Leadership

The Rev. Jamie Barnett

In choosing The Rev. Jamie Barnett to be our Vicar, Bishop Taylor has selected a pastoral leader with a rich, multi-dimensional background. Jamie’s path to the priesthood, which began later in life, was one borne of deep spirituality spurred by personal loss. The seed was planted while attending various Episcopal churches around the country as she raised her family, and it grew through her years of involvement in many capacities as a lay minister at All Saints Church, Pasadena.

Born and raised in Mississippi and Georgia (Atlanta), Jamie attended the University of Mississippi, where she graduated with a BA in Speech and Theatre. Following graduation, she moved to California to pursue a career in television, together with others from Ole Miss. One of them became her husband, and together they raised six children until their eventual divorce caused them to part ways.

Jamie began a long and successful television career with the CBS Studio Center’s grip department in 1993. In 2000 she became the first and is still the only female to have led that department at any major Hollywood studio. The work of a “grip” entails hands-on involvement and coordination of lighting and staging for TV and motion pictures. Her responsibilities included controlling department production costs, overseeing daily operations, and managing the creative whims of many, many producers!

Tragically, in 2005 Jamie’s 24-year-old daughter, Ashley, died while on a three-day cruise. Since that time, Jamie has been active in the formation of a grassroots victims’ advocacy group called International Cruise Victims, which lobbies Congress for legislation to better protect the rights and safety of cruise ship passengers worldwide. The organization worked tirelessly to see through the successful passage of a bill known as the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, which President Obama signed into law.

Following such traumatic personal loss, Jamie was drawn to anything that would help her cope with her grief, and in 2007 she trained to become a grief group facilitator. She also completed By Your Side, the Episcopal Church’s training for end-of-life companioning, as well as Education for Ministry. In addition to that, she became a spiritual director in 2012 through a deep, contemplative, two-year program at Stillpoint in Pasadena. Gradually, Jamie began to find meaning through her loss. It was that discovery, together with the encouragement from others who said, “Jamie, God is going to use you!” that cemented her decision to pursue the priesthood. “It was a divine and holy time of listening to what the Holy Spirit was directing me towards,” she explained.

Jamie’s theological studies took place at Bloy House in Los Angeles, the Episcopal Divinity School, and Claremont School of Theology. She enthusiastically embraced this challenging, four-year journey while holding down a full-time job as well as a hospital chaplaincy, which was part of her training. “There are times when I think, “How did I do all that?” she laughs. “Well, I didn’t do it – it was with God’s help. God was getting out ahead of me and making the way.” Jamie was ordained in 2019.

Following her ordination, Jamie returned briefly to All Saints as a deacon but looked forward to having her own church. She soon received a call from the rector at St. Michael’s asking her to become his assistant rector. There she shared regular preaching and presiding duties, led Advent and Lenten study groups, assisted with Sunday Bible study classes, and filled in when the rector was away. She organized a young adult group and participated in all pastoral duties. She worked closely with the rector to navigate the church’s online presence throughout the pandemic. It is from St. Michael’s that she was called to serve at The Church of the Epiphany.

She has a strong pastoral presence, including among those who are homebound or hospitalized; provides thought-provoking sermons; leads with vision, compassion, and strength, and helps broaden our community relationships. She wants to engage us in conversation about how we can grow, and where we can be creative and collaborative. “All these things,” she said, “we will do with excellence.”

Jay Wilcox

Jay Wilcox came to The Church of the Epiphany to serve as Director of Music in September 2014, after serving churches in the Northern Virginia area for 34 years. He is a published composer and holds the Colleague certificate from the American Guild of Organists. He is delighted to be a part of the Epiphany community.

Laurie Burns, M.S., MFT

Laurie has been on staff at Epiphany since 2001 and an active member since 1988. She serves as Lay Eucharistic Minister, Epiphany Youth Group leader, and catechist for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She facilitated the Grief and Loss Group for 13 years - and most recently began facilitating the Epiphany Pulse group. Laurie and her husband, Barry, have loved their time at Epiphany and look forward to many more years in their church home.

Karen James

Michelle Ponticelli

Maria Aguilar

Maria has been a member of the Epiphany family for 23 years, along with her husband Arturo (our fix-it guru), who has been with us for 25!

Steve Stephens

William “Steve” Stephens is a cradle Episcopalian who grew up at All Saint’s in Beverly Hills. He and his family attended services regularly, and Steve sang in the choir and served as an acolyte for many years. The Episcopal Church continued to influence his upbringing at Harvard School, which he attended from 7th through 12th grades. After graduating from U.C. Irvine (where he met his wife Stacey), Steve attended dental school at USC and practiced in Los Angeles for a number of years, until the young family sought a more suburban environment. Settling in Oak Park, the Stephens family has been active at Epiphany for the past 22 years. Daughters Camille and Jillian were choristers and served as acolytes; Stacey has served as a lector, was Treasurer for 4 years, and is the Membership Chair for Red Door Vineyard; Steve has served as a lector, an usher, a Bishop’s Committee member (twice), and has led the Red Door Vineyard Guild as its president since its inception.

Keith Krantz

Keith and his wife Sue moved to Calabasas in 2001. Both previously grew up and lived in the Baltimore, MD suburbs up until that time. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Keith did one tour in the Marines after high school, received a degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins and an MBA from the University of MD. He worked in the aerospace industry for 35 years and retired in 2011 as a corporate financial officer.

He joined Epiphany in 2002 and has been an usher and lector, on the Building and Grounds Committee, and has served as Treasurer since 2014.

