The Rev. Bingham Powell
Rector
Email bingham@saint-marys.org >
Our rector, Bingham Powell, has served St. Mary's since June 2007, first as curate in charge of children, youth, and family ministries, then as priest-in-charge (2010-2012), and now as rector (2012-present). In the Episcopal Church, we often use the title of rector for the lead priest/pastor of a church.
Bingham graduated from Wake Forest University (BA 2003) and Virginia Theological Seminary (M.Div. 2007; D.Min 2023).
Bingham loves to share the Good News of God's love whether through preaching, storytelling, or serving Christ in his neighbor. Pilgrimage has been a huge part of his spiritual growth, and he has embarked on several pilgrimages to the United Kingdom and the Holy Land. He enjoys spending time with his family, walking, playing oboe, and cooking. His pandemic hobby was needle-felting, and he loves making needle-felted nativity scenes. Along with his ministry at St. Mary's, Bingham has served the Diocese in many ways over the years, including the Youth Ministries Team, Diocesan Council, Convention Planning Committee, Clergy Conference Planning Committee, the Communications Task Force, Convocation Dean, Diocesan Personnel Committee, and the Bishop’s Search Committee, among others. He is currently chair of the Diocesan Nominating Committee.
An Oregonian by birth, Bingham has spent many years in North Carolina and Virginia, so you might hear an occasional "y'all" slip out from time to time.
The Rev. Ryan Baker-Fones
Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
Email ryan@saint-marys.org >
Ryan has served at St. Mary’s since 2020. First as our interim campus chaplain for the Episcopal Campus Ministries, then as our Curate, and now as our Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. (Ryan also served here back in the 1990s as our youth minister!). As Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, Ryan overseas our Sunday School, Children and Youth Fellowship Programs, and is the primary pastoral care connection for our families. Ryan also serves the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon as a member of Diocesan Council, and the Engaging Racial Justice Working Group.
Ryan has years of training and experience in youth formation. He graduated from the University of Oregon (BA 1996 in Romance Languages, French and Spanish), the University of Oregon College of Education (M.Ed. 1999), and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (M.Div. 2020) Prior to becoming a priest, Ryan taught high school French and Spanish at Marist Catholic High School for 22 years. Ryan loves languages, traveling, experiencing new cultures (especially foods!), cheering on the Portland Timbers and Thorns soccer teams, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. He grew up on the Oregon coast near Lincoln City, and moved to Eugene in 1989. Ryan is passionate about making sure EVERYONE knows how valued, included, and beloved they are as children of God. Ryan has served as camp chaplain at Suttle Lake. He recently ran the Eugene Half Marathon! Go, Ryan!
The Rev. Lainie Acridge Allen
Episcopal Campus Ministry Chaplain
Email UOChaplain@comcast.net >
In the fall of 2021, the Rev. Lainie Allen accepted a mutual call to serve as the chaplain of the ECM and the Rector of St. Matthew’s. Throughout her pastoral career, she has served as a college pastor/chaplain at University of Virginia and Southern Methodist University; a spiritual director; hospice and hospital chaplain; and as an assisting priest. Additionally, she has served in various roles: teacher, spiritual director, and retreat leader since the mid-1990s helping others find and deepen their spirituality.
Lainie has been fortunate to experience a wide berth of theological perspectives and groups of people - generationally and regionally. Her leadership is grounded in a moderate theological position. Lainie completed her Masters of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology, SMU in Dallas, TX in 2015. Next, Lainie completed a year-long Chaplain Residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and became a postulant to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church in North Texas. She was ordained in late 2019 while serving full-time as a frontline medical and spiritual care provider. In 2020-21 she worked on the COVID and other ICU units.
Mother Lainie moved to Eugene with her husband Daniel. Lainie and Daniel are excited for this new call for Lainie and excited to be closer to their children and grandchildren who live in Portland.
The Rev. Nancy Crawford
Deacon
Email nancy@saint-marys.org >
Nancy Crawford was born in Guam, the daughter of a career Navy dentist. She is a cradle Episcopalian on her mother’s side and has been an active church goer since childhood. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from University of Louisiana-Monroe, but worked in the fields of mortgage banking, automation, and human resources. She became a member of the St. Mary’s staff in 2000, first as the administrative assistant and then as the financial assistant. Nancy was named parish administrator in March 2010, and retired June 2012.
Nancy’s lay ministry in the church was varied throughout her life, serving in many key leadership positions. In 2006 she was ordained to the diaconate, which allowed her role in the church to change to one that includes more guidance and sharing of responsibilities. Beyond St. Mary's, she has served the Diocese and wider church in many ways. She was a member of the search committee to find our previous bishop. She has served on Diocesan Council. She has served two terms as Episcopal Church Women president for the diocese, and one term as president of the national ECW board.
The Rev. Theodore Berktold
Rector Emeritus
Email berktolds@comcast.net >
The Reverend Theodore A. Berktold (Father Ted) was the rector at St. Mary’s from 1982 until his retirement in 2010. Our membership, organizational strength, and financial base grew under his leadership. At the time of his retirement, the Vestry bestowed upon him the title of Rector Emeritus.
Father Ted has made many professional contributions at the diocesan and national levels, including long range planning, Ministry in Higher Education, and stewardship. He has served as deputy to two general conventions, Dean of the Convocation, and member of Diocesan Council and Standing Committee. He is Chaplain of the South Willamette Valley Chapter of the Order of St. Luke.
