to establish the WV Book Faire, and also produced three plays. His play, Lincoln and James, written by David Selby played at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. Bill is a member of the WV Counseling Association and served for seven years on the WV Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Currently, he is working with a national group of concerned persons interested in bringing Civics back into the classroom. He also serves on the George Washington Board of Ethics housed at Shepherd University. Bill established WV Radio at Shepherd University. He is a faithful eight o’clock parishioner and attends the Adult Forum after the service. Bill’s various endeavors and experience in education and community interests will be a huge gift if he is elected to the Vestry.

BETTY MARKLE
Betty has been a member of St. John’s for 17 years. Betty and husband, Bob, have two daughters, Lisa and Linda. She works as Administrative Support for Tiger’s Eye Benefits Consulting. Her many Parish Activities include; Stephen Ministry, Parish Life Commission, Counter, Biblical Storyteller, Lay Reader, and Meals Coordinator for Cold Weather Shelter. Betty would bring the gifts of love for the congregation and its ministry; dedication; dependability; stamina; and some organizational skills. Betty’s hopes, dreams and vision for the future are many. She would like to encourage new parishioners to become involved in the life of the Parish. Growing the visitation teams for those who are unable to attend services; be watchful for ways to meet the needs of growing families; continue our communication venues; continue the good educational opportunities for all ages; celebrate the many ministries happening in our midst, and find ways to make it possible to hire a permanent assistant for our Parish and our Rector. “Could our vision be His vision, too? I believe that if we stand together in His name, for His causes, it can be done.”

ROBERT RAUTH

Robert has been a member of St. John’s since 1999. Robert and his wife, Susan, have a daughter, Jessica, and grandchildren, Raven and Ethan Rauth. Bob is a building contractor. He owns his own business. He is active at St. John’s as a former co-chair of Parish Life for three years, and has maintained continued involvement with the commission. He is a graduate of EFM, a Van Driver, and has served on the Vestry. Community Involvement has been with Habitat for Humanity, and the Child ID Program. The experience of having been an active member of St. John’s for the last 12 years will enable him to use this as a gift to the parish. He has a good understanding of how things need to work within the church family. “ I have run my own business for the last 23 years and I have a good understanding of how the local government works.” Having seen the church grow and become more diverse in the last few years, I want to help put programs in place that will continue that growth. Also, my vision for St. John’s is to to see the church achieve a more stable financial base. I believe that this can be achieved through the continuation of programs already in place, as well as the expanding of our outreach into the local area.

PERRIN WELLS

Perrin has been a member of St. John’s for a little over two years. Her immediate family consists of her mother, Donna Wells, and her 9 year old daughter, Maya. Perrin is employed with Larry and Sons Plumbing as an Accounting Clerk. Perrin lists her parish activities as: Apostles Build/Habitat for Humanity; JDOK with her daughter; Children’s Choir supporter, and Vacation Bible School volunteer. In the community she is involved with Neighborhoods’ First, Victim/Witness Advocate (with the Hagerstown Police Department) and Habitat for Humanity/Women Build. “My hopes and dreams for St. John’s Parish are for us to continue to be a positive Christian influence within our community. I would love to see not only a bigger teenage presence in our church, but as our tween members grow, we would greatly benefit from a St. John’s Youth Group. I would also love to see a single parents group. We are in a different age where not everyone has a two parent household and a strong support network would be wonderful.” The gift she will bring to the Vestry is a wonderful attitude about life and love to be not only social, but social with a purpose so that purpose would carry on both in and outside of the Parish.