Calvary’s vestry, the governing body of the parish, shares the leadership of the parish with the rector and consists of 15 members, who are nominated and elected by the congregation for three-year terms. They meet to oversee the temporal affairs of the parish, as well as to support the rector and staff in promoting the spiritual welfare of the parish. In addition, the vestry, in conjunction with the finance committee, is accountable for the fiscal responsibility of Calvary Church. Vestry members also share leadership responsibility for the ministry groups of the church.
Five vestry members are elected annually, so there are five “new” members each year, five who have served one year already, and five who have served two years. The by-laws of Calvary provide that a retiring vestry member is ineligible for re-election to the vestry until three years have lapsed. Once in place, a senior warden and a junior warden are chosen to serve as vestry leaders. Also selected is a clerk that supports the vestry and the warden’s committee. The warden’s committee, which meets monthly with the rector, is comprised of the senior warden, junior warden, treasurer, clerk, and an at-large member.
Vestry meetings are open to all interested in attending. The meetings take place the third Tuesday of the month, at 6 p.m., in Crook Auditorium, unless listed otherwise on the calendar.
Cathy Awsumb was baptized and confirmed at Calvary. Over her many years in the parish, she has served as a Stephen Minister, a member of a Pastoral Care Team, and on the Adult Christian Education committee. She also sends birthday cards to parishioners as a part of that ministry team. Cathy was raised in the public schools in Memphis – Snowden and Central. She later graduated from Rhodes College (then Southwestern at Memphis) with a BA degree and from the University of Tennessee School of Social Work with a Master's degree. After retiring from The University of Memphis, she has volunteered at Baptist Memorial Hospital and the Church Health Center. She considers herself honored to serve the Calvary Church vestry.
Franklin lives across the river in Marion, Arkansas and was raised at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in West Memphis. He and his wife Tara were married at Calvary in 2008 and baptized their son Franklin (10) here in 2012. Franklin attended the University of Mississippi and has worked in his family-owned farm equipment dealership for the past 18 years. Currently he manages day-to-day operations. At Calvary, Franklin has served on a children's committee and helped organize the clothes closet on Wednesday evenings. He is called to serve the vestry as a way of helping Calvary continue to grow as a strong and vibrant church that has meaningful outreach programs and ministry. As a vestry member, he will focus on the youth program and other opportunities as they present themselves.
Ben Boeving graduated from the University of Tennessee. He works primarily at Rhodes College as a Certified ADHD Coach advising students who struggle with learning differences. Ben and his wife Alison began attending Calvary in 1998. Although Ben grew up Catholic, his aunt, Lisa DiScenza, attended Calvary at the time they married and played a big part in leading them downtown. Ben and Alison are raising three active children at Calvary: Davis (19), Sophie (15), and Cooper (12). In his over twenty years at Calvary, Ben has served in the Shepherd Ministry and as a Wednesday night Formation leader, has participated on a discernment committee, and served as an EYC leader and Sunday School teacher.
David J. Cocke was introduced to Calvary in the 1980s David is an attorney with Evans Petree and has practiced law for over 45 years. Over his decades at Calvary, David has served as an usher, greeter, Waffle Shop volunteer, and occasional lawyer on behalf of the parish. He has attended the annual Laymen’s Conference at DuBose and considers himself a dedicated member of the “Baguette Brothers,” Calvary’s Thursday morning men’s Bible Study group. In the community, David is involved in projects and foundations that support the Memphis City Schools where his wife Jerry taught for 32 years. He is active in Memphis Rotary and in local and state politics. David and Jerry have a son and two grandchildren in Dallas and a daughter and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren in Atlanta. As a vestry member, David will focus on “promoting Calvary’s historic role in Downtown Memphis’ civic and religious life, and to share the wonderful spirit of the Baguette Brothers.”
