Giving Thanks Together
Relationship is the greatest gift we offer. We create and build relationship in five different ways. In our worship services we offer God our thanks, praise and gifts out of what God provides for us in our lives. Through educational opportunities we form spirits and grow hearts to follow Christ as disciples. By serving others in need, we also serve The Divine. When we gather for meals or simply fun, we encourage and derive strength and joy from one another. And we strive to be the face of Love and ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven as individuals and a community, whether at work, home, school or play.
Worship lies at the heart of what we do as followers of Christ. The Book of Common Prayer instructs our liturgies of Holy Eucharist, Morning and Evening Prayer, weddings and funerals. We also incorporate adaptations from The Episcopal Church’s Enriching Our Worship I. While most of our hymns come out of The Hymnal 1982, we appreciate the wealth of hymnody in other hymnals, such as Lift Every Voice and Sing, Wonder, Love and Praise, and Voices Found, all of which are official hymnals of The Episcopal Church.
Both of our principal Sunday services of Holy Eucharist are Rite II. However, our 8 a.m. service is quiet and contemplative without music. At the 10:30 a.m. service — from Rally Day in September to Pentecost in late spring — we benefit from an all-volunteer choir who blend their beautiful voices with the hearty singing of the congregation. Additionally, our two children’s choirs offer an anthem once a month. This church loves to sing!
During the 10:30 a.m. service, we have a paid professional staff to care for the youngest among us (infants through kindergarteners). These children join their parents and caregivers just before communion. A favorite part of the liturgy for everyone arrives when the kids join the congregation in a cross-led procession during the Offertory and find where their parents are seated. They take turns carrying the kid-sized processional cross.
Our priest takes care to break open the Gospel through creative preaching with stories, current events and practical suggestions for the week ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic helped us transition into offering live-streamed services, which allow those who are at home or away from Nashville to join us. There are even some folks out of state who join us each week!
Origins and Traditions
Saint David’s was founded as a parochial mission of Saint George’s Episcopal Church in 1963 by a group of families who had a vision for a parish with a strong commitment to the worship of God, serving those in need locally, and a supportive Christian community for growing disciples.
Within our walls, we have created a place for all to worship, learn, serve, and prepare to go out into the world to love and serve Christ.
Over the years a variety of persons have been a part of this parish, affectionately referred to as ‘the church on the hill’ in West Meade. No matter how long they were here, they all played a part in making us who we are today.
We have been blessed with excellent leadership, devoted pastoral care, outstanding preaching, inspired teaching, and dedicated lay participation.
Saint David’s parishioners are unusually active. Nearly half of our roughly 300 regular members are engaged in one to three different ministries, while 19 percent are involved in four or more. The remaining 32 percent attend Sunday programs and follow God’s call to serve and renew people and places outside the Church.
Parish Leadership
Ministers
Rector: The Rev. Carolyn Coleman, ccoleman@saintdavidsnashville.org
Carolyn is a Christ-follower because she believes that Jesus’s words and actions offer the best model to follow in her endeavor to live as richly and deeply as possible. Encountering the Sacred primarily through spending time under trees, on mountain trails and among the nimble creatures of air, water and earth, Carolyn tends toward the mystic in her spiritual reflection. The connectedness of Creation, all its parts, known and unknown, demonstrates that the Divine actively works to thrive and draw all createdness to Itself. Jesus, also, tells her so.
The Reverend Carolyn Coleman has served three churches in Maine and Tennessee since her ordination to the Episcopal priesthood in 2007. Raised up in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, Carolyn presently holds canonical residence in the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee and is rector at Saint David’s Episcopal Church in the West Meade area of Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Boston University School of Theology with her Master’s of Divinity in 2007, having completed her Anglican Studies through the Episcopal Divinity School while it was still in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From growing up in a family of moderate Southern Baptists in both Nashville, Tennessee, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, Carolyn’s exposure to worldwide missions led her into the academic study of world religions. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BA in Religious Studies in 1992, and then earned an MA in Religion in 1994 from the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio, where she focused on Islam and Buddhism and wrote her Master’s thesis on the theoretical dimensions of women’s veiling in Islam.
Her background in comparative religions mixes with gifts from the Southern Baptist church, equipping her with a vivid religious imagination and a vocabulary that defies traditional churchy imagery and language to proclaim Christ-following theology. She likes to toy with what she calls “biblical grammar” in sermons so that her hearers can engage Scripture and (ideally) the Divine in new and different ways. Having come out of the other side of rigid or legalistic theology, Carolyn gives careful intention to the words she uses and listens for words others use and do not use. She has hope that instead of being a dying institution, as many in the western world believe now, the Church has much more to say about the Divine reaching out for us in the person of Jesus. New words, new phrases, new imaginings can breathe new life into the old, eternal ideas. And Carolyn loves talking all about this with people who are tired of church and who may have experienced abuse in the name of God.
