Directory
Clergy
Staff
Vestry
Clergy
Interim Rector: The Rev. Stephanie Kopsch
Assisting Priests*: The Rev. Canon Lucy Amerman, The Rev. Barbara Crafton, The Rev. Will Reller, The Rev. Dr. Marc Smith
* Non-Salaried Positions
The Rev. Stephanie Kopsch
Interim Rector
The Rev. Stephanie+ Kopsch came to ministry as an outgrowth of her chorister experience as a youngster. She has led nine congregations through the interim process. Her parish experience includes those with pre-schools and very active faith formation programs. She sees continued support of lay ministries to be one of her major roles. Teaching and writing sermons are important aspects of her ministry. Working with talented clergy and staff gives her joy.
In addition, she brings to St. John’s an ecumenical viewpoint, having grown up in Germany in the United Church of Christ, studied at a Presbyterian seminary in Texas, been for almost 30 years a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and most recently completed two interim calls within the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
The Rev. Dr. Marc. D. Smith
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Dr. Marc Smith is the priest-in-residence at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Boulder, Colorado. Previously, he served two parishes in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to his ordination, he had a 35-year career in academic medicine and health care executive leadership, retiring in 2010 after 12 years as the president and chief executive officer of the Missouri Hospital Association.
The Reverend Dr. Smith earned a B.S. from the University of Missouri, M.Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology, and Ph.D. from Saint Louis University. He completed a Certificate in Anglican Studies at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and post-graduate studies in theology at the University of Oxford.
Smith is the recipient of numerous research grants and a widely published author. His most recent work is Each Other’s Keeper: The Church’s Response to Violence, a web-based curriculum for adult Christian formation. He also has served as a consultant to numerous domestic and international governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations.
The Reverend Dr. Smith resides in Longmont, is married to Debra Schuster, an eldercare and disability attorney, and enjoys cooking, fly fishing, golf and college football.
The Rev. Will Reller
Assisting Priest
To the extent of my power, because I am a priest, I wish from now on to become conscious of all that the world loves, pursues and suffers…I want to become more widely human than any of the world’s servants.
—Teihard de Chardin
Ordained a Roman Catholic Mission Priest on Jan. 7, 1967, for the Divine Word Missionaries, Will’s first assignment was to teach spiritual development and provide spiritual direction to college and seminary students.
In 1972, he began a four-year assignment of parochial work in remote areas of Papua New Guinea, including training catechists and conducting retreats. In 1976, he was appointed Dean of Students at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
In 1983, Will resigned from the Roman Catholic Church and was received into the Episcopal Church by the Episcopal Bishop of Chicago. He received orders by the Anglican Church of Canada in 1984 and worked in three Swampy Cree Native villages in Northern Manitoba.
In 1987, he arrived in Colorado, became Vicar of the Chapel of the Resurrection in Limon, and the Chaplain at Boulder Community Hospital. He left Boulder Community Hospital in 2002 to serve as a Hospice Chaplain, where he continues to serve. In 2011, the Chapel of the Resurrection closed after he had served 24 years as vicar.
Will joined the clergy of St. John’s in 2012 and was given the title “Pastoral Care Chaplain” by Fr. Ted Howard. He visits members unable to attend services and many Episcopalians on the
fringes.
Will’s wife of more than 30 years, Irene F. Sullivan, is an artist. They live at 9,000 feet in the mountains outside of Boulder with our two dogs and horse.
The Rev. Barbara Crafton
Assisting Priest
Barbara Cawthorne Crafton is a priest, teacher and author of many books. She was rector of St. Clement’s Church in Manhattan’s theater district. She was also a chaplain on the waterfront of New York, and served both historic Trinity Church, Wall Street and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Greenwich Village. She was a chaplain at Ground Zero during the recovery effort after the WTC bombing. Most recently, she was interim rector of St James, the American Church in Florence, Italy and of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Metuchen, NJ. She was an adjunct professor of pastoral theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York. For many years, she has led retreats in churches and dioceses throughout the country and abroad, and heads an online spiritual community called The Geranium Farm; her meditations on The Farm have been read by thousands of people worldwide.
In retirement, she likes to cook, read and enjoy grandchildren.
Staff
St. John’s is blessed with a talented and dedicated staff who, through God’s grace, have embraced the challenge of providing support to the clergy, parish members, and our numerous ministries in the name of Jesus Christ.
