About Us
Staff
- The Rev. Dr. Brent A. Melton, Priest-in-Charge
- The Rev. Steve Pace, Deacon
- The Rev. Jon Scarffe, Interim Assistant Priest
- The Rev. Russ Kerr, Campus Minister & Pace Center Student Engagement Coordinator
- Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis, Choirmaster & Organist
- Stanley M. Baker, Assistant Choirmaster & Organist
- Abigail Stinnett, Children’s Choir Director
- Roland Boone, Sexton
- Tyler Brady, Communications Associate
- Lauren Frazier, Parish Administrator
- Barbara Hobson-Simpson, Receptionist
- Kyle Reed, Communications Associate
- Kathy Schultheis, Financial Administrator
Whom do I contact for … ?
If you have a question or need to contact GHTC, please use the list of staff members and their respective subjects below to help direct you.
Worship Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent A. Melton
Mission Questions | Chuck Bleick or The Rev. Steve Pace
Communications Questions | Communications Team
Formation Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent A. Melton
Pastoral Care Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent A. Melton or The Rev. Jon Scarffe
Music Questions | Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis
Paying Your Pledge | Kathy Schultheis
Property & Church Records | Lauren Frazier
Vestry Questions | Meredith McGuire
Campus Ministry Questions | The Rev. Russ Kerr
For questions outside of these subjects please visit ghtc.org/contact or call (804) 359-5268.
Bios
The Rev. Dr. Brent A. Melton (he/him)
Priest-in-Charge
Brent serves as Priest-in -Charge. He was born and raised in the salty waters of Wilmington, North Carolina. Monica and Brent are blessed with four teenage children and a dog who helps in herding us together. His family enjoys being outdoors whether around the James in RVA, the mountains and the ocean. They also love to travel and engage in the Arts, whether in plays, touring museums and playing classical instruments. Brent graduated from the College of Charleston (1998) with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. He taught fourth grade in Charlottesville, Virginia and Wilmington, North Carolina for three years. He then earned a Masters in Divinity (2005) and Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (2016) from The School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee. He has served churches in Fayetteville and Elizabeth City, NC and All Saints in Richmond, VA. He was a Episcopal School Chaplain in Charlotte before returning to the state made for “Lovers”. He is passionate about worship, ecumenical/interfaith and outreach initiatives, while both teaching and welcoming reside at his curious core. He finds so much joy at GHTC, especially in the Red Door Ministry and the PACE Center.
Phone: (804) 359-5628, ext. 17 • To email Brent, please choose Brent Melton as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
The Rev. Steve Pace
Deacon
Born and raised in Richmond, Steve graduated from Douglas Freeman HS, The University of Richmond and in 2021 from the Deacon School of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. He and his wife, Naomi, have a loving blended family with four children and seven grandchildren. He has had two careers: 25 years in the community newspaper business in Hanover County and 20 years as a realtor. As you come to know Steve, you will find that his spiritual journey has been a long one with a few discerning calls to ministry. Steve will be joining us 15 hours a week preaching, helping to lead worship, and sharing in pastoral care.
Phone: (804) 359-5628, ext. 12 • To email Steve, please choose Steve Pace as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
The Rev. Jon Scarffe
Interim Assistant Priest
My name is Jon Scarffe. I am delighted of the invitation to be the part-time Interim Assistant Rector at Grace and Holy Trinity. An important part of my role will be to build up Pastoral Care Leadership which excites me very much. I believe that the Ministry of Pastoral Care in all its forms is at the heart of the life of the church as we respond to human needs.
I grew up in Ireland, later moving to the UK. I studied Theology at Trinity College Dublin and The Church of Ireland Theological Institute. I later studied Counseling and Psychotherapy at Keele University in the UK.
I moved from the UK to the US in 2020. I am a qualified Healthcare Chaplain. I have worked mainly in Hospice & Palliative Care but also within hospital and prison contexts. I have previously served congregations in Ireland, England, and Virginia.
Currently, I live in Alexandria, with my husband Ron, a USAF Veteran, and our rescue cats, Jakob, Eddie, and Truffle. I am a keen traveler, photographer, cyclist, and lover of history and architecture. Rev, Jon +
Phone: (804) 359-5628, ext. 16 • To email Jon, please choose Jon Scarffe as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
The Rev. Russ Kerr (he/him)
Campus Minister & Pace Center Student Engagement Coordinator
Russ Kerr (last name, “car”) serves as the Student Development and Engagement Coordinator. He is an ordained P.C.(USA) teaching elder (minister). He has served congregations in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. He is a graduate of Emory & Henry College and Union Presbyterian Seminary. His first degree (and love) was theatre. He is passionate about community building, storytelling, and unlocking creativity. On the weekends you can find him somewhere outdoors and/or with a good book in his hand.