Carolyn spends her time being outside as much as possible. Whether it is rock climbing and hiking or gardening and reading in a backyard hammock, she cannot be outside enough. She also has a penchant for building things out of used lumber, such as a chicken coop and composting bins. Carolyn lives down the street in Sylvan Heights with her daughters, chickens, an old Corgi named Faye and a bunch of songbirds wake her up entirely too early each morning.
Deacon: The Rev. Burns Rogers, brogers@saintdavidsnashville.org
Burns Rogers has served as Deacon at Saint David’s since July 2017. He was raised in a small United Methodist Church in rural Kentucky before being confirmed as an Episcopalian at the Easter Vigil his senior year at The University of the South, Sewanee. Prior to his arrival at Saint David’s, Burns was a member of Saint Paul’s, Franklin, where his wife, Donna, still serves as the Minister of Music.
Throughout his ministry, Burns has played an active role in the Diocese, serving on Bishop and Council, as the EFM Coordinator, and as the Chairperson of the Mid-Cumberland Mountain Ministries Advisory Board. Burns is currently the Chairperson of the Dandridge Trust Board.
Burns has embarked on a new career while at Saint David’s. After leaving an 18-year long career as an epidemiologist with the Metro Public Health Department, Burns returned to school at Belmont to study Mental Health Counseling. Burns is now seeing clients at the Counseling Center at Saint Philip’s in Donelson. Burns is also certified as a Spiritual Director by the Metagem Institute and has also studied the spirituality of the Enneagram with the Institute for Conscious Being.
Burns and his wife, Donna, have a daughter, Maddie, and two beloved dogs, Buttons and Jubi. Burns enjoys hiking, cooking and spending time with his family. The family has become passionate about Rummikub and Phase 10.
Staff
Choir Director: Laura Duke, lduke@saintdavidsnashville.org
Laura Landers Duke has loved to sing as long as she can remember. As a cradle Episcopalian, she grew up in the children's choir at Saint Elizabeth's Church in Memphis. Laura was a voice major at Rhodes College and then received her teaching certificate. She is the music teacher at Linden Waldorf School and works with children in grades 1-8. She conducts a middle school choir and also a recorder ensemble.
Laura has been a member of Saint David's choir since 2002 and is thrilled to now serve as choir director. As someone said to her recently, “How cool is it that your instrument is a choir.” She surely feels that way with this wonderful group of people.
Organist: Dr. Stephanie Budwey, sbudwey@saintdavidsnashville.org
Stephanie A. Budwey has served as the Organist/Parish Musician at Saint David’s since August 2019. She has worked in churches of various denominations in the United States and Germany. Stephanie is also the Luce Dean’s Faculty Fellow Assistant Professor of the History and Practice of Christian Worship and the Arts and Director of the Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture Program at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her teaching and research focus on the relationships between social justice issues, liturgy, and the arts.
Originally from Boston, Stephanie completed her Th.D. at the Boston University School of Theology in 2012 in liturgical studies and church music.
Choir Librarian and Children’s Choir Director: Daryl Wilkinson, daryl.wilkinson@gmail.com
Daryl Wilkinson began singing in church choirs as a child around 1960 and joined Saint David’s adult choir shortly after she became a member here in 1982. She has been the assistant director of the children’s choirs since 1989, and as the choir librarian she manages our vast music library of 700-plus titles, organizes music folders for more than 20 choir members, gives input about anthem choices, and helps Laura and Stephanie make copies of permitted works.
Daryl also serves on the Vestry (for the third time) and the Strategic Planning Committee. A retired teacher, she is an oil painter of landscapes and portraits, a printmaker and bookmaker, and the author of “Art Beyond the Eyes,” a handbook for art teachers working with students with visual impairment.
Sexton: Selmon P. Whitaker; Assistant Sexton: Eric Whitaker; Assistant Sexton: Sean Whitaker
The most senior staff person at Saint David’s is Selmon P. Whitaker, employed by Saint David’s as church sexton since 1978. During that time, he has lovingly, carefully, and meticulously cared for the interior of our buildings. Originally from Crystal Springs, Mississippi, Selmon worked at Roadway Express for years while also caring for Saint David’s.
Most folks haven’t met Selmon. He’s usually here when no one else is. In the early days, he did everything solo. But along the way, he’s taught his son Eric B. Whitaker to tackle much of the heavy-duty lifting and trained him in the fine art of proper floor buffing. (Selmon would claim that Eric is still trying to meet his tough standards!) And Sean Whitaker, Selmon’s grandson, has joined the team.
