Clergy, Staff and Vestry
To e-mail a member of the clergy, staff or vestry please click on the individual's name.
Clergy
Rector
404-255-4023
The Rev. Michael Radford Sullivan came to Holy Innocents’ as rector in the summer of 2009.
Michael is a summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wofford College (B.A. 1989). Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he accepted a James B. Duke Fellowship at Duke University, but after pursuing that program for a year, entered law school at the University of South Carolina where he earned his law degree (J.D. 1995, cum laude, Order of the Coif, Law Review). He practiced appellate law in Columbia.
During his practice, he discerned a call to priesthood and then completed studies at the University of the South, Sewanee in 2000 (M.Div. optime merens). Michael was curate at Church of the Advent, Spartanburg before being named Canon for Mission at Trinity Cathedral in Columbia. He then served as rector of St. John’s, Lynchburg, Virginia before coming to Holy Innocents’.
Michael is the author of two books and numerous articles. Windows into the Soul and Windows into the Light, both published by Morehouse, a division of Church Publishing, deal with the place of art in spirituality and how creativity can contributed to the richness of the Christian journey. He has been a featured writer for Episcopal Café and Explorefaith.com. He often leads retreats on art and spirituality, as well as vestry retreats on conflict and parish transition to growth following a period of difficulty. He feels especially called to preaching and teaching, and in recent years, to interfaith understanding and dialogue. He has been active in Diocesan committees, most recently serving on the Denominational Health Plan Task Force for the Diocese of Atlanta. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of the South.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading Southern fiction, cooking, exercise, and sculpting. 
Associate Rector
404-751-2910
Alison Schultz, a long time Christian Educator in the Diocese of Atlanta, graduated from The General Seminary in 2006. In her first call as a priest she is thrilled to serve at Holy Innocents’. She is married to Todd Broadbridge and they have 2 children Ned, a senior at Plattsburgh State and Frank a senior at Riverwood High School. Her duties at HI are divided between liturgy, formation for children and families and community life.
Assistant to the Rector for Family Ministries
The Reverend Zachary Thompson
404-751-7921
The Rev. Zachary R. Thompson was called as Assistant to the Rector for Family Ministries in the summer of 2012 by Rector Michael Sullivan. In addition to sharing in the regular preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and liturgical rotations, Zack is responsible for the continued development and implementation of a holistic approach to family ministry. Some key areas of programmatic focus are expectant parent and godparent ministry, baptismal preparation classes, collaboratively shaping children’s Sunday School, and providing a forum for the spiritual development of teachers. Zack also administers the youth programs with the Assistant for youth.
Raised in Princeton, New Jersey he is a graduate of Piedmont College and Emory University. Zack was ordained a priest in June of 2011 by the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander in the Diocese of Atlanta. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and English literature from Piedmont and a master of divinity from Emory. He has completed his coursework, and is working on a thesis, for a master of sacred theology degree from The University of the South. Prior to being called to Holy Innocents’, he served as the Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Cedartown, Georgia. Before attending seminary, Zack worked at the Carter Center in Atlanta, an international non-governmental organization.
Zack, and his wife Amy, are the proud parents of Rowan Toussaint, born in the summer of 2012. Zack played baseball in college and continues to be a sports fan, while also enjoying travel, reading, theater, and much else. He is passionate about living into a sacramental worldview shaped by the great tradition of the church.
Writer in Residence/Priest Associate
The Reverend Martha Sterne
404-751-2913
Martha Sterne grew up in Mississippi, sitting on porch steps on many a starry night and listening to her relatives tell stories about the ridiculous messes we human beings get ourselves into, and how sometimes we are also magnificent and lovable. Nobody talked much about Jesus, but he was all over the stories she heard and in the flesh and blood of real people she knew who lived their lives by his way and truth and life. She went to church every week – often bored to distraction - but strengthened and formed by the rhythm of worship with her family. She received her formal education at Vanderbilt University and later Georgia State University and Candler School of Theology, Emory University. The parishes she has served for almost twenty-five years have been her deepest teachers.
She has written two books: Earthly Good and Alive and Loose in the Ordinary. Her abiding passion is to be part of helping Christians share out loud the deep and storied faith that is in us. To that end, she works with groups creating short photo and video essays of holy moments and ordinary yet sacred stories.
Martha and her husband, Carroll, have two grown children and two grandchildren. She still runs into Jesus several times a day in the lives and stories she encounters.
Deacon
(404)-402-4333, (404)-751-2919
Chris grew up in Atlanta and graduated from Dykes High School. He earned a BA in Economics and Business from Furman University, an MBA in International Business from Georgia State University and pursued further studies at Harvard Business School. After spending the last 20 years in advertising and marketing communications, rising to the senior management ranks, Chris continues to consult to several businesses. In 1997 he began teaching in the Department of Marketing at Georgia State University and currently teaches and works primarily in the MBA, PMBA and Premium Graduate Programs.
