Clergy & Staff
At Holy Apostles, we believe in the priesthood of all believers. This means that all baptized members of Christ’s Church have an active role to play in the community of faith.
The leadership of this church includes the bishop, the Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, who leads the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania (which includes Philadelphia & the surrounding region). Our rector, the Rev. James Stambaugh, is the bishop’s sacramental delegate, and the person who has been chosen to be a sign of the worship and ministry that is shared by all members of the parish. Further, the parish is led by a council of baptized Christians called the vestry. Visit the Bishop’s Page on the Episcopal Diocese of PA Website.
Rector
The Reverend James R. Stambaugh is the 5th Rector of Church of the Holy Apostles, and the congregation’s 6th lead clergy person. (Rector a name given to a priest who is in charge of a congregation).
James graduated with a degree of Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Before seminary, he taught 9th grade at a Christian high school, worked for a nonprofit Christian mission organization, and was a stay-at-home dad. James is passionate about spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, and helping to foster a joyous community of love, forgiveness, faith, and prayer.
James is married and is the proud father of two children. He enjoys reading, writing, contemporary art, and cooking with his family and friends. His writing and research interests include Christian mission, systematic theology, poetry, and the intersection of faith with literature, the visual arts, and music.
Connect with Fr. James: rector@holyapostlespa.org
Vestry
The vestry of Church of the Holy Apostles consists of leaders elected from the congregation to help guide the parish, work with the rector to facilitate worship, outreach, and mission, as well as administrate parish business, finances and building maintenance. Vestry elections are held during the annual meeting each January to fill vacating terms.
Vestry 2024
Drew Meiers, Senior Warden
David Lees, Accounting Warden
Lyn DeSilets, Clerk of the Vestry
Nancy Haas
Rosemary Hughes
Judy Jervis
Hu Peck
Annette Smith
Patty Wertz
Joe Zorc
To contact a member of vestry please send a request to the church email: office@holyapostlespa.org
Staff
Minister of Music - Jamie Wilcutts
A life-long Episcopalian, Jamie comes to us with over 40 years of experience as a Choirmaster/Organist. He began his academic career majoring in voice and composition. Later, Mr. Wilcutts studied organ/liturgical music with John Holtz at The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford and participated in master classes held by Anthony Newman and Marie-Claire Alain. He also studied with Robert Plimpton at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.
Jamie began composing music at 15. He has received commissions from chamber music ensembles (L’Alt Baroque Quartette, Hartford CT; The Fairmount Brass Quartet, Philadelphia, PA) as well as several churches. In 2011, Mr. Wilcutts won the American Choral Directors’ Assoc.-PA (ACDA) Composition Contest with his choral work Deus Meus.
Connect with Jamie: music@holyapostlespa.org
Parish Administrator - Katie Gentile
Born in the Philadelphia area, Katie & her husband Jean-Laurent spent much of their married life in Virginia and Florida before returning to Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2019. They are known throughout Holy Apostles for their love of pet-sitting other people’s dogs. Katie filled the role of Parish Admin as a volunteer beginning in March 2020. She accepted the official part-time position in August 2021.
Connect with Katie: office@holyapostlespa.org