Diocesan Office: (843) 722-4075, FAX (843) 723-7628
General Diocesan Email: office@adosc.org
Edits to the Diocesan Website: jhunter@adosc.org
Mailing Address:
PO Box 20127
Charleston, SC 29413
Diocesan House
126 Coming Street
Charleston, SC 29403
The Rt Revd Chip Edgar
Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina
Bishop Chip Edgar was consecrated Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina at a festive service on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke & St. Paul. Prior to becoming our Bishop, Edgar served as the Planting Pastor, Rector and Dean of The Cathedral Church of the Apostles (Diocese of the Carolinas) in Columbia, SC, where he has served since 2004. During that time, he oversaw the growth of the church from a core group of 25 to an average Sunday attendance of nearly 400. He served as the Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn, IL from 1997 – 2004; as the Canon Pastor at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, FL from 1994 – 1997 and as the Curate at St. Paul’s Church, Chattanooga, TN from 1993 – 1994. Dean Edgar and his wife, Beth, have been married for 32 years. They have five grown children and a new granddaughter. Read more on Bishop Edgar’s page.
The Rt Revd Mark J. Lawrence
Bishop Emeritus of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina
Bishop Mark Lawrence accepted Bishop Edgar’s invitation to serve as Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese in January of 2023, assisting with Parish Visitations. Bishop Lawrence served as Bishop of the Diocese from his consecration at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul on January 26, 2008 until the consecration of Bishop Edgar on March 12, 2022. Bishop Lawrence was born in Bakersfield, California, on March 19, 1950. A fifth generation Californian he was educated at California State University, Bakersfield (BA, 1976) and Trinity School for Ministry (M. Div. 1980). He has also received honorary degrees from Nashotah House (D.D. 2008) and Sewanee (D.D. 2009). He has ministered in a wide variety of parish settings from suburban church plant, rural mission, inner city church, to downtown parish in California and Pennsylvania. These include Holy Family, Fresno, CA; Saint Mark’s, Shafter, California (1981-1984); Saint Stephen’s, McKeesport, Pennsylvania (1984-1997) where he also established on Mon Valley Tri-Church Ministry taking two smaller congregations under a multi-staff network; and Saint Paul’s, Bakersfield, California (1997-2007). Known for being a dedicated pastor-teacher, he is a frequent speaker at retreats and conferences within the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina and elsewhere. He has also published articles on devotional and ecclesial concerns in various periodicals. Read more on Bishop Lawrence’s Page.
Karen Rothenberger
Assistant Treasurer
Karen is the Assistant Treasurer for the Diocese and is responsible for the finances of the diocese, Camp Jubilee, and the Trustees. She works with parish administrators and clergy on a variety of administrative matters. Karen and her husband, John, are empty-nesters (the parents of four post-college-age children) and are presently (summer of 2023) in the process of relocating from Illinois to Mt. Pleasant. Karen is a CPA who received her BS from DePaul University in Chicago. She began her career in public accounting at Arthur Anderson where she grew into a Senior Staff Accountant in Audit. She then stayed home with her family for many years and decided to return to accounting in 2020. Most recently she served as a Financial Assistant/Payables Manager for an association management company in Chicago, IL, where she provided financial analysis and advisory accounting services to over 20 associations.
Contact Karen Rothenberger.
