Our Leadership

the Rev'd Dr. Elizabeth Kaeton, our fifth rector and pastor

Professional Background

On March 2, 2002, Elizabeth came to us from The Oasis ministry which commenced on 3 September 1996. She was instituted as Diocesan Canon Missioner to The Oasis on 9 November 1996 by the Rt. Rev'd John S. Spong, now retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. In this capacity as she worked and ministered as teacher, pastor, evangelist, and advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, their families and friends, in the Diocese of Newark as well as in the greater world-wide Anglican community. She represented the Diocese of Newark at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England in 1998. She is especially passionate about the intersection of justice issues with regard to race, gender, age, class and physical or intellectual ability.

Prior to her appointment to The Oasis, Elizabeth was actively engaged in urban/inner city ministry for five years in Newark. She served first as Executive Director and Vicar of the AIDS Resource Center at St. Barnabas Church, and was Priest-In-Charge at House of Prayer in Newark. A registered nurse since 1970, she has been actively involved in AIDS ministry since 1983, in Boston, Baltimore, Newark and New York City. She received the degree of Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from The Episcopal Divinity School in May of 1986 and her bachelor's degree (B.S.) from Lesley College in May of 1983. She was ordained Deacon and then Priest by the Episcopal Bishop of Maine in 1986. Elizabeth received her Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Theological School at Drew University in May, 2008.

Elizabeth has served the church on the national level for many years, on the board of the Episcopal Church Publishing Company, (The Witness), the Episcopal Women's Caucus (President 2006-2009), IntegrityUSA and is a founding member of Claiming the Blessing. She has served three times as an elected deputy to General Convention.

Personal Background

A "passionate pilgrim on the journey toward w/holiness of life," Elizabeth's joyful commitment to the Gospel and her Baptismal vows is evident in her life and work. She and her partner Barbara, a nationally certified Hospice Clinical Nurse Specialist, have lived in faithful monogamy since 1976, raising six children of their own, and have been actively involved in the lives of six other foster children. They have successfully adjusted to "the empty nest." Barbara is an avid sports enthusiast and Elizabeth enjoys the process of creative writing. Together, they love to travel, cook, read, laugh, and take long walks. They find the ocean a place of restorative healing and the rural areas, especially the mountains, a place of recreation and delight.

Read Elizabeth's blog, "Telling Secrets".

Linda Coogan, Assistant for Pastoral Care

Linda provides assistance in pastoral care in three areas: to members of this faith community, members and friends in the general community, and be witness and role model as she empowers others to serve in the ministry to which we are all called in our baptismal covenant. She makes pastoral calls on a regular basis, taking communion and companionship to elders, the sick, and the homebound.

A 2006 graduate of College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, Linda holds a Bachelor's Degree as well as a Certificate in Pastoral Care She has just completed her first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from Christ Hospital. Linda has served this church for the past five years as a member of the Vestry, Education and Outreach Committees, as well as a Eucharistic Minister, Pastoral Visitor and Lector.

Timothy Wong: Missioner for Youth & Young Families

Tim was born in Hong Kong and moved to the U.S. at the age of six. A "PK" (Preacher's Kid), he is the son of an ordained Episcopal priest. Tim graduated from Montclair State University in 1997 with a BA in Fine Arts and a major in Broadcasting Communications.

After working in the corporate world for 6 years as a video editor with MSNBC, Tim was called to youth ministry. He had spent 8 summers working at Eagle's Nest Camp, the summer camp for the Diocese of Newark, and found a sense of fulfillment working with and teaching children & youth. He came to St. Paul's as Missioner for Youth and Young Families in October 2002.

Tim's work with St. Paul's involves teaching the middle school Christian Education class, the Confirmation class, Vacation Bible School, training the acolytes and leading the middle school and high school youth groups. His parish work includes directing the middle school, high school, and Confirmation retreats as well as an annual summer mission trip. Past trips have taken Tim and the youth of St. Paul's to San Bernardino, CA, Engelhard, NC, Caguas, PR, Somerville, TN, San Antonio, Belize and Parsons, KS. On these mission trips, the youth work on houses and help the elderly or families who can't afford to make the necessary repairs to their homes. In 2007, a playground was built for the community of San Antonio, Belize. The mission trips have helped these privileged young people learn the meaning of humility and giving back to those who are less fortunate.

At the diocesan level, Tim is an adult advisor for the Diocesan Youth Event Planning Team, and an active participant in such events as HAPPENING, W.O.O.D.Y., Christophany, E.Y.E. and Vocare.

Tim currently resides in Chatham and occasionally freelances as a video editor for MSNBC.

Melissa Brandes, Director of Christian Education

Melissa came to St. Paul's after completing her seminary education at nearby Drew Theological School in 2006. She has been involved in children's and youth ministry, in both parish and camping settings, for the past 9 years. She began by volunteering at her home church in Northern New Jersey as a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, and coordinator of the local ecumenical Vacation Bible School. On somewhat of a whim, she decided to volunteer as a cabin counselor at a summer camp affiliated with her church. She immediately fell in love with the camp and with camping ministry, and joined the staff of Fowler Camp and Retreat Center, a facility operated by the Reformed Church in America, in 2002. Each of her summers since then has been spent with kids at camp in the Adirondack Mountains where her primary work is in the areas of environmental education and chaplaincy. As the experiences of camp nudged their way deeper into her heart, she decided to pursue formal theological education at Drew. Melissa holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Ramapo College of New Jersey and an M.Div. from Drew Theological School. Her passion for ministry with young people is fueled by a desire to help others explore and deepen their own relationship with the divine, and with themselves. She is taken with the foolish notion that living the Gospel just might change the world. As Melissa continues to discern her call to ordained ministry, she is honored to be working with the children and youth of St. Paul's.

Brandon Dumas, Director of Music

An active Anglican Church Musician since the age of 7, Brandon comes to the Episcopal Church of St. Paul in Chatham as a recent graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton where he obtained a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music. Choral conducting and training techniques, singing, and organ literature and performance were at the heart of his studies.

As a Church Musician, Brandon has served as both chorister and Organ Scholar of The Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY, Organ Scholar of Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton, and Interim Director of Music at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Maplewood. His organ teachers include Ken Cowan, Diane Meredith Belcher, Mark Dwyer and Junko Ito-Bordage of L’Institut de Musique Sacrée de Lyon, France. As a singer, Brandon has worked under some of the most important and respected conductors and orchestras of our time, namely James Litton, John Scott, David Hill, Joseph Flummerfelt, Richard Hickocks, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel and the NY Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestras.

Wardens and Vestry

Wardens
	Burt Rea - Senior Warden		Steven San Filippo - Junior Warden
Vestry
	Patrick Davidson (2006-2009)		Thomas Osucha (2008-2011)
	Charles Foster (2008-2011)		Dan Patrick (2008-2011)
	Elizabeth Halliday (2004-2007)		Brian Siegel (2008-2011)
	Mark Hipp (2008-2011)		Betty Stockly (2007-2010)
	Simon Mason (2006-2009)		Pam Yates (2006-2009)
Officers
	Charles Foster - Secretary		John Bennett - Treasurer

Staff

	Randy Johnson- Parish Administrator
	Laura Weinbrom- Finance Manager
	Sam Dixon- Sexton
	Standing: Laura Weinbrom, Linda Coogan, Sam Dixon, Tim Wong, Melissa Brandes Sitting: Randy Johnson, Elizabeth Kaeton, Brandon Dumas