CHURCH — CLERGY, STAFF & VESTRY
Servant Leadership
Our clergy, staff and Vestry discern God’s call in our common life. They gather our community for worship and service in the world.
THE REVEREND DR. ANNA S. PEARSON
RECTOR & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mother Anna grew up outside of Boston, the oldest of four siblings in a family deeply committed to the Episcopal Church. She graduated from Barnard College with a combined major in English and Women’s Studies, and went on to earn a Masters in Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and a Doctorate in Ministry from Hartford Seminary. Before arriving at Holy Apostles, Mother Anna served as Chaplain and Chair of the Theology Department at Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, as Associate Rector at St. John’s Church in West Hartford, Connecticut, and as Rector of Grace Church in Hastings on Hudson, New York.
Mother Anna is especially interested in spiritual courage, tenacity and humor. She is thrilled to be living in Manhattan and to be discovering all these qualities and more in the beloved community of seekers and disciples at Holy Apostles. She is grateful for all the possibilities and joys woven through her work with the church and the soup kitchen, for her spouse Charlie, and for her grown sons Luke, Thomas and Zachary.
Mother Susan has served as Associate Rector since 2013, with responsibilities that include leading worship, preaching, Christian formation, and pastoral care. She was ordained in 2009 after graduating from Union Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity and General Theological Seminary with a Master of Sacred Theology. She devotes much of her ministry to walking with others on their spiritual journeys, helping them find meaning and how the Divine is present in their lives. In addition to her part-time position at Church of the Holy Apostles, she offers individual spiritual direction, companioning laypeople and clergy of many different denominations as well as seekers. She also teaches regularly at Union Theological Seminary.
Mother Susan grew up moving around the country with stops in Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, but since moving to Manhattan in 1987, she considers herself a New Yorker! Upon graduating from Haverford College with a B.S. in Biology, she embarked on a career in Finance. She worked at Bank of New York and then earned an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School. After spending eleven years in Healthcare Finance at Standard & Poor’s, she took a sabbatical that eventually led to seminary and a call to ministry.
The Reverend Susan E. Hill
Associate Rector
The Reverend Robert A. Jacob Deacon
Deacon Bob was ordained a Deacon in 1992 and has been the Deacon at Holy Apostles since 2010. Prior to coming to Holy Apostles, Bob went back to his parish in 1992, St. Philips in Harlem; in 1994 was Chaplain at Roosevelt Hospital on the Westside of Manhattan; in 1997 was Senior Deacon at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine. His focus is Pastoral Care, equipping others in various ministries within the church and Liturgy. Bob is also a member of various committees within the diocese. He also devotes a portion of his time to Civic duties and community concerns.
Although Bob lives in New Jersey, he grew up in New York, graduated from the American Institute of Banking and has a BS degree from Manhattan College in Marketing. While attending AIB and Manhattan College, he had a career in banking for over 45 years, working in several major banks in New York City in management positions. He is married, has three children and four grandchildren.
Dr. John A. Wolfe serves as Organist and Music Director at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Manhattan, and as Associate Organist at the Church of St. Joseph in Bronxville. A native of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Dr. Wolfe previously served as Organist and Music Director at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn; he’s also a past Dean, Sub-Dean and Executive Board member of the American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter. As a music historian and educator, Dr. Wolfe is a Senior Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, and a recipient of the Organ Historical Society’s E. Power Biggs Fellowship. As an organ recitalist, his recent performance venues have included Princeton University Chapel, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, and Grace Episcopal Church in Manhattan. Other career performance highlights have included St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Central Synagogue in Manhattan, and the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Dr. Wolfe holds the degrees of Doctor of Musical Arts from Rutgers University, where he studied with Renee Anne Louprette, Master of Arts from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where he studied with Walter Klauss, and Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College, where he studied with Gail Archer.
Dr. John A. Wolfe
Director of music
VESTRY
MARK LARRIMORE
WARDEN & CO-President, Class of 2022
A member of Holy Apostles since 2002, Mark Larrimore has played a significant role in the church’s witness for LGBTQ people.
Donna Lamb
Warden & Co-President, Class of 2023
Donna began volunteering at the Soup Kitchen in 2002 and joined the church in 2005. She currently chairs the Safety Committee and serves on the Building Committee.
Barbara Dipietro
Vestry Member, Class of 2023
A member since 2006, Barbara has served on the Welcoming and Hospitality Committees and has led interfaith adult forums on Christianity and Buddhism.
Jim Connolly
Vestry Member, Class of 2025
A member of Holy Apostles since 1995, Jim serves as an usher. He is grateful that his young sons look forward to attending church, and for all that they are learning at the “children’s table.”
Barbara Gustern
Vestry Member, Class of 2025
We mourn the loss of Barbara Maier Gustern. View the memorial service here.
February 10, 1935 – March 15, 2022
Rick Milton
Vestry Member, Class of 2023
A relative newcomer to Holy Apostles, Rick and his wife Licia were attracted to the church because of the welcoming atmosphere when they attended. He serves as an Acolyte, Chalicer, and Lector.
Matthew reeg
Vestry Member, Class of 2025
Matthew has participated in worship as a lector and an acolyte. He appreciates Holy Apostles’ presence in the neighborhood, and the church’s commitment to both worship and outreach.
Sherwin Nicholson
Vestry Member, Class of 2024
Born and raised in Trinidad, Sherwin has been a member of the Holy Apostles community since 2005. He has volunteered at the Soup Kitchen and helped coordinate meal distribution for Ecclesia, a service for homeless New Yorkers.
John Sandercock
Vestry Member, Class of 2023
A member of the parish since 2018, John serves on the Finance Committee, bakes cookies, and enjoys all of the opportunities for worship at Holy Apostles.
Steve Turtell
Vestry Member, Class of 2023
Steve joined Holy Apostles in 2015. He is a regular volunteer at the Soup Kitchen and runs the Writing Workshop. For the last two years he has served on the Stewardship Committee and has helped raise funds through Fast-a-Thon.
Caroline Chinlund
Vestry Member, Class of 2024
Caroline has been a member of the Episcopal Church for 55 years and 2021 will be her 8th year as an active parishioner at Holy Apostles. She has served on the hospitality team, as a search committee member, and is a lay eucharistic Minister. She volunteers at the Soup Kitchen.
Elizabeth Farren
Vestry Member, Class of 2022
Betsy Farren has been a member since 1994. She has served on the Vestry, is Chair of Hospitality and has been head gardener. She lives in Harlem with her handicapped son, Sanou, her giant pitbull and 17 geriatric Persian cats, all of whom are raised in the Episcopal Church.
Steven Ragos
Vestry Member, Class of 2023
Richard Longinetti – Assistant Treasurer Steven has been a member of the church since 2005, he is head of the Usher Corps and serves as an usher, lector, and acolyte. He has been either the delegate or alternate delegate representing the church at the New York Episcopal Convention for many years. Steven was very excited to have married his husband John Vetere in the Sanctuary of the Church. Steven is also the co-chair of the parish’s Soup Kitchen Committee which was established to foster communication between parishioners and the Soup Kitchen community.
Joseph Lipari
Treasurer
Joe currently serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. He has previously served as Warden and as a Member of the Vestry.
Richard longinetti
Assistant Treasurer
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