The Leadership of an Episcopal Church is shared between paid Clergy and Staff and an elected Vestry.
Our Clergy and Staff are:
The Rev. Mark Abdelnour 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.
Father Mark and his wife, Rindy, have been married for 39 years and have two grown daughters. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Father Mark worked for 27 years in the computer industry prior to becoming a priest.
Contact: frmark@ecsssj.org
Reverend 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, Father 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, which brought he and Carol to Columbia.
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.
Fr. Jim thanks everyone at St. Simon & St. Jude for the warm and gracious welcome that he and his wife, Carol, have received. They believe themselves to be very blessed to be a part of a vibrant Christian community.
“God’s love has brought us to His community at St. Simon & St. Jude, and we are the more blessed for it. We look forward to our journey together as we travel deeper into the heart of God.”
Contact: jeneuburger@att.net or 803.479.2340
Our Parish Secretary is long-time member of St. Simon & St. Jude, Ms. Carol Buck, who is active in many small groups as well as the Adult Choir and pastoral care. Mrs. Buck provides administrative services to the Rector and the parish.
If you have a question, just ask Carol!
Contact: cbuck95@gmail.com
SSSJ is blessed in our Choir Director and Organist, Mrs. Beth Johnson, who also directs our Children’s Choir . (Bio coming soon!)
Contact: rdcbjohnson@gmail.com
Our Vestry members are:
- Senior Warden – Missy Talbert
- Junior Warden – Edwina Winter
- Christian Formation – Charlie Genova
- Fellowship – Amie Ritner
- Outreach – Cai Armstrong
- Pastoral Care – Michele Lyerly
- Property – Ronnie Johnson
- Stewardship – David Wallace
- Treasurer – Jim Dent