Kate was introduced to Calvary in 2006 by her mother-in-law Anne Connell when Kate married Anne’s son Coleman. She transferred to Calvary, along with her two sons Gil (25) and Alex (23) Humphreys. Coleman and Kate are the parents of Kate Connell (16). Kate did her undergraduate work at Rhodes College and received her MBA from the University of Memphis. She received her Certified Financial Planner certification from Christian Brother’s and is the Managing Partner at Gilliland Investments. Kate serves on the Capital Campaign committee to plan the January 6 kick-off event. Over the years, she has participated in the Calvary book club, and volunteered with community breakfast, Room in the Inn, and the Emmanuel Meal. In the community, Kate serves on the ArtsMemphis board and endowment committee, the Community Foundation board and audit committee, and the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly outreach committee. As a vestry member, she looks forward to learning more about Calvary’s work in downtown Memphis and supporting our outreach ministries.
Greta Cooper Young worked for 25 years as a financial controller, specializing in cost accounting and system controls. Before her retirement in December 2019, Greta worked for Southern Towing Boat and Barge, where she was responsible for project reconciliations of capital expenditures. Greta was introduced to Calvary by then-girlfriend Nina Sublette and was confirmed in 2018. Greta and Nina were married at Calvary in May 2019. They share a blended family of 9-year old Katie Rogers and Greta’s grown daughter Candice Maxwell. Greta’s granddaughter Molly is often seen worshipping with them. Since joining the church, Greta has begun teaching 7-10-year-old Sunday school, and volunteering at Room in the Inn, “Basement Church,” and the Lenten Preaching Series. In the community, she is active with Friends for Life weekly dinners for those affected by HIV, teaches meditation through Galloway United Methodist Church, and Sisters of Charity annual Christmas parties for community kids. Greta views serving the vestry as a means to “honor the gifts that I have received in my life” and says, “I want to be a part of such an eclectic group of people that follow the teachings of Jesus and the grace of God.”
Elizabeth Crosby says that the people are what drew her to Calvary, “From the day I first stepped into our beautiful space, Calvary people have offered warmth, acceptance, encouragement, humor, perspective, and adventure.” Recently Elizabeth has become very involved in “Basement Church,” the volunteers’ nickname for the spiritual essence of service in the Clothes Closet, alley, and parking lot that has developed during the pandemic. At Calvary, she has supported Room in the Inn, the Pride Parade, Community Breakfast, and Waffle Shop. She considers it a privilege to serve as a Eucharistic Minister and she “looks forward to the time when I can join that crew again at the altar rail.” Elizabeth has taught English for almost 30 years and is the Chair of the English Department at Memphis University School. She recently put those skills to good use as the leader of Calvary’s online discussion on The Road and the Apocalypse. After her experience with the Calvary pilgrims who walked the Camino de Santiago in 2019, Elizabeth founded the Memphis Chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino. She currently is active in the Lynching Sites Project of Memphis, and formerly supported the Literacy Council, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, and Teach for America. Elizabeth’s two adult children, Andrew and Lucy, were baptized as infants here at Calvary, leading her to years of involvement in Godly Play, the annual Christmas Pageant, and leadership in the Guild of the Christ Child. As a vestry member, Elizabeth will focus on community service, social justice, education, pastoral care, and clergy care.
Madge Logan Deacon was baptized at Calvary at age six weeks. Although over the years she tried short stints at other Episcopal churches closer to home, she has “always come ‘home’ to Calvary.” She and her husband Whit have a blended family of four children and five grandchildren. Madge retired from FedEx in 2013 following a 36-year career which honed her project management, project development, and training and facilitation skills. At Calvary, Madge is a member of the Daughters of the King, Holy Spirit Guild, Wedding Guild, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Lectors. She volunteers with Waffle Shop, the Lenten Preaching Series, and the Salvation Army Bell Ringers. A majority of Madge’s volunteer time is spent supporting the work of Lives Worth Saving and Thistle & Bee.
