Church of the Holy Family

The Baptismal Covenant of the Episcopal Church finds itself grounded in the Great Commandment given to us by Jesus Christ in all four of the canonical Gospels. Jesus, drawing on the deepest commandments of his own faith tradition, calls us to love of God and love for our neighbor: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength [and] you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31). Through our life and worship at Holy Family we seek to live into our Baptismal Covenant by how we embrace the Great Commandment. We invite you to join us in this holy calling of sharing God’s love.
- The Rev. Jim Melnyk, Interim Rector, 2010

Clergy and Staff

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The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, Bishop of North Carolina

The Rt. Rev. Alfred C. “Chip” Marble, Assisting Bishop

The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, Assistant Bishop
 

The Rev. Jim Melnyk, Interim Rector
During his twenty-year ministry Jim has served as an interim on three other occasions, helping congregations move through their times of transition.  Jim believes that such transition times can help parishes better understand who they are as the Body of Christ gathered in community, discover untapped gifts and new opportunities for leadership and ministry, as well as strengthen ongoing leadership and ministries in the parish. Jim has served as Interim Rector to Church of the Holy Family since autumn 2009.

The Rev. Michelle L. Robertshaw, Assistant to the Rector
Mo. Michelle began working in church ministry in 1997 and is a graduate of Virginia Theological (2003 - M.Div.).  She has served as an Assistant and Vicar at parishes in Florida before accepting the call to serve at Holy Family in 2006.

The Rev. Paula E. Gilbert, Assisting Pastor

The Reverend Paula E. Gilbert joined the staff of The Church of the Holy Family as Assisting Pastor for Parish Life in January 2005.  As a United Methodist clergywoman appointed to an ecumenical ministry by the bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference, her role at Holy Family is recognized by the Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, who has licensed her to preach and serve as a Eucharistic minister in the Diocese.

Boyd Gibson, Music Director

Boyd Gibson has served as Music Director since September 1996.  He is a graduate from Howard University, B.M. 1978, and M.M. 1986.  He has also completed additional graduate studies in Musicology and Composition at Duke University.

Paul Cizek, Youth Minister

Paul Mark Cizek began working as the Youth Minister at Church of the Holy Family during July 2009.  He completed his M.Div at Duke University Divinity School (2009) and his B.A. in Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (2006).  Previously, he worked at Church of the Holy Family as the Seminarian for Youth Ministry and Seminarian for Prison Ministry.

Nancy Bryan, Director of Christian Education

Nancy has served parishes in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio as Director of Ministries, Director of Music and Ministries Coordinator before joining the staff at Church of the Holy Family in 2009. She has worked as an editor for a small religious publishing company and leads retreats in a variety of settings. She is a 2003 graduate of Bexley Hall (MA – liturgical theology).

Celia Lata, Organist

Celia Grasty Lata has served as organist for the Church of the Holy Family since 1996.  She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Bachelor of Music in organ performance), the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa (Master of Music in piano performance), and the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance and literature).   She also holds the Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law.  She was born in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1946 and married Terrance Louis Lata in the Church of the Holy Family in 1998.

Debbie McCarthy, Augustine Project Program Director

Debbie McCarthy was born in Lynchburg, VA in 1955.  She and David Cormac McCarthy were married in 1977 and have two children, Courtney (27) and Alex (24).

Debbie graduated from Sweet Briar College (B.A. summa cum laude) in 1977, served for two years as a paralegal in corporate law firms in Charlotte and Raleigh, then for sixteen years as a faculty member in the Preschool, Middle School and Upper School at Durham Academy.  She spent an academic year as a special student at Duke Divinity School just prior to becoming executive director of the Augustine Project in June 2000.

Gary Walker, Sexton

Gary Walker has served as Sexton For The Church of the Holy Family since 2001.  Born in Emporia, Virginia in 1956, he married Joyce Ray Walker (Alexandria, LA) in 1979.  Together they have two daughters, Jocelyn (UNC-W, 2002) and Brittany, a junior at UNC-Greensboro.  In addition to his work at Holy Family, Gary is a 23 year employee of FED EX.  Education:  Brunswick High School 1970-1975; Virginia Community College 1975-1977. 

Thomas A.J. Bloom, Financial Secretary

Miriam Mullikin, Parish Administrator

Vestry

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Serve until April 2011: Andrew Kinard, Martha Mundy, Thomas Pafford (Junior Warden), Mary Rushing

Serve until April 2012: Adam Grobin, Neil Newcomb, Phil Post, Tracey Powell

Serve until April 2013: Tom Bainbridge, Anne Hager-Blunk (Senior Warden), Kevin Reily, Rollie Tillman

Treasurer: Richard Fair      Clerk of the Vestry: Sharon McConnell