Chris was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 1973 and is a past member of The Cathedral of Saint Philip, Church of the Atonement, Saint Anne’s Episcopal, and was one of the founders of Saint Benedict’s in Smyrna. He was ordained a Deacon in the Episcopal Church on the Feast of the Transfiguration 2011 (August 6) by Bishop Neil Alexander at the Cathedral of Saint Philip.
Chris and his wife Karen Kirkpatrick Lemley live in the northwest part of the city with their 4-legged child, Pride the Pyrenees.
Deacon
(404)-884-5016 or (478)-454-8401
Georgia Newman grew up in Toccoa, GA, a young Presbyterian who, even under Camp Mikell’s shadows, did not know what an Episcopalian was! At age 23, Georgia began her first career as a college professor of English. Teacher, writer, scholar, and, later, president of a national association, “Georgia from Florida” returned to her alma mater, Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, to teach English and bask in the literary air of writer Flannery O’Connor. First a call to confirmation as an Episcopalian; later call to servant ministry as a vocational deacon, Georgia was ordained in 2008 in historic St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Milledgeville. Inspiring others to “reach in” in order to reach out, Georgia has worked in a variety of outreach programs. As a college chaplain, she developed an active campus ministry at GCSU and Georgia Military College; and now, as hospital chaplain for the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta, she has come to “listen to hearts in a new way.”
Staff
The lay staff of the parish provides administrative and clerical support to the clergy, parishioners and programs of the parish. For a more detailed listing by topic of who to call please visit the "Who to call" portion of this section of the website.
Creative Director
Sherra Bell oversees the integration all things marketing, public relations, and communications within the church. She manages the team that designs thematic program year materials, sends out a weekly online newsletter, and manages the HIEC website and social media, as well as relaying news and events to the school and local media.
Sherra is a designer, creative recruiter, and activist. She earned her Master of Arts in Religion with a Justice & Peace Studies concentration from Iliff School of Theology and her BFA in Visual Communications from Auburn University.
A native of Atlanta, Sherra is an avid traveler who has also lived in Auburn, Denver, and Chicago. She is a first born, only daughter/sister, and adoring aunt to 2 nephews and 3 nieces ages 2-15. Through her nieces, she developed a special place in her heart for teens aging out of Ukrainian orphanages and recently traveled to Odessa (via Amsterdam and Paris) to throw a first ever birthday party for the 15 year-old girl from Kotovsk, Ukraine she will host in her home this summer.
Sherra is a member of the Carter Center Toastmasters, speaks frequently on the topic of Social Media for the Job Search, and is usually reading some recent release or blog post about creativity, connectedness, or food as medicine.
Financial Assistant
404-751-2903
Ginny Black has been a member of Holy Innocents’ Church since 1986. She currently serves on the Altar Guild, Lay Eucharistic Ministries and has taught Sunday school for the past two years. She is a part-time employee responsible for financial statements, processing deposits, maintain contribution records and paying all invoices. She is Secretary to the Vestry and to the Finance committee. She is married to Joe Black, has a stepson with twin children. She has a daughter, Kinzer, who is 19 years old and a student at Wake Forest University. Kinzer also taught Sunday school with Ginny.
Organist and Choir Master
404-751-2904
David Brensinger is a native of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, (just outside Philadelphia). He began his first “church job” when he was 14 years old, serving as the organist for a Presbyterian Church. His undergraduate degree in Music Education is from West Chester University and, after five years teaching public school music, he returned to graduate school and received his Masters in Church Music is from Westminster Choir College. He has been at Holy Innocents’ since 1987. He is married to Anita, who is on the music faculty at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, and they have one grown daughter. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and trying to get his golf handicap below 16!
Lay Assistant to the Rector for Formation
404-751-2902
Joshua Case is an Episcopal podcaster, micro-blogger, and activist. He is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a professional golf instructor nationally known for his unique way of teaching golf to children as young as four. For years Joshua co-hosted The Nick and Josh Podcast (one of the first podcasts on religion and culture, which reached a listenership of over 250,000 subscribers).
Before moving to Atlanta, Joshua worked for six years in Geneva Switzerland where he served as the executive director for an international, interfaith youth work and ministry organization. Joshua is currently working on several projects for publication, one of which is entitled: Digital Jesus, Digital Church: Towards the Prophetic Embrace of Digital Media. Joshua has has written for the Huffington post On Religion Blog, is a frequent contributor to Homebrewed Christianity, and collaborates with faith communities to explore Christian formation for the 21st century Christianity and connective leadership practices.
In his spare time Joshua loves to take walks with his wife Laura, cook, and play as much golf as he can.
