Vestry Candidates

biographies

We have a full slate of nominees for this year’s Vestry elections. Ballots will be mailed to all St. Peter's members in good standing the first week of October. In the meantime: meet our candidates!

  • JODY BARBARULO ( Sister joanna catherine)

    I have had the privilege of being a member of St. Peter’s for almost seven years and am completing my first term as a member of the Vestry.  I was raised Roman Catholic and was a vowed member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas for 25 years.  I have truly found my spiritual home and community at St. Peter’s.  I currently serve as a Chalice Bearer, Reader, and I completed the EfM program in 2022.  In October of 2022, I was received and clothed as a novice with the Anamchara Fellowship.  It was a joy to have that ceremony during our Sunday worship.  I am currently employed by Beebe Healthcare full time as a Patient Advocate in the Patient Experience Department.  I received certification as a Grief Counselor through the American Academy of Grief Counseling.  I have recently started a new program with the American Institute of Healthcare Professionals, Spiritual Christian Counseling.  I would be happy and honored to serve another term on the Vestry. 

  • Jeanie Hosutt

    My husband (Nick Lindberg) and I officially joined St. Peter’s about 2 years ago.  Although new to Lewes, we had second homes in the vicinity for approximately 25 years prior to making this our permanent residence.  Nick has settled in as a member of the choir and I have spent many Sundays during the past year helping with the Godly Play and SPY programs and attending the Iona service.  I have greatly enjoyed interacting with some of St. Peter’s youngest members as well as the other volunteers who assist Jessica with those ministries. Prior to moving to the area full time, we were members of the same church, St. Paul’s in Doylestown PA, for about 30 years. Over those years, I participated in the life of the parish at various times as a Church School teacher, Church School Director, Youth Group leader, member of the Stewardship Committee, choir member, usher, leader of a capital campaign to fund a new organ, vestry member, and Rector’s Warden.  I am currently self-employed as a consultant medical writer for pharmaceutical/biotech clients – a constant learning experience. Happily, our son, daughter-in-law, and 2-year-old granddaughter live close enough that they can park their car in Cape May and hop on the ferry to visit us in our new home.  I have always found that my own faith is most bolstered by the faith of those around me.  I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by the faithful people of St. Peter’s and I would be honored to serve them as a member of the vestry. 


  • Brian Jenkins

    I was baptized Lutheran at the age of 2. At age 5 we as a family moved from the greater Baltimore area to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically the town of Rock Hall. At the age of 7, my mother and myself began attending the oldest church in Maryland, St. Paul’s Kent County. There I sang in the children’s choir and assisted with the annual Thanksgiving dinner. During the following years, I assisted my mother with her altar guild duties. Every Sunday that she served in that capacity, the rector would take us to breakfast. During those formative years, I became close to George Taylor, our rector. In seminary, Fr. Taylor was roommates with Allen Miller. Allen Miller went on to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Easton and Fr. Taylor’s boss. When the Rt. Rev. Miller retired, Fr. Taylor was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Easton. Seminary roommates succeeding one another is very unusual. While at St. Paul’s I was confirmed and went on to be the 8 o’clock acolyte/chalicist for the next 6 years every Sunday. My liturgical training was very specific and thorough. More than 30 years later, the Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland relied on me to train 10 diaconate candidates in their liturgical duties. Nine of those candidates were vocational trainees and one was transitional. After 6 months the transitional candidate got her own church. Duties and responsibilities over a lifetime: Acolyte, Chalice Bearer, Reader, Celebrant (morning prayer), Sermons while Church was searching for a new Rector, Choir member, Groundskeeper (volunteer), Altar guild member, Director of Altar Guild, Vestry Member, Senior Warden (While senior warden, solicited and received $1 million donation for the church), Bishop’s visitation committee member, visited 5 churches for the Bishop with other committee members and visited 30 of on my own. Bishop Sutton was one of Father Ross’s instructors while at seminary.

  • Michelle Phipps Norelli

    I am a life-long Episcopalian, who earned a MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and retired from my second career as a Sr. Litigation Paralegal from a large law firm in NJ.   That career followed an early retirement from Bell Laboratories/AT&T/Lucent Technologies as an Operations Manager. Since becoming a member of the St. Peter’s family, I have served as an usher, volunteered to greet parishioners attending the 10AM mass and hosted several coffee socials following the 10AM worship.  In the winter season of 2022-2023, I prepared various dinner courses for the Sheltering Hearts program, providing food for those housed at The Red Mill Inn.  During the 2023 Lenten season, I attended the weekly Soup and Study series. For 12 years, I served on the College of Saint Elizabeth Alumnae/I Association Board of Directors, initially as a Director.  I was later elected Vice President, President-Elect and ultimately, President.  My final year of service was as Immediate Past President.  In honor of my late husband, I created the Overlook Hospital Foundation - Neil Vincent Norelli Fund for Blood Cancer Patients (The Fund); several fundraising events were held and donations made according to the terms of The Fund.  I also spearheaded a team for the Light The Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, seeking supporters and selling LLS memorabilia.  My Mother and I prepared Thanksgiving dinner for a family in recovery from blood cancer.  Separately, I raised sufficient funds for a commemorative bench and later a brick in my husbands’ name, at Mystic Seaport Museum. I am a well-traveled wine connoisseur, who enjoys classical music and ‘oldies’, as well as the ballet and theater.   Locally, I prepare sandwiches for the Jusst Sooup project, and in my community, I am an active member of the Veteran’s Club as a former First Responder.  I am a ‘Mom’ to my kitty-girls.

