Clergy
Rector
The Reverend Josiah Rengers was born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia. After many adventures and much discernment, God led him to Virginia Theological Seminary. While studying in Alexandria, Josiah met and married Katie Nakamura Rengers. Josiah and Katie have two daughters, Naomi Susanna and Katherine Emily. Josiah began serving at St. Thomas in September 2015.
Associate Rector
The Rev. Susan Oakes has been serving the Episcopal Church in a wide variety of contexts and connections through both lay and ordained ministry since 2005. She is a 2021 graduate of Seminary of the Southwest Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas and joined St. Thomas as Associate Rector in January 2024. Susan has worked with every age group and different size parishes, as well as camp and retreat settings. Her desire to be with people through significant moments and stages of life and to create community, seeing God in all things, is her grounding point for ministry. Susan and her husband Steve have three grown children and enjoy time with family, hiking, traveling, and attending art festivals and live music shows.
Deacon
The Ven. Louise Thibodaux (Lou) knew from an early age that she was called to ministry, but was not able to experience the fullness of this calling until 2002 when she was in the first class of deacons ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. She has a passion for teaching and learning and for serving all of God's children. At Saint Thomas she leads the outreach efforts, offering numerous opportunities for parishioners to "go into all the world." She is a mentor for the Education for Ministry (EFM) program, encouraging adults to explore their gifts for ministry. Lou enjoys visiting her family, traveling, and meeting new friends. Since 2005, her knitting ministry "Power Socks" has returned over $15,000 to the Birmingham community-- raising money from hand knit socks to help those who cannot afford to pay utility bills.
Lay Ministry Staff
Director of Youth and Junior Choirs
Jenny Damman has been an Episcopalian parishioner and choir member since age six. Moving from New Jersey with husband Tom and son Alex in 2004, they visited St. Thomas their first Sunday in Birmingham and have been at home here ever since! With a BA in music, MA in teaching and certificate in musical theater studies, Jenny has been serving as St. Thomas Youth and Junior Choir director since 2015. Jenny loves working with the young musicians of St. Thomas and invites all parishioners 1st through 12th grade to join her for choir!
Director of Music
Jennifer Hartsell received her undergraduate degree in Music in Piano Performance and her M.M. in Composition from the University of Alabama. She completed additional studies in music composition at N.Y.U. and at Cornell University, where she was awarded the prestigious Sage Graduate Fellowship. Jennifer joined the Theatre Department at the University of Montevallo in 2014. She also accompanies classes and lessons and teaches music theory and piano skills for the B.F.A. Musical Theatre degree program at UM. Jennifer has been the Music Director at St. Thomas since 2016.
Parish Administrator
Lynn Schoel handles the administrative side of church operations, including communications and finance. She has been working for St. Thomas in various capacities since 2011. Lynn and her husband, Will, have two adult children, Meredith and Billy.
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