Terri was a preschool teacher for 29 years, with almost 15 of those spent as the Sr. preschool teacher and assistant director of Calvary Place. Terri also coordinated the nursery at Calvary for years, which brought her into relationship with dozens of Calvary families and eventually drew her to become a member. She met her family, wife Betty Jo and son Will (18), while working and playing in the Orgill Room. Terri is an avid community volunteer for such organizations as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Memphis Zoo, and Room in the Inn-Memphis, where she currently works as the volunteer coordinator. At Calvary, Terri has ushered and greeted, served on the Altar Guild, worked the Emmanuel Meal, and taught Godly Play. Terri is excited to serve the vestry as we embark on the renovation of our block to make our community more welcoming and accessible. She is proud that Calvary makes caring for our neighbors a high priority and hopes to help ensure the planned work is completed to continue welcoming parishioners and visitors in the future.
Zachary Ferguson heard about Calvary through the Waffle Shop and the Lenten Preaching Series, but became “hooked” by the “sense of genuine welcome and hospitality, the diversity in thought found amongst members, the beautiful music and worship, and the fact that Calvary was living into what it means to be a downtown church” that he found here. Zach received his undergraduate degree in political science and American History from the University of Richmond, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University. He currently leads Innovation and Performance in the office of Shelby Country Mayor Lee Harris. Since being confirmed in 2019, Zach has become a Eucharistic Minister and an active volunteer with our youth ministry program. He is working with a group of Calvary members to relaunch GLEE (Gay and Lesbian Everyday Episcopalians). In the Memphis community, Zach serves on the board of directors for Playhouse on the Square, and the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, as well as numerous other nonprofits across the city. Zach says, “My experience in innovation and performance analysis brings a skill set that I think will benefit Calvary, and I am eager to share those with the vestry. I want to be able to give back to this incredible community and use my gifts and talents to help build upon the amazing work already being done here.”
Jessica and her husband Mike first began attending Calvary in 2014 and were drawn to Calvary’s involvement in the downtown community. They were confirmed in 2015 and married the next year. Both of their children, Olivia (3) and Huey (9 months) were baptized at Calvary and Jessica and Mike look forward to raising them in the Episcopal church. Jessica has a degree in Journalism and Psychology from Washington and Lee University, and a master's degree in Psychology from the University of Memphis. For the past decade, she has worked in clinical research, coordinating Psychology studies, at St. Jude. She has served for years on the Washington and Lee Mid-south chapter board and considers her current civic involvement as focusing on raising kind, Christian citizens. She feels drawn to vestry service as an opportunity to give back to the church that has given so much to her family over the past 8 years. As a vestry member, Jessica wants to focus on being a voice for our congregation past, present, and future as we transition into the capital campaign and reimagine our future.
Len Grice, a retired healthcare marking professional and former adjunct professor of marketing, was introduced to Calvary by his wife Nina when they married in 1995. Over the years, Len has served as a member of the vestry and the communications committee and is a graduate of the Education for Ministry program. He currently serves as a Eucharistic Minister, lay reader, and Emmanuel Meal volunteer. Additionally, he supports Paul McLain as the co-chair of the Pastoral Care Committee with Martin Jellinek. In the community, Len has supported the Samaritan Counseling Center as VP of the board of directors and served on the Diocesan Finance Committee. Currently, he serves on the board of the Pickwick Yacht Club and as an officer of the Delta Amateur Radio Club.
Chloie Madden is a fourth-generation Calvary member: the daughter of Jenny & Jim Madden and the granddaughter of Elizabeth & Jimmie Madden and Mary Peebles. Her great-grandparents were longtime Calvary members too. Unsurprisingly, she’s been active here her whole life, most recently as a Eucharistic Minister and youth representative to the vestry. A junior at St. Mary’s School, Chloie also is active in our youth group and the Happening community in West TN. Chloie notes, “I have gone to Calvary my whole life, and I love the community.” As a vestry representative, Chloie hopes to “make sure that the youth has a voice in the decision-making of the church because it has always felt like we were an afterthought.”
