About the Vestry
The Vestry acts like a board of directors for St. John’s, which operates under by-laws in full compliance with the canons of the Diocese of California and The Episcopal Church.
The Vestry is comprised of 9-14 parishioners who are voting members as well as the Rector who is a non-voting member. The Vestry is led by the Senior Warden, who is appointed by the Rector and acts as the chairperson; the People’s Warden, who is elected by the Vestry, acts as the ombudsman of the congregation and the Rector. The Vestry is assisted by the Treasurer who is responsible for the church’s money and accounting, and by the Clerk of the Vestry, who takes minutes of the meetings.
The voting members are elected to represent the congregation for three-year terms. Each year, three or four members retire and are replaced by three or four new members, providing both continuity and fresh perspectives. Outgoing members act as a nominating committee in the Fall, and proposed candidates are voted on by all registered members at the church’s annual meeting in January.
The Vestry is committed to making decisions and implementing policies that support the best interests of the church. Some of the major functions of the Vestry include:
The Vestry acts like a board of directors for St. John’s, which operates under by-laws in full compliance with the canons of the Diocese of California and The Episcopal Church.
The Vestry is comprised of 9-14 parishioners who are voting members as well as the Rector who is a non-voting member. The Vestry is led by the Senior Warden, who is appointed by the Rector and acts as the chairperson; the People’s Warden, who is elected by the Vestry, acts as the ombudsman of the congregation and the Rector. The Vestry is assisted by the Treasurer who is responsible for the church’s money and accounting, and by the Clerk of the Vestry, who takes minutes of the meetings.
The voting members are elected to represent the congregation for three-year terms. Each year, three or four members retire and are replaced by three or four new members, providing both continuity and fresh perspectives. Outgoing members act as a nominating committee in the Fall, and proposed candidates are voted on by all registered members at the church’s annual meeting in January.
The Vestry is committed to making decisions and implementing policies that support the best interests of the church. Some of the major functions of the Vestry include:
- Setting annual goals for the church
- Reviewing, approving, and monitoring the annual budget
- Evaluating all new, significant financial commitments
- Acting as stewards of the buildings and grounds (including rental property) and equipment of the church
- Monitoring major projects, including capital improvements
- Acting as leaders of the parish and assisting the Rector any way they can
- Working closely with the Staff and Ministry Catalysts to evaluate and implement programs
- When the need arises for a new Rector, organizing a search and approving the candidate, working closely with the Bishop and members of his staff
2023 Vestry members
Stephen baronian ('24), Senior Warden
My name is Stephen Baronian.
Raised in the Armenian Orthodox Church, he and his family joined St. John’s in 2013 and are active members. I am an Oakland native who has lived the majority of my life in close proximity to my childhood home. I was awarded an MTS degree from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, in 2018. This marked a career turning point and a long-awaited opportunity to become a chaplain.
Raised in the Armenian Orthodox Church, he and his family joined St. John’s in 2013 and are active members. I am an Oakland native who has lived the majority of my life in close proximity to my childhood home. I was awarded an MTS degree from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, in 2018. This marked a career turning point and a long-awaited opportunity to become a chaplain.
Sarah jones ('23), people's warden
My name is Sarah Jones.
I have been blessed to be a member of the St. John’s family for 23 years (since 2000).
Asking for my favorite book is like asking for my favorite child: impossible to say. I particularly enjoy those series that are epic in scope—across time, space and reality; two favorites are C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner series and Christopher Paolini’s series, The Inheritance Cycle.
I love this quote from T. S. Eliot (Four Quartets):
“And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
I have been blessed to be a member of the St. John’s family for 23 years (since 2000).
Asking for my favorite book is like asking for my favorite child: impossible to say. I particularly enjoy those series that are epic in scope—across time, space and reality; two favorites are C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner series and Christopher Paolini’s series, The Inheritance Cycle.
I love this quote from T. S. Eliot (Four Quartets):
“And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
Michael Daly ('23)
My name is Michael Daly.
I have been part of the St. John’s community for at least seven years now. It’s hard to identify an absolute favorite movie or book. For the purposes of this profile, let’s go with The Gospel According to St. Mark.
A quote from John O’Donohue that is important to me:
“…Take time to celebrate
the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift
woven around the heart of wonder.”
I have been part of the St. John’s community for at least seven years now. It’s hard to identify an absolute favorite movie or book. For the purposes of this profile, let’s go with The Gospel According to St. Mark.
A quote from John O’Donohue that is important to me:
“…Take time to celebrate
the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift
woven around the heart of wonder.”
Jen Howard-Lukens ('24)
My name is Jen Howard-Lukens
I came to the St. John’s community 10-15 years ago through music and mindfulness. I discovered St John’s while attending Music Together classes with my children in the Fischer Room and, after class, finding a quiet moment in the meditation garden. My children, Jaden (15) and Keller (11), still sing in the Fischer Room with Ben every Tuesday, and I now offers a mindfulness and meditation group for youth.
I came to the St. John’s community 10-15 years ago through music and mindfulness. I discovered St John’s while attending Music Together classes with my children in the Fischer Room and, after class, finding a quiet moment in the meditation garden. My children, Jaden (15) and Keller (11), still sing in the Fischer Room with Ben every Tuesday, and I now offers a mindfulness and meditation group for youth.
