Junior Warden and Vestry Nominees
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December 20, 2018
The following members of St. Andrew’s Cathedral have agreed to allow their names to be placed in nomination for Junior Warden and Members of the Vestry. The election will take place at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 13, 2019 immediately following worship. There will be one service at 10:00 a.m. After the Annual Meeting, everyone is invited to the Parish Hall to enjoy a fellowship meal featuring Helon Buckley’s Chicken Soup.
Four members will be elected to fill seats on the Vestry that are open due to rotation. Vestry Members are elected to a three-year term. Every other year, we elect a Junior Warden. The Junior Warden serves a two-year term and then succeeds the Senior Warden for an additional two-year term.
Additional nominations of persons eligible to be elected may also submitted in writing by persons who are qualified to vote to the Nominating Committee by noon on the Friday preceding the Annual Parish Meeting.
Communicants in Good Standing who are sixteen years of age and whose membership is recorded in the Cathedral Parish are entitled to voice and vote. To be in good standing, one must have been a regular participant in worship and parish life and be a contributor of record for the past year. In order to vote, one must attend the meeting. There is no provision for absentee or proxy ballots.
Nominees for Warden and Vestry must be
Confirmed Communicants in Good Standing, meaning they have been Confirmed, Received, or Reaffirmed with the Laying on of Hands by a Bishop of The Episcopal Church or of a Church in Communion with The Episcopal Church. All of those presented in this report have met these qualifications.
Please read about each of the persons who have discerned a call to offer themselves for this service to our Cathedral Parish and prayerfully consider your choices in preparation for the election.
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Henderson "Hinky" Hall
Junior Warden
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Henderson (Hinky) Hall and his wife Pat, who have three grown children, have been members of St. Andrew’s from 1972 to the early 1980s and then from 2009 to present. Hinky and Pat attended St. Phillip’s and Chapel of the Cross between the mid-1980s and their return to St. Andrew’s.
Hall is a lawyer with Wise Carter Child & Caraway, a firm with a long history with the Cathedral through its then senior partner Sherwood Wise, who was involved in the lay leadership of the Cathedral for many years, and especially during the civil rights era of the 1960s. Mr. Wise is the author of “The Cathedral Church of St. Andrew A Sesquicentennial History 1839 – 1989,” a comprehensive history of the Cathedral that has been a cornerstone in St. Andrew’s splendid archival activities (coordinated by V.A. Patterson). Wise Carter also has been a long-time sponsor – along with the Cathedral and the Mississippi Museum of Art - of the “Music in the City” programs.
In the past Hall has served on the boards of the Mississippi Opera Association, The Oaks House Museum, and the Mississippi Chambre Music Guild (founded by Cathedral member Royce Boyer). For several years Hall worked on the St. Andrew’s “serving team” for the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, and currently is a member of the Community Partnership Commission (headed by Thorne Butler), which coordinates the important work of community outreach by the Cathedral.
In 2015 Hall was elected to serve on the vestry at St. Andrew’s. During his time on the vestry he worked on a number of projects involving the Cathedral, including coordinating the drafting and adoption of bylaws for the Cathedral. Hall also worked on the Profile Committee, which was charged with the task of developing the profile of the Cathedral in connection with the search for a new Dean. The outstanding product of that Profile Committee effort now appears on the Cathedral’s website. In addition, in 2017, working with co-coordinator Ellen Bourdeaux, Hall helped to plan a series of events entitled The Kneel-Ins: The Voices and the Vision Forward to commemorate the church visit campaign of 1963 and 1964.
“I have enjoyed immensely working on projects at St. Andrew’s Cathedral,” Hall said. “I believe that the future of St. Andrew’s is very bright as we look forward to welcoming a new Dean.”
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Matt Allen
2019-2022 Vestry
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Matt Allen has been a member of the Cathedral for approximately a decade. During that time he has served as a high school Sunday School teacher, greeter, and delivered welcome packets to visitors after services.
Matt is a member of the Brunini Law Firm and was recently a candidate for Hinds County Circuit Court Judge, Subdistrict 1. He has been at the Brunini Law Firm since 2005. After moving back to Jackson from Austin, Texas, in 2004, Matt worked as a law clerk to United States District Court Judge William H. Barbour, Jr.
