Father Jeremiah Griffin
Rector
As a gen-Xer married to a millennial, part of what gets Fr. Jeremiah up in the morning is his passion for sharing the riches of the Episcopal Church with rising generations.
Fr. Jeremiah grew up awash in 80s/90s evangelical Christian circles, which he soon left behind (pun intended) for a healthy season of questioning, engaging doubts, and drilling down on which values mattered most. Then considering himself a religious skeptic, in his late twenties, Jeremiah shifted from throwing “critical rocks” from outside religion to curiosity about what a life of faith lived well could foster. He soon found himself attending an Emergent Church that emphasized art, creativity, authenticity, and community service where he quickly got involved.
This season exposed Jeremiah and his wife Meredith to a more liturgically-based form of Christianity that was, to them, new, yet held powerful allure in its clearly ancient roots. Continuing down this path, they eventually found a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church, which they now excitedly share with others.
Trained at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, Jeremiah holds a Masters of Divinity and a Masters in Political Science from Texas State. He’s served on the board of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, on the diocesan Commission on Ministry for the Baptized, and most recently as a Delegate to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to be held in the summer of 2022.
In his spare time, Jeremiah enjoys hiking, mountain biking, camping, gardening, blacksmithing, fly-fishing, and has a passion for creation care. Poetry by Wendell Berry or Rilke and 90s alternative/ punk music (for better or worse) are his favs. He and Meredith met at the Kerrville Folk Music festival and soon thereafter went off to volunteer in India together. There they cared for people dying of AIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis at clinics set up by Mother Teresa. This experience had profound impacts on both of them, leading each of them into their current work. Meredith serves as an elementary school counselor. They have two kids, ages 10 and 8, and share a love for the city of Albuquerque that’s contagious.
The Rev. Leslie M. St. Louis
Associate Rector
Rev. Leslie joined the staff of St. Chad's in August of 2020 as a semi-retired, part-time adjunct clergy person. She is a graduate of St. Luke's Seminary at The University of the South, Sewanee, and is trained as a Healthy Congregations Facilitator and a Clergy Coach. In the coming year, with God's grace, she will finish her D. Min in Preaching also from The University of the South, with a focus on Family Systems and Congregational Health.
Leslie is the youngest of three children; her older brother Terry and sister Morrell (a member of St. Chad's choir) live in Albuquerque, as does her mother Lydia (also a St. Chad's member). When not involved in ministry, Leslie may be found in her gardens, being Auntie Lifeguard to great nieces and nephews at her sister's pool, traveling, and doting on her beloved collie Aggie-B.
Judy Teeter
Seminary Intern
I am a current candidate to be a permanent deacon in my final semester of the Bishop’s School for Ministry. I live in Rio Communities, across the river from Belen, and have been a member of St. Philip’s for 10–12 years. I was confirmed as an adult at St. Mark’s by Bishop Kelshaw. I am not married and do not have kids, just my little dog Shadow. My day job is as an Accounting Technician for the USDA Forest Service where I have worked since 2012.
I am excited to be working with Father Jeremiah and getting to know all of you!
Julia Manganaro
Choir Director
Julia Manganaro is a native New Mexican who firmly believes that music is community. She has her masters in choral conducting and a BA in music education. As choirs all over the country might be dying out, the choir at St. Chads is growing and thriving. Helping the congregation in worship while encouraging musical literacy among the church is what choir is all about at St. Chads. Julia also likes to give multi-generational opportunities in music. When she isn’t teaching elementary music or choir, you can usually find her chasing around her twin daughters.
Ellen Liu
Organist
Ellen Liu joined St. Chads in November of 2014 as the pianist and organist. Ellen has grown up from a Presbyterian background in Taiwan where her father is a pastor for the churches. Hymns and anthems have accompanied her ever since she has memories. She also started to play piano for church services at age of ten. It is a privilege for her to be part of St. Chad’s family, especially using the gift God has given to her in music. She enjoys a lot in music ministries at St. Chads and welcomes more music lovers to join the worship team.
Sara Tinkcom
Parish Administrator
Sara is blessed to once again serve as the Parish Administrator for St. Chads. She previously worked for a trade organization representing long-term care facilities, the USDA Food Stamp and Food Distribution programs, USDA Agricultural Research Agency, and an Australian oil company. She also worked as a social worker for Child Protective Services, St. Elizabeth's Psychiatric Hospital, and an outpatient mental health clinic.
Ms. Tinkcom earned a Bachelor's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland-College Park and a Master's degree in clinical social work from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.