Kevin Veitinge r h as acce pted a call to serve as the Lay Pastoral Leader of the Community of St. J oseph, the diocese's ministry with and for homeless persons in Savannah. Veitinger has been serving in full time ministry for 20 years. This included serving in youth and college ministry at St. David's Episcopal Church in Lakeland, Florida. His time in ministry included many years in youth and college ministry in the United Methodist Church. He graduated in 2005 with a Masters from Asbury Theological Seminary and became a licensed local pastor and then provisional elder. During that time he was a senior pastor for three Methodist churches in the Savannah area. He started The Foundery, a coffee pub ministry in Savannah, while serving a local church. The South Georgia Conference accepted his voluntary withdrawal so that he could be confirmed and enter the discernment process toward possible ordination in the Episcopal Church. Kevin and his wife, Ginger, have two children, Jordan, 21, and Sydney, 19. He follows the founder, the Rev. Jamie Maury, who is retiring. Veitinger started working with the Community on June 10.

All Saints' Thomasville
The Rev. George Willcox Brown III has accepted a call to serve as Associate Rector at All Saints' Thomasville. For the past 12 years Brown has served as Rector at Church of the Holy Cross in Dallas. Born in Griffin, Georgia, and raised as a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, he discerned a vocation to the priesthood while an undergraduate at Sewanee. After college, he spent a year living with Christian religious communities around the world, including several months with the Melanesian Brotherhood in the Solomon Islands. He earned an MDiv and an STM at Yale Divinity School, and enjoys studying philosophy and ascetical theology, and reading modern poetry. An avid and life-long outdoorsman, he also has a passion for ecology and wildlife conservation, and serves as a consultant in the area of marine fisheries conservation. He recently married Katherine Tucker Waters, a native Bermudian and they have an eight-year-old Vizsla named Jeb. He will start his ministry at All Saints' on September 1.

Church of the Atonement, Augusta

The Rev. Larry Jesion has accepted a call to serve as Priest in Charge of Atonement Augusta. A native of Detroit, he worked in multi-unit retail sales management and came into the Episcopal Church at Holy Comforter Martinez. Jesion was ordained a deacon in 2013 serving the elderly and dying in Hospice and as Chaplain to the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. Following his Clinical Pastoral Care internship, he prepared for the priesthood through study in our bi-vocational ministry training in partnership with the University of the South (Sewanee). Since 2014, he has worked as a Chaplain in the Augusta University Health System. Jesion was ordained to the priesthood in 2017 and has served at Christ Church and Holy Comforter. Larry is married to Pam.  Together they have two sons, two daughters, and grandson. They also have two "bonus" sons currently living with them. He follows the Rev. Kurt Miller, who is retiring. Jesion begins the new call on July 2.  

 

St. Peter's Savannah

Epiphany Savannah

The Rev.  Michael Chaney has accepted a call to serve as the priest in charge for Epiphany Savannah. Chaney is a bi-vocational priest that has been working 

as missioner to area university and college students through The Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle. He is also professor of Film and Television at SCAD. His work as clergy, artist, and educator focuses on building relationships across boundaries and finding common ground while honoring and celebrating diversity. He co-founded Common Grounds, a weekly discussion and Eucharistic community at the Foundery Coffee Pub. He has lived in Savannah for over 20 years. He is married to Nicole Koplik and they have three sons. In accepting this call the Rev. Chaney said, "There are many of us on the edges of mainstream culture that are thirsty for an enriching and lo ving experience with God. I am honored to come on board with a Church that opens its arms to all who seek. I am grateful for the work the Rev. Kelly Steele has done  in establishing this mission. I look forward to continuing the journey with you." Chaney will begin this new call on August 15.