Parish Registrar & Outreach Coordinator
404-751-2906
Caroline grew up in Easley, South Carolina and received her undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College with a major in Economics and German. She received an MA in teaching from Emory University and an MA in Economics from Georgia State University. Caroline taught Economics, AP Economics, and History at Marist School where she also coached for 15 years and continues to work at the War Eagle Cheerleading Camp for girls ages 5 to 12. Caroline’s husband, Peter, is from Florida and they have been married 10 years. He is VP of Business Development at Nease, Lagana, Eden and Culley, Inc. They have a 9 year old daughter and a soon to be 6 year old son who takes up her “spare time”. Caroline also enjoys traveling, reading and exercising. At HIEC she serves as the registrar and focuses on lay ministry coordination.
Executive Assistant to the Rector & Executive Assistant to Formation
404-751-2908
Carol is Executive Assistant to the Rector and has worked for the church since September 2007. A native of New Jersey, Carol graduated with a B.A. in English from Susquehanna University. Subsequent to that she worked in Human Resources for a large insurance company in New York City. In 1988 she and her husband Craig and two children Becky and Andy moved to Sandy Springs where both children graduated from Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. Carol has been an active community volunteer and currently sits on the boards of several community organizations.
Junior Graphic Designer
Andre McIntosh
678-620-9296
Andre was born in Detroit, Michigan into a military family. He moved around until settling in Powder Springs, GA at the age of 14. He graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta in Dec of 2012 with a Bachelors degree in Media Arts and Animation. He enjoys Drawing, Cooking, and going to the movies with friends.
Receptionist & Pastoral Care Coordinator
404-751-2909
Melody joined the HIEC staff in May, 2005. As the first voice people encounter when calling HI, her focus is extending radical hospitality to all who contact Holy Innocents’. She is part of the Pastoral Care Team and supports clergy and lay pastoral groups and connections.
Melody grew up in northwest Georgia and has lived in Atlanta nearly 30 years. She received a B.S. degree in Social Work from Brenau Women’s College in Gainesville. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising and taking fitness classes at the Y. She and her husband, Britt, live in Marietta, are members of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, and have three grown children.
Coordinator for Children’s Ministry
404-751-2912
Allison was raised in Sandy Springs and has been working with children and families for over 15 years. Past work experiences include Cobb County Schools, LINK Counseling Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is married to Glen and mother of two children, Chase (7) and Ava (5). She enjoys reading and playing tennis in her spare time. If you have any questions or want to volunteer with Children formation on Sunday mornings please email her at .
HIES Lower Chaplain and HIEC Youth and Young Adult
Timothy Sommer
Timothy Sommer comes to Holy Innocents’ directly upon graduating from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University (Master of Divinity) and assisting as a seminarian at Christ Church, New Haven. While serving as an associate at the HI parish, Timothy will also be working as the Lower School Chaplain next door at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.
Passionate about sharing God’s love in different contexts, Timothy has worked as chaplain in the boarding school setting of the Taft School, in the interfaith setting of the Yale University Chaplain’s Office, and in the Anglican setting of Peterhouse College at Cambridge. In addition to educational ministry, Timothy is concentrated on practicing Christian discipleship through radical hospitality, community service and celebration, and engaging the religious imagination. Studying abroad at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge has given Timothy a love for traveling and liturgical diversity.
In the past, Timothy worked as a high school English teacher and a nanny in Chicago, where also he earned a degree from Chicago Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religion). In his free time, he loves writing and learning about people, places, food, and art.
Administrative Assistant for Program and Calendar Coordinator
404-751-2911
Rena grew up in Marietta, Georgia as the third of four Stallworth children. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 2010 with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology. Rena attends Saint Mary of Egypt Russian Orthodox Church in Roswell. And in her free time she likes to paint, read, go out to dinner and concerts and play with her adorable niece.
Assistant Organist
404-255-4023
Facilities Managers:
Hospitality Manager:
Sexton/Custodians
Brandon Hedge
Vestry
The Parish Vestry is comprised of 12 adult members and 2 youth representatives. These individuals represent the Parish at large and are an important voice in the decisions of the Parish. Candidates are nominated by the parish and elected at the annual meeting. Service on the Vestry consists of three-year staggered rotating terms of office for adults and one year for the youth. Eligibility for election is a baptized, full member (confirmed), at least 18 years of age and fulfilling an annual financial pledge. The Rector appoints the Senior Warden and Vestry members select the Junior Warden.
The Vestry collaborates with the Rector in the spiritual and temporal responsibilities of the Parish. Vestry members oversee areas of ministry that may include committees, projects or tasks.
Members (Senior Warden) - 770 - 941-1049
(Junior Warden) - 404-252-6786
- 404-256-9623
- 770 380-6916
Youth Vestry:
Sophie Morgan
Mattie Sullivan
Officers
(Treasurer) - 404-256-1784
(Secretary) - 404-303-9529