Eric Whitaker began helping Selmon and learning the tricks to caring for this parish family while he was in elementary school. With a stint in the Marine Corps behind him, Eric’s present full-time job is with NES, and he has been generous with his technical knowledge when church systems have glitched.
Sean Whitaker is a native Nashvillian like his uncle Eric, but he has discovered the lure of international travel. Studying Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee State University, he has taken advantage of internships and study abroad opportunities in the USA and abroad. Watching Sean grow and develop into a bright and hard-working young man has been a gift.
The Vestry
Vestry members are elected (four annually, typically in January) by active church members to three-year terms on the church’s governing board. Class years denote each group’s final full year of service; for example, members of the Class of 2021 will complete their three-year term when a new class is elected in 2022.
Class of 2022
Class of 2023
Eric Appelt
Britt Cox
Molly Haslam
Johnny Erwin
Class of 2024
Hannah Rayhab
Jennifer Sanders
David Axford
Kathi Fortenberry
Class of 2025
Lynda Christiansen
Michael Cass
Matt Rowland
Officers Elected for 2023
Senior Warden: Eric Appelt
Junior Warden: Michael Cass
Clerk: Molly Haslam
Recording Clerk: Carol Hornberger*
Treasurer: Lucy Hovious*
Assistant Treasurer: Kaye Howry*
* not a Vestry member
Saint David’s Clergy Through the Years
The Rev. Rue Ingram Moore, Jr., Vicar, 1963-1965
The Rev. Daniel Paul Matthews, Vicar, 1965; Rector, 1966-1972
The Rev. Frank Wall Robert, part-time Assistant to the Rector, 1971, 1974; Interim Rector, 1972-1973; part-time Assistant to the Rector, 1978, 1985-87
The Rev. Samuel Byron Hulsey, Rector, 1973-1978
The Rev. Boyd May, M.D., part-time Assistant to the Rector, 1975-1978
The Rev. John Fay Rice, Jr., Rector, 1978-1987
The Rev. Henry “Pete” Minton, Deacon, 1980-1981
The Rev. Donna Goodman Gafford, Deacon, 1984; Assistant to the Rector, 1985-1987
The Rev. Eric Sutcliffe Greenwood, Jr., Rector, 1988-2014
The Rev. Sherrill Lee Page, Assistant to the Rector, 1991-1993
The Rev. Ann Boult Walling, Assistant to the Rector, 2000-2008
The Rev. Dr. Molly Dale Smith, Priest Associate, 2009–2017
The Rev. Kira M. Schlesinger, Deacon, 2011–2012
The Rev. Sheila Fellhauer, Interim Rector, 2015-2016
The Rev. Carolyn Coleman, Rector, 2016-present
The Rev. Burns Rogers, Deacon, 2017-present
The Full Story
More than 50 years on from its founding, Saint David’s continues to be energized by the founders’ original vision. We are growing that vision, too. Seeking to be not just a supportive community to Christ-followers who attend here, Saint David’s began to offer its gift of relationship through forums open to anyone with interest to attend. From workshops on end-of-life care and planning to storytelling circles where Nashville judges, mayors and citizen leaders shared their vocations and their work with us, these forums allow us to share our gifts of education, community and good will with West Nashville.
1960s
Saint David’s was christened in 1963 after it was established as a parochial mission of Saint George’s Episcopal Church, just a few miles away. A member of Saint George’s Vestry, Caleb Haun, and two other Nashville businessmen donated a total of eight acres. Construction began in the fall of 1962.
Upon the call of the Rev. Arthur W. Fippinger, Rector of Saint George’s, the Rev. Rue I. Moore, Jr. became the Vicar in January 1963. He set up offices in a trailer on the property at Pennywell and Currywood. A capital fund campaign at Saint George’s yielded approximately $300,000, including $150,000 for a church building and $20,000 for one year’s operating expenses.
A gift of a 20-pound stone from the Saint David’s Cathedral in Wales was placed in the wall beside the front doors. The first service was held on Easter in 1963 for 85 communicants.
On September 1, 1963, with construction complete, the first regular service was held and included a blessing of the building and acceptance of the keys by Rev. Moore.
After getting the mission off to a good start, Rev. Moore accepted a call to Albany, N.Y., in 1965. The Vestry then extended a call to the Rev. Daniel Paul Matthews, who led his first service on Sept. 20. The mission grew rapidly and achieved parish status in January 1966.
In 1968, Saint David’s made three additions to the original building: three bays in the nave, an enlarged narthex, and nine Sunday school rooms. This enabled us to have Sunday School and children’s choir and accommodate a growing congregation.