Phone: (804) 658-4064 • To email Russ, please choose Campus Ministry as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis
Choirmaster & Organist
Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis has served as the Choirmaster and Organist at Grace & Holy Trinity since 2003. Elizabeth received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, where she studied organ with Russell Saunders, David Craighead, and David Higgs. As a student of Dr. John Weaver, Elizabeth received the Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School and the Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music as a full scholarship student.
Elizabeth directs the Parish Choir and plays the organ at the 10:30 a.m. worship services, supported by committed volunteers, professional section leaders, and the Assistant Choirmaster and Organist, Stanley Baker. Dr. Davis also plays the organ at other worship services throughout the year, for funerals, and for weddings. Elizabeth oversees the Children’s Choir and Youth Instrumental Ensemble which present music on Children and Youth Sundays at the 10:30 a.m. worship services and at other worship services such as the Christmas Pageant. Elizabeth organizes and coordinates a concert series which includes performances provided as outreach to our Richmond neighbors. Elizabeth enjoys bringing joy to people’s lives through God’s gift of music.
Phone: (804) 359-5628, ext. 18 • To email Beth, please choose Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Stanley M. Baker (he/him)
Assistant Choirmaster & Organist
A native of Alabama, Stanley M. Baker has been a professional church musician, organist and choirmaster for over 40 years, working in different denominations but most recently at Centenary United Methodist Church in downtown Richmond. Mr. Baker holds an undergraduate degree in organ performance from the University of Alabama and a graduate degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College. At Grace & Holy Trinity he oversees and conducts the Youth Instrumental Ensemble and accompanies the Children’s Choir as well as assists Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis with service playing, directing, and accompanying.
To email Stanley, please choose Stanley M. Baker as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Abigail Stinnett
Children's Choir Director
To learn more about Abigail, please read Abigail’s bio on our Music Ministry page.
To email Abigail, please choose Abigail Stinnett as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Roland Boone
Sexton
A native of North Carolina, Roland began working at Grace and Holy Trinity Church in the fall of 2018. When he is not keeping our facilities sparkling clean, he enjoys movies, being outside in a park, and fresh vegetables.
Phone: (804) 359-5628
Tyler Brady (he/him)
Communications Associate
Tyler Brady brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the church as a photographer, designer, and creative guru. His full time work at GHTC involves branding & graphic design, e-communications, photo & video, print & social media, press management, and more.
Tyler is also an artist and sometimes instructs at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. He continually explores various mediums including darkroom & alternative process photography, screen printing, frame making, illustration, and concrete sculpture & construction.
To email Tyler, please choose Tyler Brady as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Lauren Frazier (she/her)
Parish Administrator
Lauren has held support roles throughout her professional career. Her sixteen year background in both public and private sectors has spanned transportation, commerce, and civil engineering. She enjoys balancing her extroverted ‘people person’ personality with quiet time painting and crosswords. Lauren can also be found geocaching and bike riding on weekends with her seven-year-old son.
Phone: (804) 359-5628, ext. 23 • To email Lauren, please choose Lauren Frazier as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Barbara Hobson-Simpson
Receptionist
To email Barbara, please choose Barbara Hobson-Simpson as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Kyle Reed (he/him)
Communications Associate
To email Kyle, please choose Kyle Reed as the recipient on the form on our Contact page.
Kathy Schultheis
Financial Administrator
“Dear Grace and Holy Trinity Community,
I am pleased to announce our new Financial Administrator, Mrs. Kathy Schultheis. Kathy joined our staff this week. When I had lunch recently with Kathy, I was delighted by her curiosity in asking great questions about the people and ministry at Grace and Holy Trinity. Kathy’s integrity and church understanding will be beneficial. Kathy has a proven track record as a skilled accountant with a passion for serving churches. In her own words,
“Thank you for this opportunity to partner with you in the mission to which God has called us. I am so excited to join the amazing staff of Grace & Holy Trinity and am looking forward to meeting many of you in the near future!”
Kathy was described by many as a wonderful human being with a great personality. Like Judy, Kathy is married to a clergy person, yet in the Lutheran tradition. Together with her husband they have three children out of the home and two fourth graders. We will be blessed to have another person aware of the unique intricacies of the church world. Kathy was gracious to start right away so she could shadow Judy in her last two weeks to learn. I am grateful for the leadership of Mike and Julie Joyce, Meredith McGuire, Chuck Bleick, and Harold Williams who all helped to find Kathy.
As our Financial Administrator, she will be in the office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday each week to perform payroll, pledges, income and expense reporting, and financial transactions. She will work closely with the Vestry, Finance Committee, Treasurer, the GHTC Endowment Board and me. She joins us at a perfect time to assist in the transition and the preparation of the annual operating budget.
Kathy is detail-oriented, organized, dependable, and has good listening skills. She follows the best practices of church finances as recommended by the Episcopal Church. A faithful person along with a calm personality she will bring continued stability and confidence with her financial skill set. Please join us in welcoming Kathy to our community. Blessings!
In Peace, Brent
*Contact information will soon be added for Kathy.