Clergy
The Reverend Mark Pruitt
Rector
mpruitt@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext.23
The Reverend Mark J. Pruitt began serving as Rector of St. Paul’s in 2007 after serving for eight years as Chaplain and Chair of the Theology and Religious Studies Department at St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he taught courses in theology, literature, ethics, and biblical studies, while coaching soccer and leading worship services in the school's famed chapel. Prior to that Mark served as the Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Butler, PA, as an Assistant Chaplain at the University of Cambridge (Peterhouse Chapel), and also as Director of Youth Ministries at St. James Episcopal Church in Potomac, MD. Mark is married to Becky and they have two children, Elizabeth and Andrew.
The Reverend Amjad Samuel
Associate Rector
amjad.j.samuel@gmail.com
(330) 836-9327 Ext. 28
The Reverend Amjad J. Samuel joined the staff as Associate Rector the summer of 2010. Amjad was ordained deacon in 1995 in his native Church of Pakistan. Since then he established a school in his native city Multan which primarily served Muslim children. He successfully ran it for 10 years. He worked extensively with young adults and professionals seeking to find ways to live their faith in an Islamic context. Three individuals from this group, today, are in ordained ministry in Pakistan. Amjad is deeply committed to his faith in the “One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.” He is a peacemaker, for which, in the past, he has done many interactive sermons with puppetry. In 2006, after having to leave Pakistan for his commitment to his faith, he came to Connecticut where he was ordained a Priest. He served Calvary Church, Stonington, Connecticut, as Assistant Priest and Director of Christian Formation before coming to St. Paul’s. Amjad married his beloved Mollie of Beverly, Massachusetts in 2009.
The Reverend Edward Perkinson
Assistant Rector
perkatak@gmail.com
(330) 836-9327 Ext.31
The Reverend Edward Perkinson joined the staff is part time assistant to the Rector in the summer of 2010. Ed has spent the last 30+ years in private practice with his wife, Sue, doing Individual, Group, Marriage and Family Therapy. He has served as Associate Rector at Christ Church Hudson, started St. Timothy's Church in Macedonia, and served as Vicar of The Episcopal Church of the Advent in Westlake Ohio. While in private practice he has done extensive consulting in the Episcopal church and served on the Transition Team of the Diocese. His primary responsibilities at St. Paul's are Preaching, Teaching and Pastoral work. He has three grown children, Stephen, Gregory and Michael.
The Reverend Polly Glanville
Deacon
revgville@aol.com
(330) 836-9327 Ext. 31
The Reverend Polly Glanville is a Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. Ordained in 1996 by Bishop J. Clark Grew, she was assigned to serve at St. Philip's in Akron. After leaving St. Philip's in 2001, she created The Susan Ministry, an extra parochial ministry for the elderly which provided empowerment and education for mature adults in the life skills critical to well being in later years of life. She worked with parishes throughout the diocese, helping them to honor seniors by providing tools that would enrich the lives of the elderly and equip them to discern God's plan for their lives. Polly was assigned to St. Paul's in 2004 by Bishop Mark Hollingsworth. She has served on the Ohio Council of Churches task force for seniors, is a member of the Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and a facilitator of advance care planning trained by Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Polly works full time as a dental hygienist. The widow of Dr. Richard Glanville, she is the mother of two grown children.
Music Ministry
Daniel J. Fortune
Organist-Choirmaster
(330) 836-9327 Ext. 29
In September 2009, Daniel Fortune began his work as Organist-Choirmaster of St. Paul’s. He held a similar position at Old St. Paul’s in Baltimore, Maryland for almost twelve years. Prior to that he was Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo, New York. He has degrees in organ from Houghton College (Houghton, NY) and from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Dr. Susan Klotzbach and Russell Saunders, respectively. In July 2009 he was appointed Publicist for the Association of Anglican Musicians of which he is an active member. He has a particular passion for hymns and has written many descants, organ reharmonizations, and instrumental arrangements for liturgical use.