1970s
In 1972, Rev. Matthews accepted a call to Saint John’s Church in Knoxville. On June 1, 1973, the Rev. Sam Byron Hulsey accepted the Vestry’s call.
Rev. Hulsey’s ministry was characterized by a strong emphasis on lay participation, and he was active in diocesan affairs. He helped many in the congregation become equipped for service in the diocese, beginning a long history of Saint David’s parishioners serving on many diocesan committees.
In February, 1978, Rev. Hulsey accepted a call as Rector of Church of the Holy Trinity, Midland, Texas. The Rev. John Fay Rice, Jr. was called by the Vestry from the Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis. He led his first service August 20, 1978. Rev. Rice helped expand the church structure to relocate the organ and build the parking lot, dining hall and kitchen. All of these developments helped us grow a large and solid youth group, added depth to our liturgy and engaged us as a “program” level congregation. We also hired our first Christian Education Director, Elizabeth Bunch Nichols. She developed the first adult education program, which continues today, and conducted a very successful pledge campaign.
1980s
During this time Rev. Rice also saw to the shepherding of a people through two enormous changes in The Episcopal Church: a new Book of Common Prayer and a new hymnal. Across the entire Episcopal Church these changes were challenging, to say the least.
In 1987, Rev. Rice received a call from Holy Trinity Church in Huntington, W.V. The Rev. John R. Kuenneth, a member of the diocesan staff and now a member of Saint David’s, served as interim priest. In the spring of 1988, the Vestry called the Rev. Eric S. Greenwood Jr., who grew up in Memphis.
1990s
Saint David’s marked its 30th anniversary in 1993 with a parish-wide dinner celebration.
Donald E. Cornelius was appointed organist and choirmaster in early 1995, starting a 24-year run. He was a beloved leader, musician and church member until his death after an illness in 2019.
In 1997, Saint David’s began its first Education for Ministry (EFM) Class. The church created its first website that year, and we entered the age of cyberspace and e-mail communication.
In 1998, the Diocese of Tennessee became a companion of the Diocese of Litoral in Ecuador. Parishioner Judy Grace used her knowledge of Spanish to begin what would become a major thrust of ministry for Saint David’s, leading numerous mission trips to both Ecuador and Honduras and reaching out to the growing Hispanic population in Nashville.
2000s
As rector, Rev. Greenwood gave Saint David’s the gift of joy in community. He helped the church explore its heart for mission and brought us into the 21st century with some administrative changes in communication through the addition of the website and newsletter.
In 2000, the Rev. Ann Boult Walling joined the staff. Ann was ordained to the priesthood at Saint David’s in October of that year, becoming Assistant to the Rector, a position she held until her retirement in 2008.
The parish launched a capital fund drive called “Securing Our Future” in 2001. Plans included updating the physical plant to meet current codes; improving the Christian Education classrooms, nursery, and worship area; modernizing bathrooms, and adding an elevator. With these additions we were able to accommodate aging members as well as those with mobility issues. Our refreshed Sunday School rooms energized our programs, and we were now about to devote full attention to nursery care in a safer, well-intentioned space.
In 2003 the church achieved its long-desired goal of building a columbarium with a clever solution: adding it to the exterior of the tower encasing the new elevator.
The decade also brought leadership changes for both the national Church and the diocese. In 2006, the Episcopal Church made history with the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as the 26th Presiding Bishop and the first woman elected to this office. In January 2007, after a long search process, the Rt. Rev. John Crawford Bauerschmidt was consecrated the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee. He remains our Bishop today.
The Rev. Molly Dale Smith joined the staff in 2009 as Priest Associate. In addition to preaching, teaching adult classes, and providing pastoral care, she led the Monday Morning Bible Study.
2010s
In the fall of 2014, the Rev. Eric S. Greenwood Jr. announced his retirement after more than 26 years at Saint David’s. During 2015 and 2016 the parish embarked on a journey to develop a parish profile, write a mission statement and envision the parish’s next chapter. The Search Committee used this information to begin the search for the next rector.
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Most Rev. Michael Curry was elected Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in 2015, becoming the first African-American to hold the position.
In 2016 the Search Committee recommended several candidates to the Vestry, which offered a call to the Rev. Carolyn Coleman. She accepted the call and became Saint David’s new rector in October. She was installed on November 5, 2016.
“It is with great joy, excitement, and grateful hearts that the Vestry has called Rev. Coleman to be our new rector,” said Senior Warden Daryl Wilkinson. “Throughout the search process she demonstrated the ability to fulfill our three requirements of good preaching, an affinity for pastoral care, and a sense of humor, along with grace, intelligence, and genuine discernment.”