The Right Reverend George Edward Councell, Bishop of New Jersey 

George Councell was elected the Eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey on May 3, 2003, and consecrated on St. Luke’s Day, October 18, 2003 in Trinity Cathedral in Trenton.

Bishop Councell is Vice-President of Province II and serves on the Board of Trustees of General Theological Seminary, the Presiding Bishop’s Council of Advice, and the Joint Standing Committee of Program, Budget and Finance.

More bibliographical information about Bishop Councell can be found  at  our diocese's website.

Reverend Joan M. Pettit Anders, Rector

I love Christ Church. I thank the Lord daily for the opportunity he has given me to do this ministry. I consider it a privilege to serve here as rector.I have been in leadership roles for over 30 years. I lead through example, encouragement and trust, empowering people to do the ministry God calls them to do. I love to preach God's word and reach people's souls by attempting to make it relevant to the lives we lead today. I am so excited by the Vision God has laid before us for this Parish, and it energizes me to walk together with you on this path. Did I say I love my Church?

I am engaged to be married in April 2012 to Mr. Jeffrey Mason. I am mother to two wonderful sons. Chris is married to Tracey and they have a daughter, Merriana - my first grandchild!!!  Chris owns his own mortgage company.  My younger son, Clay works for a non profit, Ocean Inc, as a Weather- ization Expert.  Plus he is a trained auto mechanic.

Education: The General Theological Seminary, NYC, Masters of Divinity, 1998. Rutgers University, Douglass College, BA, 1975.

Last Position: Associate Rector, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Medford, NJ 8/98-12/02.

 

Reverend Timothy Holder, Assoc. Rector

Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River not only welcomes but celebrates All God’s People and Creation. Rising up on one of the most beautiful settings on the Jersey Shore, greeting new members of all ages and from all walks of life, Christ Church celebrates a vibrant and growing tradition.
 
Father Holder was formally welcomed at Christ Church on Christmas Eve, 2009 where he preached for Christmas Services. He assists the rector and congregation with liturgy (worship), pastoral care, church growth (evangelism) and stewardship (tithe and proportionate giving). “Good pastoral care is good evangelism,” he teaches, “If you are a church in Ocean County, you are about the mission and development of care for people as we grow older.” Ocean County has one of the highest populations of retirees in the United States.
 
“Much of the church today struggles to meet new days of mission and opportunity – not so at Christ Church,” Father Holder explains. “Christ Church is meeting new populations, new peoples, new initiatives and mission embracing the Holy Spirit, ever-new and ever-moving. You could look for ten years and not find as beautiful and loving-a-place as this.”
 
A native of Tennessee, Father Holder enjoys teaching and lecturing on mission and church growth. His work is the subject of numerous books and articles. Father Holder resides in Seaside Heights on New Jersey’s beautiful Barnegat Bay with “Elvis,” a Welsh Corgi, a “stray from New York City (just like me).”  

Education: The Harvard Divinity School , Masters of Divinity, 1997. University of the South at Sewanee, BA, 1977.

Last Position: Rector, Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, NJ, 3/07-6/09

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Reverend John Steed, Chaplain

I retired as in 2004, after 33-1/2 years in the ministry. I was raised in Dayton, Ohio, and somehow picked up five college degrees along the way (none of them doctorates). When football season comes around, you might just discern that two of those degrees are from The Ohio State University. I also served in the USMCR in the 1960's.

I was baptized Methodist and confirmed Presbyterian. As newly weds, we found the Episcopal Church and I became an Episcopal priest. I began my ministry in Virginia, then spent 27 years in North Carolina, before finally coming to New Jersey. The fact that our son and daughter-in-law live in the Philadelphia area is not insignificant! It is a joy to be on Mother Joan's staff, not just to serve, but also to be a part of parish life.

Education: Ohio State Unversity, BA, MA,1964, 1965.  North Carolina Wesleyan College, BA, 1987. General Theological Seminary, MDiv, 1971. North Carolina Central University, MA, 1993.   

Last Position: Rector, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Whiting, NJ.

Mary Lou Steed, PHD, Chaplain

I grew up in rural Ohio, raised two steers with my father's help, helped in the field and barn, but not much in the house. For ten years after high school I did secretarial work.As we were looking forward to John's first placement after seminary, he asked me where I would like to live. I said "anyplace with a college so I could audit a few courses." He said "I'm not going to let you do that!" He laughed and explained that he meant I was to go for a degree, assuring me that 29 was not too old to start.

For twenty years I held a faculty position at a liberal arts college in North Carolina. Since our arrival in New Jersey, and until my retirement from the classroom in 2007, I have taught at Temple University, Rider University and at Thomas Edison State College. I still keep active by teaching online courses for adult students at both TESC and Rider. I have always been active in the life of the church. I am glad to be here at Christ Church and to be involved in several ministries.

Education: Atlantic Christian College, BA, 1975. North Carolina Central University, MA, 1977. Duke University, PhD, 1983.
Currentt Position: Mentor in Sociology: Thomas Edison State College

Reverend Walter Hartt, Rector Emeritus

I am retired and currently serving on a part-time basis at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Tuckerton. The privilege that was mine in being parish priest for some 16 years at Christ Church was the opportunity to see God's hand show itself repeatedly in the life we shared. Much, of course, was hidden. But in a moment our common enterprise would show itself and be a holy one, filled with Godly surprises and rich opportunity to serve our Lord Jesus. The Church was shown not to be mine but the living Lord's and my best days were those in which I managed not to be in the way. The privilege of witnessing the Spirit's work was second only to the opportunity of preaching the Gospel of God's love for all.

Reverend Emily Holman, Deacon

I was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of New Jersey on October 21, 2010.  A lifelong interest in travel leads me to visit the “edges” of the world and to bring back the stories of those faraway peoples and places.  Thus, my diaconal focus is on the needs of the broader world.  I serve on the diocesan Companion Diocese Committee and the Committee on the Diaconate.

I’m also interested in more local housing issues and social justice issues, and have been involved with Interfaith Hospitality Network, Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, and a community project for Heifer, International.  I assist Christ Church with pastoral care, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, and am a volunteer chaplain at Community Medical Center.

Reverend Lew McCrum, Deacon (Retired)

I accepted my calling to the diaconate from Christ Church and was ordained in 1990. I retired in 2008. I had been involved in particular in the coordination and training of chalice bearers and lay eucharistic ministers. I also shared in the visitation of the sick, shut-ins, and hospitalized parishioners. Since retirement I still participate in services when needed.