Dr. Jerry L. Scruggs retired from operating room anesthesia in 2001 due to disability. Since retiring, he has worked part-time as a practitioner and CMO for the Army and has volunteered as a specialty physician at Church Health in Memphis. Jerry has been married to wife Patty, an RN/ BSN who works as a nurse at Church Health, for almost 40 years. The couple transferred their membership to Calvary in 2018 from the Church of the Holy Communion when they moved downtown to live on Riverside Drive, overlooking the Mississippi River. Since joining Calvary, Jerry has worked with the Master Plan committee on addressing our building’s handicap access issues and has been a frequent attendee of the Lenten Preaching Series. While a member of Holy Communion, Jerry completed the 4-year Education for Ministry program and served on their vestry. To Calvary’s vestry, Jerry brings his knowledge as a physician and hopes to help us navigate issues related to Covid and our safe return to full in-person worship in the future.
Brennan Seltzer has been a part of Calvary her whole life, having been baptized and confirmed here. As an active member of our youth program, a frequent volunteer, a former acolyte, and a current Eucharistic minister, Brennan was a natural choice to serve as one of Calvary’s first youth representatives to the vestry. She was interested in the position as a means of giving the youth of the parish a voice in the leadership of the community and strengthening the youth program at Calvary. Brennan is the daughter of Nicole & Matt Seltzer and the younger sister of Jackson Seltzer. At St. Mary’s Episcopal School, she serves as the Deputy Editor and future Editor in Chief of the school newspaper. She is an active member of the Happening community in the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee.
Shannon Tucker graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. For the past 17 years, he has worked in regulatory compliance in the financial services industry. Shannon grew up at St. Elisabeth’s. He was confirmed at Calvary with his family in a Diocesan confirmation in 1981. As soon as he joined Calvary, Shannon began singing as a tenor in the Calvary Choir. In the last few years, his mother Judy has also joined the choir. Shannon has been a team leader on the Pastoral Care Committee for many years and has served on the Search Committees for both Kristin Lensch and Scott Walters. Shannon has served on the national board of Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church for 6 years, the last year as the board president. He also is the co-chair of the West Tennessee Diocesan Recovery Commission. Shannon and his husband Eric Milner were married at Calvary in 2019.
Brie Wallace grew up attending the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Knoxville and was introduced to Calvary by previous youth ministers Ellen Coleman and Heather Anderson. Brie serves as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and volunteer teacher for confirmation classes. She has participated in a Honduras mission trip at the Lamb Institute and is active in Calvary’s young adult group. Brie is passionate about the Dubose Conference Center, having served on their board of directors, led Winterfest (high school winter retreats), and led music at Camp Gailor-Maxon mini-camps there. Brie has a BA in Political Science from the University of South Carolina (2005), a JD from the University of Memphis (2009). She presently works at Eskins, King, & Marney, PC as a senior associate attorney. Brie and her wife Barbara are the parents of 18-month old son Beckett who was baptized at Calvary last year and attends Calvary Place.
Clay has been very involved at Calvary in his 15 years of membership. In his second round as a vestry member, he hopes to focus on strategic planning, reimagining and maintaining our buildings, continuing our community outreach, and supporting LPS, Waffle Shop, and our music program. Clay has over 25 years’ experience in higher education, including counseling, career counseling, advising, administration, and adjunct faculty roles. He currently serves as a counselor at the UTHSC with a focus on the well-being of medical residents and fellows. He previously worked at the University of Memphis, where he received his master’s degree and EdD in counseling. At Calvary, Clay serves as an usher, greeter, and Eucharistic minister. He currently is serving on a committee to plan events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of West Tennessee. Clay is married to Brooks Terry, and they spoil their two dogs Gracie and Georgia.