Susan Burns
Human Resource Manager/Finance Assistant
As the Diocesan Human Resource Manager Susan handles all personnel, payroll, and 403b retirement issues. She processes payroll for 46 churches. She handles the 403b retirement program enrollment and data updates for active clergy and laity. Susan also tracks and submits all 403b contributions. As the finance assistant she handles laity background checks, posts deposits for the camp and all events, and reconciles all Diocesan bank cards. She also serves on two committees, the Benefits Committee and the Finance Committee as both a staff member and secretary. Susan is an active member of Our Saviour, Johns Island, where her husband, The Very Rev. Karl Burns, is the Rector. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Contact Susan Burns
Jay Crouse
Coordinator for Men’s Ministry
In 2015 Bishop Mark Lawrence welcomed Jay Crouse to serve as his Coordinator for Men’s Ministry after serving in the same position for 12 years in the Diocese of S. W. Florida. In 2013, Jay published his first book on men’s ministry, Men and the Church: Is There a Future, which provides the structure, strategy, resources and best practices for our local churches to thrive in developing and sustaining a men’s ministry. He is readily available to assist our church leaders in all aspects of men’s ministry. Our resources can be found on our diocesan website or at menandthechurch.com. Jay and Laura have been married for 42 years, have four adult sons, an adult daughter, four beautiful daughter-in-law’s and five grandchildren.
Contact Jay Crouse
The Rev. Joyce Harder
The Rev. Joyce Harder, serves as the assistant to Bishop Chip Edgar. She is responsible for administrative details of the Bishop’s Office, as well as coordination of the diocesan convention and registrar for all diocesan ministry events. In addition, Joyce serves as a deacon at Christ Church Anglican in Mt. Pleasant, where she has been a member for 36 years. She was ordained as Deacon in 2016 with a focus on Kairos Outside, a program that ministers to women whose lives are impacted by the incarceration of loved ones. Joyce is married to Howard. Their son, Walt and his wife, Jenny, have three children in their 20’s. Their daughter, Cameron Handel, and her husband, Jeff, have two elementary-aged daughters. In addition to her duties at the Diocesan Office, Joyce will continue her Sunday diaconal duties at Christ Church Anglican, as well as some of her other volunteer responsibilities there. She joined the staff of the Diocesan office on June 27, 2022.
Contact Joyce Harder
Joy Hunter
As Director of Communications Joy serves as the editor of the Jubilate Deo, the diocesan newspaper which is mailed to approximately 12,500 households. She serves as the webmaster, keeping the Diocesan website up-to-date and produces the bi-weekly e-newsletter that is sent to over 4,500 subscribers. In addition she oversees the diocesan social media accounts – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Joy also serves as a resource person to churches who request assistance in the area of communications. She has worked for the Diocese since 2006. Joy and her husband, Marion, live in Summerville and are members of St. Paul’s, Summerville. They have two adult sons, two daughters-in-law and on November 21, 2021 – welcomed their first grandchild, Ella Ruth! Her work number is (843) 696-1757.
Contact Joy Hunter
Justin Johnson
As Camp Director, Justin is responsible for developing and leading our diocesan summer camp, Camp Jubilee. He works year-round on program development and administration, as well as providing pastoral support and discipleship to the high school and college age Staff and Counselors who serve at camp. Justin has worked in the field of camp ministry since 2007 and has served as the diocesan Camp Director since 2017. Justin and his wife Katie live in Beaufort with their two children Samuel and Audrey Mae.
Contact Justin Johnson
The Rev. Canon Jim Lewis
The Canon to the Ordinary works at the direction of the Diocesan Bishop (The Ordinary). Primary areas of responsibility include the ordination process, clergy deployment, clergy compensation and new clergy Orientation. The Canon assists in other areas as needed, including the work of the Standing Committee, Finance Committee, Trustees and the Diocesan Benefits Committee. Jim and his wife, Libby, live in Mt. Pleasant with their three children, Mary, Will and Anna Li. Team Lewis is involved in swimming, tennis, piano and cycling. Jim has been a priest of the Diocese since 1994 and the family attends Christ Church in Mt. Pleasant.
Contact Jim Lewis
Saralyn Ortiz
Diocesan Receptionist/Financial Assistant
As the Diocesan Receptionist, Saralyn Ortiz greets guests to the Diocesan House, answers the phones, and is responsible for updating accounting data, the Diocesan database and overseeing the Resource Library. “I consider myself an assistant to the entire staff, ” says Sara, “and I help whenever I’m needed.” Sara joined the staff in February 2015. She has a degree in Electronic Media/Broadcasting and Spanish from Appalachian State University. In her spare time, she performs at The Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre on Church Street.
