The Reverend Melissa Congleton is serving St. Katherine’s as a bi-vocational priest. Melissa was a parishioner at St. Katherine’s from 2005-2011. She found it to be a place of grace, peace and welcome. As of June 1, 2022, she has returned as priest of this wonderful and welcoming parish community. In addition to being the priest-in-charge at St. Katherine’s, she is serving as a support staff member of over two decades at Michigan State University.
Melissa feels called to serve all people, particularly the disadvantaged. She has worked as a chaplain at Pine Rest Christian Mental Services in the main hospital and the StreetReach program for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Grand Rapids. She also works as a chaplain as part of her job at Michigan State University. She is very thankful for the outreach ministry of St. Katherine’s with Forster Woods Adult Day Center.
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, Master of Public Administration Degree from Western Michigan University, Diploma in Anglican Studies from Bexley Seabury Seminary, and Master of Divinity degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary.
The Rev. Dr. Sue Carter is a priest in the Episcopal Church, sponsored by St. Katherine’s Williamston where she was a senior warden. She has served as rector of St. John’s Howell, associate rector of St. Paul’s Lansing, and as priest-in-charge of Christ Church in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Carter was a professor in the School of Journalism at Michigan State University. She joined the faculty in 1991 after a 17-year career as a news broadcaster and talk show host at radio and television stations in Michigan. In 2007 she was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. In 2015 Carter was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
A graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Humanities, she earned a master’s degree and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State, a Master of Divinity from The General Theological Seminary, a Doctorate of Ministry from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Michigan State.
In 2001, Carter organized and led the first all-women team to ski to the North Pole.
Austin has been playing organ at St. Katherine’s since the Fall of 2021 and has loved it ever since! Coming from a musical background, he played clarinet for 9 years and began taking piano lessons 8 years ago. His interest in organ music peaked about 4 years ago when he began to discover his passion for baroque music and historically informed performance practice. Austin’s interest in baroque music also led him to discover a passion in French music and the French language. He is a senior at Michigan State University minoring in French and Majoring in Human Biology planning to attend dental school in 2024. Outside of music playing and academics, Austin loves cooking, playing video games, and doing yoga.
Jennifer has been the Parish Administrator at St. Katherine’s since 2003. In addition to her role as Parish Administrator, she also is the Chief Executive Officer at St. Katherine’s outreach ministry, Forster Woods Adult Day Center. She has a BBA in Accounting Information Management from Davenport University which serves her well in her roles at St. Katherine’s and Forster Woods.