Clergy and Staff

Bishop: Fourth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee, the Right Reverend Phoebe A. Roaf was elected on November 17, 2018 and consecrated on May 4, 2019. "Bishop Phoebe" is a lifelong Episcopalian originally from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, Master of Public Administration degree from Princeton University, and law degree from the University of Arkansas (Little Rock) followed by a two-year federal judge clerkship before practicing law in New Orleans. She was graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary, where she is vice-chair of the Board of Trustees in addition to her other leadership roles through the Church and society.

Rector: Since July 2018, the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher ("Ollie", "Father Ollie", "Father Rencher") has served at GSL after service in the Episcopal Dioceses of North Carolina (Charlotte: St. Peter's), West Tennessee (Memphis: Church of the Holy Communion), and Mississippi (Oxford: St. Peter's & The University of Mississippi). He collaborates with fellow members of the GSL Clergy-Staff Team, the Bishop, Wardens, Vestry, Treasurer, parish ministry committees and teams, and GSL School (Head of School, Leadership Team, Board of Trustees) on Church-School interrelated operations; serves as lead clergy contact and resource for Administration, Worship & Music, and Stewardship (parishioner giving of time, talent, and money).

Associate Rector for Community Engagement and Congregational Development: Since July 2020, the Rev. Laura F. Gettys ("Laura", "Reverend Laura") has served at GSL after service in the Episcopal Dioceses of West Tennessee (Memphis: St. Mary's Cathedral), Mississippi (Oxford: St. Peter's), Virginia (Alexandria: Christ Church), Washington (D.C.: Church of the Epiphany), and North Carolina (Charlotte: Trinity Episcopal School). She supports the Rector by collaborating with others to focus on the parish vision through administrative leadership, fostering engagement of members and newcomers (congregational development), oversight of community engagement efforts (outreach and social justice) that encourage parishioner service within and beyond the parish, and assists regularly with officiating School Chapel. 

Associate Rector for Pastoral Care and Formation: Since October 18, 2021, the Rev. Dr. Jesse W. Abell ("Jesse", "Father Jesse”) has served at GSL after service in the Episcopal Dioceses of West Tennessee (Memphis: All Saints), Western Massachusetts (Westborough: St. Stephen’s), and Indianapolis (Zionsville: St. Frances In-The-Fields), and as a hospital chaplain in Omaha (NE). He supports the Rector by collaborating with others to focus on the parish vision through administrative leadership, primarily attending to the pastoral needs of the congregation including work with Lay Pastoral Care Ministers, organizing and teaching Christian and spiritual formation programs for adults, and assists with officiating School Chapel. He is also a trained spiritual director. Aside from shared ministry, he is not related to Deacon Jessica Abell.

Priest Associate: Both retired and a member of the parish, the Rev. Anne A. Carriere ("Anne", "Reverend Anne") joined the clergy team in October 2019 to assist the Rector and Associate Rectors primarily with pastoral care matters and in various liturgical roles on Sundays and other occasions. Before retirement, she served in the Episcopal Dioceses of Arkansas (Mountain Home: St. Andrew's) and West Tennessee (Memphis: Church of the Holy Apostles, Grace-St. Luke's) and on behalf of the Bishop, Carriere currently serves as Chaplain to the Retired Clergy of the Diocese of West Tennessee.

Deacon: Ordained Vocational Deacon on May 29, 2021 at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, the Reverend Jessica T. Abell, was assigned by the Right Reverend Phoebe A. Roaf to serve at GSL beginning in June 2021. "Deacon Jessica" will serve one Sunday per month in liturgical roles in addition to full-time ministry as Director of Spiritual Life and Head Chaplain at St. George's Independent School, where she has served since 2007. In Fall 2020 as part of her ordination process, Deacon Jessica served as Parish Intern at GSL (observing, training, serving) and completed the Alternative Clergy Training through at the School of Theology at Sewanee (TN).