Matt is married to Megan West Allen, an evening news anchor at WAPT News. They have two children, Hartley, who is a student in Pre-K3 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, and Thatcher, who is a student in the one to two year old program at St. James’ Episcopal School. They live in the Belhaven Neighborhood.be serving within the St. Andrew’s community as a vestry member. Upon accepting the nomination to serve on the Vestry, Matt said, "I look forward to seeing where God is leading me."
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Katie Hathcock
2019-2022 Vestry
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Katie Hathcock is a Florida native who relocated to Jackson with her family in May 2014. She and her husband, Barrett Hathcock, began attending services at the Cathedral shortly thereafter and joined in 2015.
Since then, Katie has served on the Guild of the Christ Child delivering meals to new parents, has volunteered for Vacation Bible School and Catechesis Levels 1 & 2, and has helped bag groceries at Stewpot.
In the wider community, Katie founded Jackson’s Music for Aardvarks program, which offers weekly music and movement classes for families with babies and toddlers. She also volunteers through the Parents Association at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, where her children Stella (10) and Carter (7) attend.
Prior to teaching music classes, Katie had a career in Marketing and Public Relations, working for attorneys at Burch, Porter & Johnson in Memphis and the Alabama Symphony and Indian Springs School in Birmingham.
Katie feels strongly that our church community should welcome people from all walks of life and offer programming that appeals to all of the church’s constituents. She looks forward to seeing St. Andrew’s grow into its next phase of life as it welcomes a new Dean.
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Matthew McLaughlin
2019-2022 Vestry
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Matthew McLaughlin is the founding shareholder of McLaughlin, PC, a boutique corporate, commercial, and transactional legal and advisory firm located in Jackson, Mississippi. He has more than 15 years’ experience representing entrepreneurs and existing industry in highly regulated environments. Matthew is a native of Jackson and is married to the former Shannon Husband. Both Matthew and Shannon are graduates of Millsaps College. Matthew received a B.A. in Economics prior to attending law school at Mississippi College School of Law. Matthew also received a LLM in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Matthew and Shannon are the proud parents of two little girls, Tinlsey, a third grader, and Tatum, a first grader, both at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
Matthew is extremely active in the community serving on the board of directors for the Mississippi Main Street Association, the Greenwood Cemetery Association, the Mississippi Brewer’s Guild, and the Else School of Business at Millsaps College and having previously served on the board of the Mississippi Creative Economy Task Force, the North Midtown Community Development Corporation, and the Belhaven Improvement Association. He also serves as an entrepreneurial mentor for the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology and Innovate Mississippi and as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Vermont.
Participation with his family in the life of St. Andrew's Cathedral is extremely important to Matthew, and he is pleased to be considered for service on the Vestry at this time.
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V.A. Patterson
2019-2022 Vestry
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V. A. Patterson is a lifelong Episcopalian. She grew up in St. Andrew’s Sunday School, EYC, Girls’ Choir, and other activities for the children and youth of the church. After several years living out of state, V. A. returned to Jackson almost 40 years ago and has been actively involved in St. Andrew’s since that time. She served as a group leader for Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC), In His Image, and Branches; was a pastoral leader for Inquirers’ classes; chaired the Lenten Task Force; and a member of the Rowan School Steering Committee, AIDS Care Team, Grace House Board of Directors, and Liturgy and Music and Adult Christian Education Commissions, Vestry, and Dean Search Committee. She has been a Lay Eucharistic Minister and a Lector. V. A. is active in Cursillo and a graduate of Education for Ministry. She recently served on the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee and the Jackson Interfaith Civil Rights Committee. She currently enjoys serving the parish taking care of St. Andrew’s historical records.
On the Diocesan level, V. A. serves as the Archivist of the Diocese. She also has served on the advisory committee for the Mississippi Episcopalian and as chair of the Mississippi Episcopal AIDS Committee. Professionally, V. A. had a long career in historic house museums, including her tenure as the first curator of the Manship House Museum, and as the director of nonprofit arts organizations. She retired a few years ago as executive director of VSA Mississippi, the state organization on arts and disability, providing arts opportunities for people with disabilities. As a volunteer, she has been active in numerous civic and cultural organizations. She is a former co-chair of the Goodwill Art Show, board member of The Oaks House Museum, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Scott Ford Houses, a nonprofit restoring the residence of an early 20th century African American midwife who lived in the Farish Street Historic District in Jackson.