  • Scott Samples

    Scott began attending services at St. Peter’s in 2018 and was confirmed at St. Peter’s in 2019. He sings in the choir and plays handbells. He’s on the Cookie Walk Committee and also assists at St. Cecilia Guild events. Scott serves on the altar as a reader and as a chalice bearer. He has been a volunteer at the Art Show every year since 2018 and he and his husband Jeff co-chaired the show this year. In 2022 he accepted an invitation to fill an empty seat on the vestry. Since early 2023 he has also been serving as Junior Warden. Scott was raised Southern Baptist. During his spiritual journey as an adult Scott has worshiped with many denominations including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Metropolitan Community Church, and United Church of Christ, before finally finding a home in the Episcopal Church. Throughout his adult life Scott has served on the governing bodies of several congregations, including St. John’s/Grace UCC (Catonsville, MD) and Northside Presbyterian (Ann Arbor, MI). Scott retired in 2020 after 35 years at Army Research Lab in Adelphi, MD, where he managed contracts for the federal government. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Marshall University and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

  • Dr. Barbara Tenney

    I am a retired pediatrician, who began my career in academics serving on the faculties of NYU, WVU, Cornell and ECU.  I spent the last 14 years of my career practicing in Pottsville, PA to see if what I had been teaching really worked. My late husband Mike Cote and I moved to Milton full time in 2011.  We had already found St Peter's while house hunting in Lewes and knew it would be our church home.  Since joining St Peter's I have served on the Vestry in 2016,2017 and 2018.  I have been a Godly Play teacher for a number of years and have completed the Sacred Ground training.  I am a regular participant in Centering Prayer and Book Club. I have just completed nine years as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Wilson College and have recently become a CASA - a court appointed child advocate.  I am also a member of the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice education/scholarship committee. My faith has always been central to my life and has guided my life choices.  My greatest desire is to continue to grow in my faith and to serve God in every way I can.

Vestry

The Vestry is the governing body of the parish.


It is composed of representatives elected for a three-year term at the annual parish meeting in November. Each member of the Vestry serves as a liaison to one of the many committees/groups/standing committees of the parish, doing their best to keep everyone informed of the activities and workings of St. Peter's.


The Vestry meets on the first Tuesday of each month. Those who wish to be nominated must be active members of the worshiping community and willing to represent the whole parish. Nominations may be submitted to anyone on the Vestry one month prior to the annual meeting. If you would like to contact the Vestry, please feel free to do so via email


  • Stuart Brahs


    SENIOR WARDEN  (2025)

    Senior Warden serves as an advisor to the rector and handles administrative/personnel matters of the office staff

  • Scott Samples

    JUNIOR WARDEN / ART SHOW  (2023)

    Junior Warden primary responsibilities include oversight of the property. Management and Maintenance of St. Peter's, including the church, rectory, office, parish hall, and
    St. Peter's grave yard.

  • jacqueline ferris

    Spirituality (2023)

    Liaison for matters concerning services and events that will enhance the life of our Parish.

  • Gordon Tanner

    SPECIAL PROJECTS (2023)

    Liaison for duties assigned by the rector.


  • Jody Barbarulo

    Pastoral Care (2023)

    Liaison for Pastoral Care and Stephen Ministry

  • Lee Peters

    PROPERTY (2024)

    Liaison for matters concerning our building and grounds.



  • Pat Casadei

    Worship and Music (2024)

    Liaison between the vestry and the Minister of Music and the clergy on matters concerning worship.

  • Dan Somerset

    PARISH LIFE & INVITE WELCOME CONNECT (2024)

    Liaison for matters concerning parishioners and welcoming newcomers to our parish focusing on the ministry for hospitality.

  • dEBBY gENSCH

    PARISH LIFE & INVITE WELCOME CONNECT (2025)

    Liaison for matters concerning parishioners and welcoming newcomers to our parish focusing on the ministry for hospitality.

  • Robert Gotwalt

    CHRISTIAN FORMATION (2025)

    Liaison for matters concerning Christian formation.

  • Kevin Morgan

    MISSION & OUTREACH (2025)

    Liaison for matters concerning our outreach and mission to the local community and beyond.


  • mINNIE sHORTER

    TREASURER & MEMBER 2025