Jim Hopkins
Assistant Organist-Choirmaster
Jim began graduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music in August 2011 as an organ performance major studying with Todd Wilson. He recently graduated from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where he studied organ performance with Ken Cowan, and also studied piano, voice, improvisation, choral conducting, and composition. Prior to his studies at Westminster, he attended the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School for two years, where he was an organ and piano student, studying with Dr. Matthew Lewis and Victoria Mushkatkol, respectively. Jim was thirteen years old when he began his organ studies and six when he began his piano studies. He previously served as Organist and Choirmaster at St. James' Episcopal Church in Queens, and has also served as substitute and interim organist at several major churches in the New York City area.
Program Staff
Sheila Svoboda
Director of Family Ministries
ssvoboda@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext. 32
Sheila Svoboda, began her work at St. Paul's in 1999. Her primary duties include Church School teacher training (recruiting teachers, choosing curriculum, providing space & supplies, etc.), Summer Education, and Family Net, a social network for parish families. She also promotes worship experiences for and with children, gives children’s sermons, adds a family focus to our Adult Education offerings, and communicates with groups within the church that have family interests. Sheila also oversees preparation for baptism.
Erich Yetter
Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator
A former professor at University of Akron. Erich will keep us moving forward with Youth Forum, Serious Fun and other youth events. During the coming program year, Erich's role will be shaped over time. At present, we see Erich coordinating volunteers to help keep the program moving, serving as a liaison, and helping the Youth Ministry Aspiration and Implementation team. Erich is a graduate of the University of Texas, and has a Master's Degree in Higher-Education-College Teaching and Learning.
Administrative Support Staff
Julie McFarland
Welcome Desk Receptionist
jmcfarland@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext.20
Julie McFarland began in January 2008 after teaching seventh grade Math in the Akron Public Schools for 30 years. She has been a member of St. Paul’s since 1953 and sang in the choir until 1968. After retiring from teaching, she became involved in the Akron Civic Theatre Women’s Guild, the Diggers & Weeders Garden Club and volunteered for Akron General Medical Center. She was married to James McFarland, who passed away in 1998. Her dog, Gabrielle (Gabby) greets visitors to St. Paul’s during the week.
Marcheta Scott
Executive Assistant to the Rector
mscott@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext.21
Marcheta Scott, Executive Assistant to the Rector, provides primary administrative and clerical support to the Rector. Marcheta is married with three adult sons.
Sherrie Petrochuk
Business Manager/Treasurer
spetrochuk@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext.24
Sherrie has been treasurer at Saint Paul’s since August 2007. Her responsibilities include overseeing the financial operations of St. Paul’s and practicing good stewardship of church resources. She’s been a parishioner of St. Paul’s since 1992 and is active in the Needlepoint Guild, Altar Guild, and is a member of the Vestry. Sherrie is a graduate of the University of Akron with a BS in Accounting and a Master’s in Taxation. She’s married to Mike with one daughter, Emily. She spends her free time needlepointing and cross-stitching, all the while accompanied by her two Pugs, Lexie and Jacob.
Thomas J. Valtman
Financial Administrator
tvaltman@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext. 22
Thomas J. Valtman, Financial Administrator of St. Paul’s, started here in February 2006 after working in corporate accounting for 30 years. The church environment is proving a welcome change from the corporate atmosphere and it has been and continues to be, an extremely pleasant learning experience. The many one-on-one interactions with so many of the parishioners of St. Paul’s is proving to be a very rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. Thomas lives in Seven Hills (a southwest Cleveland suburb) and is married with three daughters and a small “team” of grandchildren. His hobbies include enjoying the time spent with the family, baseball, bowling, and just soaking up the wonderful Northeast Ohio summer weather.
Dale Lower
Head Sexton
dlower@stpaulsakron.org
(330) 836-9327 Ext. 45
Dale Lower, Jr. has been at St. Paul's for three years as Head Sexton. He spent the previous 32 years at F.E. Schumacher, the last eleven as Facilities Manager. He and his wife April have been married for 33 years. The couple have two children, Christina & Dale III, and five grandchildren.
Carolyn Chapman
Pastoral Ministries Administrator
crflowers1@hotmail.com
(330) 604-1094
Carolyn has been a member of St. Paul's for over fifty years, participating in a wide range of activities here. She is a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a Verger, and the leader of our Stephen Ministry training. As a trainer for Stephen Ministry, Carolyn recruits and coaches members of the congregation who want to live out the gospel's command to love one another by visiting and supporting those in need.