V. A.’s past service on the Vestry and in a variety of St. Andrew’s ministries, plus her longtime membership, her knowledge of the history of our church, and her love of our church and our church family, will bring a unique and caring perspective with excitement as we enter the next phase of our church’s development with the calling of a new Dean and the continued growth and expansion of our ministry.
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Witt Ruffin
2019-2022 Vestry
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Witt and his wife, Sabrina Ruffin, have made their home in Jackson for the past thirteen years. Witt is the proud father of Harry DeWitt Ruffin, IV (4) and Frank Gentry Ruffin (2). Witt and his wife have been members of the Cathedral for nearly eight years and have enjoyed celebrating each milestone and enduring each hardship they have encountered with the congregation of St. Andrews.
Like most of us, Witt finds the devotion to his faith both rewarding and challenging. He is a believer of the doctrine of The Episcopal Church and values the welcoming invitation to all Christians to worship together. Witt believes attending worship each Sunday is the most important and valuable way to begin his week. The Scripture, sermon, and fellowship serve as enforcement, and in today’s world, a challenge, to continue to strive to serve God.
Witt is employed at Trustmark National Bank and currently serves as a member of the Cathedral’s Finance Committee. When approached by the Nominating Committee for Vestry, he prayerfully considered and accepted the position for the sole purpose of giving back to the community of people whom have given him so much. Our congregation is entering a new chapter and soon to welcome a new Dean, Witt is excited about the potential of our Cathedral and would be honored to serve as an advocate for its congregation.
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Karen Spencer
2019-2022 Vestry
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Karen Spencer has come to Saint Andrew's via Camp Bratton Green and All Saints Episcopal in Grenada, MS. A communicant at All Saints for most of the past 55 years, she served:
- multiple terms on the Vestry and as Senior Warden, both with and without a Priest in residence
- Search Committee
- Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Leader
- All Saints House Board (which is a HUD run senior assisted living complex of 41 units located directly across the street from the church) which supports All Saints House
- and as with most small churches, everything else from chief cook to bottle washer.
During a 25 year career in real estate in Grenada, Karen owned a Coldwell Banker franchise. She served several terms as President of the local Board of Realtors and on various MS Association of Realtor committees. In her local community, she has served as President of various civic and community organizations such as MSU Alumni Association, Grenada Junior Auxiliary and Grenada Garden Club.
In 2015 Karen moved to Madison to be closer to family, children, and grandchildren. In her very first visit to Saint Andrew's she found a warm and welcoming community, and a downtown Church much like the one she had left. Since moving her Letter of Membership to Saint Andrew's, she has been involved with
- Education for Ministry, where she is a 3rd year student in a group of lifelong learners led by Rev. Katie Bradshaw
- Served as Lenten Study Leader and Foyer Group Coordinator
- Chalice Bearer most usually at the 8:40 service
- A regular volunteer with Stewpot and Habitat for Humanity
- Serves on Saint Andrews Endowment Committee led by Sarah Ann White
In addition, since moving to Madison she has become a member of Thursday Luncheon Club, Reunion Book Club, and Reunion Prime Timers. She is a Club Master with Jackson Bridge Association. Besides the obvious large community of active, engaged and vibrant communicants at Saint Andrew's, one of the most appealing aspects of service here is to the downtown community. This is where “the rubber meets the road” and real opportunities abound...I look forward to making a difference when and wherever I can!
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Alex Sullivan
2019-2022 Vestry
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Alex Sullivan, a member of the Cathedral Choir at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral and a member of the Dean Search Committee, currently serves as editor of opinions for the Mississippi Supreme Court, having previously worked at the Court as a judicial law clerk for Presiding Justice Jim Kitchens. He graduated from Mississippi College School of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in Mississippi in 2013.
In August 2017, he was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court by the Chief Justice of the United States, the Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr., in a unique ceremony at the Mississippi Supreme Court during the Chief Justice’s visit, which was in conjunction with the Mississippi Bicentennial.
A music lover, Alex is particularly fond of the Anglican music tradition and has been privileged to have been a part of the Cathedral Choir under three choirmasters, John Paul, Royce Boyer, and, Jessica Nelson. Alex also plays violin and viola. He performs regularly with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and serves as principal viola for the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, which performs at St. Andrew’s. When he is not working, singing, or playing violin or viola, Alex enjoys working out, gardening, reading, and antiquing. Alex is honored to have been selected to stand for election to the Vestry.
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