Eileen Hannemann

Eileen joined The Church of the Epiphany in 2010. She was born and raised in the Roman Catholic church where she served as Organist, Choir and Liturgy Director, and member of the staff.

She was President and Chief Financial Officer of a security broker-dealer in the 1990's. Following retirement from business in 2000 due to her husband’s illness, she spent most of her time caring for him until his death in 2014.

Eileen volunteered at Assistance League of Conejo Valley for 18 years serving as Treasurer for four years and as a member of the National Assistance League Finance Committee for more than five years. In 2008, she formed the Ukulele Group at Assistance League to serve the senior community. During that timeframe, the Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy and the Rev. Brian O’Rourke and others from Epiphany joined in. It was a very special time.

She previously served as Clerk on the Bishop’s Committee for almost three years and returned in January 2022.

Kerrie Sadler

Kerrie joined Epiphany in 1997, when she and her husband John and children, Emily and Greg, moved to Westlake Village from the Chicago area. Over the years, Kerrie has served on the Outreach Committee, has sung in the Parish Choir and Schola, and has been a Lay Eucharist Minister. She is currently involved as a lector and usher (as is her husband), and is a member of the Epiphany Music Guild Board. Her children, now adults, were acolytes and sang in the children's choir. Kerrie retired from her PR position with the New West Symphony in 2016 in order to spend more time with her ailing parents, and now volunteers at Senior Concerns Adult Day Care Center in Thousand Oaks. Epiphany has always been a source of peace and strength for her, and she likes giving back in this meaningful and important way.

Linda Loomis

Linda Loomis has been a member of The Church of the Epiphany for over ten years, singing in the choir, participating on the Epiphany Music Guild Board, Book Study, and EfM. She and her husband Len laughed that this was the first of more than 20 parishes that they participated in that wasn't also a job of sorts! "Epiphany welcomed us with open arms and gave us a true spiritual home." Since Len's passing, Linda has experienced an outpouring of love and support, helping her to find the strength and courage to continue her life's journey of growing in relationship with God in the company of a warm, loving and grace-filled church family.

Guy Walker

Guy was born in the county of Lincolnshire in the UK and baptized in Boston, the coastal town from where several members of the Mayflower made their historic Atlantic crossing 501 years ago. His father was a primary care physician and his mother a magistrate of the peace - both committed members of the Church of England. He was educated at boarding schools in England and lived in London till the mid-'80s. Guy and his wife Judith came to the US in 1985, working in Florida and also in Canada, where their son Alex was born in 1987.

They moved to CA in the mid-'90s and joined The Church of the Epiphany in 1999. Guy was a member of the Bishop's Committee from 2011-2020, serving as Bishop's Warden for the last eight years of his term. Guy is also on the Board of Trustees at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School and Mary Health of the Sick.

John Brunson

John Brunson: Bishop's Committee 2003-2005, Epiphany Music Guild, Red Door Vineyard, Schola, Parish Choir, Mitchel Hall Development, LA Diocese Convention Delegate, Diocese Investment Trust - elected Trustee term 2018-2022.

Joining Epiphany in 2001, our TCOTE family experience is an eternal treasure. Grace, love, truth, and light continue to bless us via this magnificent spiritual community. It is an honor to serve.

Shay Hass

Shay Hass joined The Church of the Epiphany in 1998. From the start, Shay engaged in various ministries throughout the church including Children’s Formation, Vacation Bible School, and the Finance, Flower, and Coffee Hour Committees. She has volunteered her time to host our coffee hour on Sundays and in the past, has assisted our bookkeeper.

Her hope is for our church to be an open and welcoming place for people to gather and hear the true word of God. For her, serving on the Bishop’s Committee allows her to work closely with the church and be an active participant in its journey towards growth. Ultimately, she would like others to view Epiphany as a warm and inviting place for all.

Katie Roberts

Katie Roberts and her family have been members of The Church of the Epiphany for eighteen years. She is currently a member of the Red Door Vineyard Board and a coffee hour host. She has been a delegate to the Diocesan Convention and is a member of the Parish Choir. Katie has also helped with the annual party and hopes to participate in future Epiphany gatherings..

Bob Thomson

Bob and his family have been members of the Epiphany family since 1996. Their boys Rob and Michael were both acolytes at Epiphany through high school. Bob previously served two terms on the Bishop's Committee. He is an usher, lector, volunteers with OWLS, and leads the annual financial audit team. His wife Tina is an RN at Los Robles Medical Center. Bob is in the medical device field.

Susan Halligan

Susan and her husband Tim have been members of The Church of the Epiphany for 28 years. They feel very lucky to have been able to raise their two daughters here. When the girls were young, Susan was involved in teaching Sunday School, organizing Vacation Bible School, and supporting the Children's Choir and Youth Group. She has served on the Bishop's Committees with both Rev. Canon Hank Mitchel and Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy. She co-chaired the annual Epiphany Party and was a delegate to the Diocesan Convention multiple times. Currently serving as a lector, a member of the Altar Guild and on the Epiphany Music Guild board, Susan is honored to join the Bishop's Committee with the Rev. Jamie Barnett.

Gabriel Rueda

Gabriel was born in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, and was raised a Roman Catholic. After some life-changing events, he decided to join the Episcopal Church, while he was living in Michigan. Gabriel was confirmed in May of 2005 and in 2006. Already in California, he became a member of The Church of the Epiphany. There are many things Gabriel likes and values about our church, but a key one is the freedom we have to merge Scripture with our own life experiences to build our own journey as Christians.

Gabriel is a Chemical Engineer and holds an MBA degree. He feels blessed with a job that spans several of the things he likes to do: science, business, and operations management. He is eager to put those experiences and skills to the service of TCOTE.