Natalie Devine, Parish Administrator
Natalie has served several roles in the church, both volunteer and lay, including family ministry, youth ministry, community engagement, communications, and hospitality. Before church work, she was a dancer and aerialist for various national and international companies. A cradle Episcopalian, she loves God and strives to live to her Baptismal Covenant. She is a Colorado native who lives with her husband, two dogs, and cat. They love to cook, play games, and enjoy Creation. She loves animals, and one of their dogs, Jubilee, serves as the Pawffice Manager for St. John’s.
Jubilee Devine, Pawffice Manager
Jubilee Devine, Pawffice Manager. Jubilee has served as a Pawffice Manager at St. John’s since 2023. Her dedicated work ethic to loving staff and visitors allows her to live into her name. Her passions include greeting people at the office, long walks, and delicious snacks.
Jubilee can be reached by appointment.
Andrew Halladay, Music Director
Andy is known for directing a broad spectrum of music, from traditional to contemporary and non-Western styles. His national influence extends through his work as a composer and arranger, with notable compositions like ‘Five Scenes from our Aspen Grove’, recorded and released on MSR Classics in 2018. A significant highlight of his career includes collaborating with esteemed hymn-writer Thomas H. Traeger at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Denver, where they created a commemorative hymn for the Westminster Choir’s 60th anniversary.
Aaron Hirsch, Principal Organist and Director of St. John’s Music Society
Aaron is a versatile and collaborative musician who has performed extensively throughout the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and the Mountain West. He is passionate about presenting a more diverse selection of composers to his Boulder community. Besides regular recitals at St. John’s, Aaron is also a proponent of the creative art of improvisation, a tradition that stems from the European masters of the organ. He also directs the St. John’s Music Society, an organization that brings musicians from near and far to perform in the incredible acoustic space of St. John’s.
Lu Walters, Family Faith Formation Director
Lu runs the family faith program for children in the nursery and Sunday School (kindergarten through 5th grade). Originally from England, she spent her young adulthood in South Africa working for reconciliation. She holds a degree in theology from Oxford. Prior to her role at St. John’s, she worked as a school teacher in Frederick. Colorado for twelve years. She is passionate about her family, the children she works with, and advocating for justice and peace.
Christopher Williamson, Youth and Communications Director
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Oklahoma Baptist University (2011-2015) and a Master of Divinity from Baylor University (2015-2019). He has served as the Youth and Communications Director at St. John’s Episcopal Church since November 2021. Chris has a genuine passion for engaging and connecting with St. John’s middle and high-school aged youth. He has worked in churches, hospitals as a chaplain, and bookstores since college.
Tom Stumb, Sexton
As the Sexton for St. John’s, Tom plays a crucial role in ensuring the seamless operation of the church. In addition to overseeing reqular maintenance for the historic building and columbarium, he prepares the space for various church events. Tom collaborates with other staff members to address the diverse needs of the church community, contributing to the overall well-being and functionality of St. John’s.
Lydia Morrongiello
Associate Organist
Tony Lee, AAGO
Organist Emeritus
Vestry
The vestry is the elected body within the St. John’s congregation that, along with the clergy, leads the parish and acts as stewards of St. John’s. The vestry helps to discern the vision toward which God is drawing St. John’s, articulate and communicate that vision, hold the community accountable for its realization of that vision, and keep the mission of the Church and that of St. John’s clearly before the parish community. The vestry has fiduciary responsibility for the finances of the church and ensures that there are sufficient resources to carry out the church’s mission. The vestry also has a hand in the development of church policies, in keeping with the bylaws
We invite any interested parishioner who has been a member of St. John’s for at least six months to consider running for the vestry. Please contact the Senior Warden if you are interested.
Sue Morse
Senior Warden
Chris Myatt
Junior Warden
Mhari Peschel
Treasurer
Maryann Edwards
Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Marc Smith
Chaplain
Alan Nelson
2023-2025
Linda Black
2022-2025
Sungyun Lim
2022-2025
Sarah Kiefhaber
2023-2026
C.J. Joplin-Jack
2023-2026
Charles de Bartolome
2023-2026
Marjorie Schaffner
2024-2027
Rich Thorsten
2024-2027
Melinda Wirsing
2024-2027