The Rev. Dr. Steven Rottgers

Rector

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Steve Rottgers is a cradle Episcopalian originating from St. Andrew's Ft. Thomas, Ky.  He is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a BA Degree in History, has his Master of Divinity Degree from the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Kentucky and recently graduated with his D.Min. in Congregational Development and Leadership Formation from Seabury Western Theological Seminary.  Steve has served Episcopal Churches in South Carolina, Virginia, Michigan and Alabama, two of these being church plant starts.  He is currently serving as rector at Grace Episcopal Church, Georgetown, Texas.  Steve was awarded the "Gatekeeper Award" for Civic Duty by the Trussville, Alabama Area Chamber of Commerce based on his formation of a local multi-denominational outreach coop entitled TEAM (Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministries).

Steve has been trained in Business Quality Theory and Practice by the renowned, Dr. W. Edwards Deming of Quality Fame in the 1980-90's.  He has taught Quality Theory, Leadership Formation, Psychology of the Workplace, and Communication Skills as a faculty member of Cleary Business College in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  He was the originating chair for Congregational Development in the Diocese of Southern Virginia and has been a Church Growth, Newcomer Assimilation, Stewardship and Congregational Development consultant in events of the Third and Fourth Province of the Episcopal Church.  Steve is a published author, contributing to the book Shaping Our Future, and later the same paper, Rethinking Parish Structures-Asking the Quality Questions that was presented and published as part of the 11th Annual Edward Deming International Research Seminar held at Fordham University in New York City.  Additional publications include Outstanding in HIS Field a stewardship parable, and I am Yours!-The Entheos Leader: Servant Leadership at the Crosspointes of Life and Faith.  He is also a member of the design team that has been responsible for the writing and production/development of the new leadership curriculum for the diocese of Texas entitled, Crosspointes.

Steve and his wife, Mary have been married 29 years and have three children.  Their oldest son, Dr. Alex Rottgers is a graduate of Rice University, Baylor School of Medicine, and is in residency at the University of Pittsburgh as a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon.  Alex's wife, Dr. Elizabeth Rottgers is a graduate of Texas A&M, and the University of Houston School of Optometry.  Their middle son, Peter is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC and is preparing to enter Law School at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.  Their daughter, Mary Margaret (Molly) is interested in studying Speech Pathology during her college studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Rev. Janice Jones

Associate Rector

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Janice Jones is a native Congregationalist from Stratford and Bethany Connecticut.  She is grateful to have found both the celebration of the Episcopal Church and Texas.  Janice received her BS and MS degrees in Biology from Southern Connecticut State University, studied Computer Science and Management Systems at the Aetna Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the University of New Haven.  Janice began her theological studies with the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and completed her M.Div. degree at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest.  Ordained in 2008, Grace Episcopal Church is Janice's first clergy assignment.

Janice's work experience before ordination began and ended with teaching biology and computer science from high school students to graduate students.  She received the "Adjunct Professor of the Year" award from the North Harris-Montgomery College in 2003.

From the late 1970's to early 1990's, Janice worked in System Development and Design in the Hartford Connecticut insurance industry.  Jobs ranged from coding to design, to supervising development teams, evaluating new technologies for the industry, and organizing and managing corporate leadership and technology conferences and exhibitions.  After leaving the fulltime workforce in 1992, Janice also worked as a corporate speechwriter, publisher, newspaper photographer and columnist, and business consultant.

Janice has served in a number of positions in churches over the years, including the Board of Deacons (Vestry equivalent) in the UCC, Stewardship Committee, Children's Choir leader, Community of Hope facilitator and chaplain, Order of St. Luke Convener, and as a Stephen Minister.  She was chairman of the 2003 Houston Renovare Regional Conference.

Janice's husband, Dr. Richard Jones, is a mathematician and graduate of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University.  Their daughter J'aime is a graduate of Dartmouth College and an ER physician in Albuquerque, where she lives with her husband, Adam Ogusky.   Son Richard Jr. received his BBA from the University of Texas in San Antonio in 2009 and works as a musician.  He and his wife, Maggi, live in Georgetown.  Their youngest son, Gareth (Indy) is a third year Physics major at Trinity University in San Antonio.

The Rev. Laurie Benavides

Deacon

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Laurie Pauline Benavides was called to diaconal ministry in 2001.  Two years later, she entered the four-year Diaconal Formation Program in the diocese of Northwest Texas.  She was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Abilene, Texas, on October 29,2006, by the Right Reverend C. Wallis Ohl, Jr.  Laurie served briefly at St. Barnabas' in Odessa before becoming licensed  in the Diocese of Rio Grande where she served Christ as a member of the clergy team in the Episcopal Church in Lincoln County, New Mexico.  Laurie, her husband Roy, and their three daughters, Natalie, Emily, and Abigail, were originally members of Grace Church before moving to Odessa.  Laurie will be assisting with Holy Eucharist and other liturgies, pastoral care, and outreach ministries as she lives out her central ministry as a deacon; serving all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely, and interpreting to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.

Laurie is a member of the Order of the Daughters of the King and the International Order of St. Luke, the Physician.  She and Roy attended Cursillo in 1990 in the Diocese of West Texas and are both graduates of Education for Ministry (EfM0.

Laurie retired from public education in Texas after having taught kindergarten through second grade and high school child development, managing a high school pregnancy and parenting program, teaching alternative teacher certification classes, serving as a reading specialist, teaching graduate classes, and training classroom teachers and reading specialists.  Currently, she provides consultation to schools in the area of early literacy.  She has a B.S. in Vocational Home Economics, a M.Ed. in Elementary Education, and some doctoral work in the prevention of reading difficulties.

Her husband Roy, a retired school superintendent, is an education consultant, teaches graduate classes, owns his own business, and plays golf in his spare time.  Roy is active in the life of the parish as a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Ultreya, and Choir.  He is also the Province VII President of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.  Their daughter, Natalie, is a graduate from the American University in Washington, D.C., and is the Executive Director for Donate Life Maryland.  Emily, a Texas Christian University graduate, is a dietician for Healthbridge Children's Hospital in Houston.  Abigail is attending Texas State University and majoring in Theater Arts Education and Dance.