Our Organist and Choirmaster, Lynn Gardner, has served as the “de facto” worship committee in the absence of a full time rector. Lynn is serving her second stint as organist and choirmaster having retired as such after 27 years in 2002. Her extensive knowledge of and experience with the Episcopal liturgy and her respect for the church calendar and tradition results in music which enriches our worship and pays particular attention to festival and holy days.
Deborah Scearce joined Christ Church in August 2014 as Parish Administrator. She has over 30 years of career experience in the Executive Assistant/Administrative field. She is a Patrick Henry Community College graduate with an AAS in both Business Management Technology and Administrative Support Technology and certificates in Office Assisting and Clerical Studies. Deborah and her husband have one daughter and they are Henry County natives.
The Parish Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Parish Office and the Church including accounts payable and receivable, balancing accounts and preparing reports, human resources, payroll, answering incoming calls, preparing the weekly bulletins, reporting to the Diocese, updating ACS and assisting with updating the church website among other duties. She is also responsible for giving tours and renting the Parish House for weddings, bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, reunions, meetings, etc.
Mark Nibblett joined Christ Church in January 2005 as Sexton. He is responsible for the day-to-day care and maintenance of our facilities and grounds.
The Rev. John Adams began his tenure as Rector of Christ Church in February 2022. Originally from Fairfax, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2007 and Virginia Theological Seminary in 2014. He spent his first seven-and-a-half years of ordained ministry in the Diocese of Nebraska, serving in several parishes across the state. He is especially passionate about sharing the love of Jesus through preaching, Christian education, and singing.
The Rector is the spiritual and organizational leader of the parish. In addition to leading the congregation in worship and preaching, the Rector leads or supports the education, service, social, and other ministries of the church, as well as providing pastoral care to the congregants.
Consecrated the 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia on July 20, 2013, Bishop Bourlakas comes to Southwestern Virginia from Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, Kentucky, where he served as dean. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2012 from the School of Theology at University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee; and a Master of Divinity from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois in 1997. Before becoming dean of Christ Church Cathedral in 2007, he served parishes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He enjoys painting, walking, playing basketball, and watching auto racing. Bishop Mark is married to Martha and they have three daughters.
1002 First Street, S.W.
P. O. Box 2279
Roanoke, Virginia 24009-2279
Ph: 540-342-6797
Toll Free: 800-346-6605
Fax: 540-343-9114
Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia
The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ, in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The mission of the church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism (p. 855), is "to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ."
The 2012 General Convention established the Anglican Communion Five Marks of Mission as a mission priority framework for the 2013-2015 triennium:
· To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
· To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
· To respond to human need by loving service
· To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
· To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