Judy Kridle ('22)
My name is Judy Kridle.
I joined in August 2017—so 6 years and 2 months. My favorite book is To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O'Donohue. My favorite quote, by William Hutchison Murray in The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.”
I joined in August 2017—so 6 years and 2 months. My favorite book is To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O'Donohue. My favorite quote, by William Hutchison Murray in The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.”
Nancy Lehrkind ('24)
My name is Nancy Lehrkind.
I have been a member of St. John's since 1980
Favorite movie: Groundhog Day (among many, many others such as Chinatown; have just seen Boys in the Boat for the 3rd time)
Favorite quote: “The world is so full of a number of things, I am sure we should all be as happy as kings.” Robert Louis Stevenson. This was gifted to me by my grandmother, who taught me so many life lessons I can’t begin to count them all. I have even inscribed this on coffee mugs (along with “Wo-He-Lo” and “Plan for the worst; hope for the best.”), multiple times, for my 3 children. What the teaching of this silly RLS line was intended to convey by my grandmother, and now me, is that there is so very much one can be and do in this world, that if you don’t get on with one thing, or if it makes you feel badly or you dislike the people doing it, just go and find another thing, or things, to be, to do until you can make yourself as happy as a king.
I have been a member of St. John's since 1980
Favorite movie: Groundhog Day (among many, many others such as Chinatown; have just seen Boys in the Boat for the 3rd time)
Favorite quote: “The world is so full of a number of things, I am sure we should all be as happy as kings.” Robert Louis Stevenson. This was gifted to me by my grandmother, who taught me so many life lessons I can’t begin to count them all. I have even inscribed this on coffee mugs (along with “Wo-He-Lo” and “Plan for the worst; hope for the best.”), multiple times, for my 3 children. What the teaching of this silly RLS line was intended to convey by my grandmother, and now me, is that there is so very much one can be and do in this world, that if you don’t get on with one thing, or if it makes you feel badly or you dislike the people doing it, just go and find another thing, or things, to be, to do until you can make yourself as happy as a king.
Ann Lester ('22)
My name is Ann Lester.
I have been a member of the St. John’s family for 28 years.
A recent favorite book is The Healing Path by James Finley.
A favorite quote is from a poem by Rumi:
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.”
I have been a member of the St. John’s family for 28 years.
A recent favorite book is The Healing Path by James Finley.
A favorite quote is from a poem by Rumi:
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.”
Ed Likely ('22)
My name is Ed Likely.
I have been a member of St. John's since early 2020—so I joined at a very odd time—but then I'm kinda sorta odd.
My favorite movie is The Banshees of Iinisherin: I am a dual citizen of the Republic of Ireland and the US. I am American born, though my lineage is 100% Irish. My paternal grandparents are both from the Wild Atlantic Way, the west coast of Ireland, where this movie is set. Needless to say, it's an obvious choice.
A favorite quote, from the movie Auntie Mame, is:
"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death". I am a native New Yorker and actually lived for a time near her posh Sutton Place neighborhood—albeit under much more modest circumstances than Auntie Mame. But words to live by, nonetheless.
BTW, the pic is me in Barcelona recently—on the funicular up to the peak Montjuic—the highest point of this extraordinary city. I’d move to Barcelona in a heartbeat.
I have been a member of St. John's since early 2020—so I joined at a very odd time—but then I'm kinda sorta odd.
My favorite movie is The Banshees of Iinisherin: I am a dual citizen of the Republic of Ireland and the US. I am American born, though my lineage is 100% Irish. My paternal grandparents are both from the Wild Atlantic Way, the west coast of Ireland, where this movie is set. Needless to say, it's an obvious choice.
A favorite quote, from the movie Auntie Mame, is:
"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death". I am a native New Yorker and actually lived for a time near her posh Sutton Place neighborhood—albeit under much more modest circumstances than Auntie Mame. But words to live by, nonetheless.
BTW, the pic is me in Barcelona recently—on the funicular up to the peak Montjuic—the highest point of this extraordinary city. I’d move to Barcelona in a heartbeat.
Anne Meyer ('22)
My name is Anne Meyer.
I was baptized at St. John’s in 1962; I attended until 1971 or so (and did not join another faith community) and returned to St John’s in 2009. So—61 years?
My favorite book is Devotions by Mary Oliver.
A favorite quote: “Always we begin again” by St. Benedict.
I was baptized at St. John’s in 1962; I attended until 1971 or so (and did not join another faith community) and returned to St John’s in 2009. So—61 years?
My favorite book is Devotions by Mary Oliver.
A favorite quote: “Always we begin again” by St. Benedict.
Linda Williams ('24)
My name is Linda Willaims.
I began regularly attending St. John's in January 2023, though I still attend St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Inverness once a month.
Recent Favorite Book (I have many faves!): Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Favorite Quote: "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman
I began regularly attending St. John's in January 2023, though I still attend St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Inverness once a month.
Recent Favorite Book (I have many faves!): Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Favorite Quote: "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman
Gene williams ('23)
My name is Gene Williams.
I’ve been part of the St. John’s family for almost two years.
My favorite movie is Vertigo.
My favorite quote is “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”.
I’ve been part of the St. John’s family for almost two years.
My favorite movie is Vertigo.
My favorite quote is “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”.