Judy Alison
Program Support Team Assistant
Email Judy@saint-marys.org >
Judy has been a parishioner at St. Mary’s since 2001, when she was brought to Circle Service and knew this would be “her church.” Once she joined the Liturgical Choir in 2012, Sunday services became part of her church experience, and she became a Lector as well. She has been a Circle Service coordinator, and served on the Building Committee, Liturgical Arts Committee, and Labyrinth Guild. Her employment at St. Mary’s began in June, 2015, when she took over responsibility for the Sunday and special occasion bulletins. In October, 2017, she added the responsibilities of Building Manager, and served in that role until October, 2023, when she went back to doing bulletins (without the building.)
Native to The South, Judy came to Eugene in 1997 to study ceramics with George Kokis (coincidentally, also a parishioner at St. Mary’s) and to work as a ceramic artist. Her personal vision embraces art-making as spiritual journey, especially in the practice of pinching clay into Blessing Bowls.
Emily Breding
Finance and Records Manager
Email Emily@saint-marys.org >
Welcome Emily, our new Finance and Records Manager!
A little bit about Emily:
I have lived in Oregon my whole life, growing up in the Pleasant Hill area. I currently live in the town of Coburg with my husband and 4 boys. We enjoy camping and traveling when we can but most of our free time is spent at our kids' sporting events; football, basketball, baseball, karate, hip hop dance....ALL the things! I have just over 10 years of experience with various roles within the banking industry. My husband and I have also run a successful general contracting business since 2013. I look forward to meeting everyone and being part of the St. Mary’s office team.
Lana has been working with Emily to train her in this role and will continue to do so while cutting back her hours in advance of her full retirement on May 23rd. Like Lana before her, Emily will work with our treasurer, Ron, and budget manager, Jesse, to accurately report our finances. Emily’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Louise Fortuna
Communication and Program Coordinator
Email Louise@saint-marys.org >
Louise has been on staff since 2005. As we shifted staffing in 2017, Louise's responsibilities began to focus more thoroughly on communication: editing and producing the Bellringer, on-going maintenance of our website, St. Mary’s presence on social media, weekly email announcements, and helping St. Mary's ministries tell their stories. She is also helping the rector implement our programmatic ministry goals and taking on the staff coordination role for events.
Glenda Jeter
Nursery Caregiver
Email Glendaineugene@gmail.com >
Glenda has been the nursery caregiver since 2007 and loves the children in her care. Every Sunday at the 9:30 AM service, Glenda and her wonderful and caring volunteers are there to assist you. They have fun toys, crafts, music, stories, and cuddles for those wanting it.
Glenda also staffs the "Evening at St. Mary's" functions and some other fellowship and education events, so you can come and enjoy the events while your kids have fun too. Glenda is always open for your suggestions and welcomes you to come down and check out our great nursery.
John Jantzi
Organist and Music Director
Email john@saint-marys.org >
Dr. John Jantzi joined our staff in October 2019. Prior to joining us he served at First Christian, Central Presbyterian, and United Lutheran, all here in Eugene, and in several churches in Europe, including at the American Episcopal Church in Geneva, Switzerland. He was the Chorus Master for the Eugene Opera for over 20 years, is the Music Director of the Eugene Gleemen, and is the Principal Keyboardist for the Oregon Mozart Players. John has his bachelors in Piano and Organ Performance from Seattle Pacific and his doctorate in Music Theory and Conducting from the University of Oregon. He has taught music theory and keyboard at the University of Oregon for over twenty years.
Luna Molina
Building and Office Manager
Email Luna@saint-marys.org >
Luna joined the staff as our new Building and Office Manager at the beginning of October 2023. At Saint Mary’s, she oversees our volunteer office assistants and schedules trainings, orders office supplies, and monitors regular and emergency building repairs when needed. Have questions regarding building usage such as reserving space for your ministry or community group contact Luna! Luna’s office hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Living in many places throughout the Pacific Northwest, her travels have taken her as far north as Oak Harbor, Washington to as far south as San Diego, California. Before coming to Saint Mary’s, Luna lived in her hometown of Hood River where she worked for a small parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon. In her free time, Luna enjoys walking her dog Finnley, painting, and attending live music shows. Luna will be graduating from the University of Eastern Oregon in Spring of 2025 obtaining a BS in English & Writing with a minor in Business Administration.
Tom Trent
Liturgical Choir Director
Email tom@k7zl.com >
Tom Trent, director of St. Mary’s Liturgical Choir, is a composer, tenor soloist, musicologist, instrumentalist, computer whiz, and ham radio operator. He received his doctorate in composition from the University of Oregon. Several of his compositions have been performed at the Oregon Bach Festival.
Linnae Eckley
Joyful Noise & Cherub Choirs Director
Email leckley7@gmail.com
Linnae joined St. Mary's staff as the Cherub Choir Director in September 2017. She comes from Salem where she worked in the Salem-Keizer School District teaching general music and middle school band. Her main instrument is the alto saxophone. She lives with her husband and daughter and enjoys taking care of their garden, cat, dogs, chickens, ducks, and the occasional weasel.
In 2021, Linnae took over the direction of Joyful Noise Choir. Currently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the choirs look a little different. As the Cherub Choir usually meets during Sunday school and sings the first Sunday of the month, it is not currently meeting. The Joyful Noise Choir meets on Sundays in Berktold Hall from 11:00 AM to noon. Our choir members all have specially tailored singer's masks to rehearse and record in. Do you have a child or youth interested in singing in a choir? The choir is generally 2nd grade and up; however, we are open to dedicated younger singers as well. Just reach out to Linnae, Joyful Noise choir director, for more details.
