Fr. Mark became the 5th Rector of St. Simon & St. Jude in 2008. He is a graduate of the General Theological Seminary in New York. He also studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia, SC.
Fr. Mark and his wife, Rindy, have been married for 39 years and have two grown daughters. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he worked for 27 years in the computer industry prior to becoming a priest.
The Rev. Jim Neuburger
Assisting Priest, Retired
Fr. Jim Neuburger serves as Assisting Priest at St. Simon & St. Jude; he and his wife, Carol, were both raised in the upper Midwest. A graduate of Notre Dame University, Fr. Jim comes to St. Simon and St. Jude after a long and successful career first with State Farm Insurance Company, then Policy Management Systems Corporation.
Fr. Jim and Carol raised three children and are blessed to have their daughter and granddaughter, Beth and Caroline, and their son and grandson, Paul and T. J., living in Columbia. Their youngest daughter, Sarah, lives nearby in Atlanta.
Carol Buck
Parish Administrator
Carol is long-time member of St. Simon & St. Jude, who is also active in many small groups such as the Adult Choir and pastoral care. She provides administrative support to the Rector and the parish.
If you have a question, just ask Carol!
Joe Setzer
Interim Organist
Joe is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he earned both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Organ Performance. He grew up singing in church choirs and learned to love the organ and the church. Joe also studies voice and he sings regularly. His former teachers include Dr. Jared Johnson, Dr. Kenneth Miller, and Dr. Katie Ann McCarty in organ, and Dr. Peter Barton and Mr. Jacob Will in voice. He also loves to go fishing, hiking, and to travel!
Charlie Genova
Livestream Support
Charlie Genova is the Application Development Director of EDI and Cloud technologies at Palmetto GBA. Charlie is married to Melissa and they have three daughters, Ava, Lia and Tessa. Charlie sits on the vestry responsible for Christian formation and also assists with the audio and video technology within the church.
Chris Johnson
Livestream Support
Christopher Johnson is a postulant for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. Prior to this, he spent 12 years as a hospice chaplain, leading the Chaplaincy Corps for Agapé Hospice the last three. Chris has also helped out with High School Youth Ministry and VBS the last two years. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, he has been supporting the audio/video technology at several area churches, including St. Simon & St. Jude.
Blount Shepard
Sr. Warden
As senior warden, Blount is the primary elected lay leader of the congregation and maintains a close working relationship with the rector and staff. In times of the rector's absence, the he is also the primary liaison between the parish and the Bishop's office.
Blount is the founder and principal architect of Shepard and Associates. He is also active in Rotary Club.
David Law
Jr. Warden, Buildings & Grounds
As Jr. Warden, David is the second elected lay leader of the congregation, which is typically responsible for the church property and grounds.
David is a retired engineer, formerly with the U.S. Highway Department.
Jim Dent
Treasurer
Jim is responsible for all financial matters of the church. He is retired from the Louis Rich Corporation, where he served as CFO.
Rosalind Funk Davis
Clerk of Vestry
Rosalind is one of our longest members of St. Simon & St. Jude. She is responsible for keeping the minutes of meetings of the vestry. She also sings in the choir.
Michele Lyerly
Pastoral Care
Michele is an administrator at Seven Oaks Elementary School and the liaison to the Pastoral Care committee, which assists the rector in providing pastoral support to families in the parish.
Judith Head
Evangelism
Judith is a recently retired librarian who now works for the University of South Carolina. As liaison for Evangelism, she oversees our new member outreach activities, such as welcome packets, greeters and the ministries fair.
Joe Riley
Outreach
Joe is the liaison for the Outreach Committee, which oversees our relationships with outreach ministries such as food banks, homeless shelters and family support agencies.
Charlie Genova
Christian Formation
Charlie heads our Christian Formation committee, which coordinates education activities for adults, children and youth. He also supports our live streaming activities.
Paula Ashley
Spiritual Vitality
Paula is the liaison to the Spiritual Vitality committee, a new team of people focused on the spiritual growth of our members.
Bruce Bondo
Finance
Bruce is the vestry liaison to the Finance committee, which oversees all financial matters of the church, including budgeting, audits and reporting.
Judy Gallagher
Communications
Judy is responsible for Communications, a new initiative to ensure that all the members of the congregation are up to date with the happenings of the parish.