Contact Saralyn Ortiz
Diocesan Canons
In an effort to capitalize on the wisdom of someone in the trenches, increase cooperation between parishes and the diocese, allow us to focus on a greater number of potential ministry emphases, as well as implement a cost-savings for the diocese, Bishop Chip Edgar has moved from having full-time staff positions in certain areas of ministry to appointing Canons. These lay or ordained individuals, in addition to working part-time for the Diocese, have responsibilities in other ministries or churches in the Diocese.
The Very Rev. Canon Ken Weldon
Canon for Clergy Care and Executive Director of Camp Jubilee
The Canon for clergy care works directly with Bishop Edgar to oversee and implement the bishop’s vision for clergy care and wellness in the diocese. The Canon for Clergy Care is in regular prayer for all diocesan clergy, and is in consistent and regular communication with diocesan clergy. The Canon for Clergy Care will also provide counsel and encouragement to clergy (both directly and working through Deans/deaneries). The Canon will work with the Bishop and the Deans to establish diocesan practices/touchstones for deeper clergy fellowship such as clergy accountability groups, clergy hikes, clergy days, and the annual clergy retreat. The Rev. Canon Ken Weldon serves the Dioceses as the Executive Director of Camp Jubilee and the Canon for Clergy Care. He has been married to “Boo” for 30 years and they have two grown daughters, Mattie (26) who is married to Tradd Zanin, and works at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and Mims (23) who lives in Charleston and works at St.Philip’s Church.
Contact Ken Weldon
The Rev. Canon Todd Simonis
Canon for Church Planting
The Canon for Church Planting, serving at the discretion of Bishop Edgar, is responsible for the planning and planting of new churches through our Diocese. In working with churches and individuals, we allow the Gospel to shape our Convictions, Culture, Constructs and Collaborative efforts as we seek to plant new churches. Todd lives in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he serves at St. Helena’s Anglican Church overseeing the worshiping community on Fripp Island. Todd is married to Elizabeth and together they have two children: Annie and Luke. As a family, they enjoy pickleball, golf and probably take their family games of ping-pong a bit too seriously.
Contact Todd Simonis
Canon Hunter Myers
Canon for Student Ministry
The Canon for Youth/Student Ministry works alongside the Diocesan Bishop to bring holistic leadership to youth/student ministry. The Canon’s primary responsibilities include championing Scripture’s call to disciple every generation, equipping parishes to reach and empower young people for the work of ministry, and creating/maintaining the systems and structures needed to support student ministry leaders. The Canon leads the Diocesan Youth Ministry Department, the Youth Commission, the Fusion Leadership Network, and Diocesan student events. Hunter and Karina Myers live in Whipper Barony, a neighborhood outside of Park Circle in North Charleston. Hunter serves as the full-time Student Ministry Director at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke & St. Paul, and he is a seminarian at Gordon-Conwell, Charlotte. If you haven’t met Hunter, get ready to answer his favorite getting-to-know you question, “What’s your favorite smell?”
Contact Hunter Myers
The Rev. Canon David Dubay
Canon for Hispanic Ministries
The Canon for Hispanic Ministries works at the direction of the Diocesan Bishop. Primary areas of responsibility include evangelism and discipleship to the Spanish speaking communities of our Diocese and state as well as the encouragement and resourcing of the ministry to Spanish speaking peoples by the parishes of our Diocese. David and his wife, Lisa, live in Charleston. They have three grown children. David has served the Diocese as Director of Youth Ministries under the direction of Bishop Salmon and has served as member of the Diocesan Standing Committee. David has been a priest of the Diocese since 2005 and is currently the rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Charleston.
Contact David Dubay
The Rev. Canon Laura Bowman
Canon for Safe Churches
Laura’s bio coming soon. She can be reached at (843) 241-1429.
Contact Laura Bowman