Staff

St. Luke's Rector

Fr. Joe Smith stlukesrector@insightbb.com

Stanley “Joe” Smith hails from the great state of Texas. He is a graduate of Austin College with a BA Degree in Religion; he has a Master of Divinity Degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a major in Evangelism & Pastoral Care and Counseling. He also has a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Anglican Studies from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Sacred Theology Degree from Loyola University. Joe has served Churches in Texas and Kentucky. His last three parishes have all been in Louisville, Kentucky (Our Merciful Saviour, St. Peter’s and St. Luke’s). He is a nationally trained consultant for Evangelism and Congregational Development. He is also the Chaplain for the Village of Anchorage Fire and EMS and has served on committees and boards for Anchorage Emergency Preparedness and the Franciscan Shelter House (Food Kitchen). In the Diocese of Kentucky, he has served on the Standing Committee, Trustees and Council, Evangelism and Congregation Development, Ecclesiastical Court, Companion Diocese Committee, Diocesan Convention Committee, Diocesan Capital Campaign Committee and Committee on Canons. Joe and his wife Kella have been married since 1983. They met in an Old Testament Prophets class at college and the rest as they say is history.

Pastoral	stlukescurate@insightbb.com
	Rev. Robert Thompson, Assistant Rector The Rev. Robert Thompson came on staff in the spring of 2010. Robert brings a wealth of experience to St. Luke’s. He has been in the ministry for 30 years. He has served parishes in Idaho and Virginia, and later served for 20 years as an Army chaplain. He was stationed in Korea, Bosnia, and Germany, as well as at Fort Knox and Army posts in five other states. After retiring from the Army, Robert returned to school to study pastoral theology, focusing on the theology of forgiveness and on lay ministry development. He earned a Masters in Theology (Th.M.) in 2008 and the Doctor of Ministry degree in 2011. Robert holds a professional counselor license from Texas. He also holds credentials as a supervisor for pastoral counselors and for marriage and family therapists. Besides assisting in liturgy at St. Luke's, Robert focuses on Pastoral Care and Christian Formation.

	Rev. Art Chard, Priest Associate Art Chard is originally from Minnesota and was ordained to the priesthood in Lexington, KY. He served as Rector of St. Patrick’s Church, Somerset, KY for 13 years and as Rector of All Saints Church, So. Charleston, WV for 14 ½ years. He retired from the Diocese of WV in 1996 and lives in Simpsonville, KY with his wife, Judy. They both attend St. Luke’s and Fr. Chard serves his parish in many ways as its Priest Associate.

Music Ministry	stlukesmusic@insightbb.com
	Lisa Lewis, Minister of Music Lisa is the Minister of Music at St. Luke's. After a 23-year long detour in the business world, Ms. Lewis has returned with great relief and enthusiasm to music, full time! St. Luke's choir sang at the National Cathedral in May, 2006, for Kentucky Day, and in May, 2007, sang at All Saints Camp for the Presiding Bishop. She also directs St. Luke's Celtic Band, a Group of talented parisioners who enjoy a good reel. Ms. Lewis is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music where she studied organ with Melvin Dickinson. She was a research assistant to Dr. Gerhard Herz for his book, "Bach Sources in America." She studied briefly in Germany with Harold Vogel which culminated in a recital in Stade on the historic Schnitger organ and has also played recitals in France, notably in Souvigny.

Preschool	stlukespreschool@insightbb.com
	Becki Kostrach, Preschool Director Becki is our preschool director. Her mission here has been to make sure that every child in our parish feels welcome and knows that they are loved and cared for by our teachers and staff. Becki has two children of her own, who joke that they cannot go out to eat in a restaurant without running into one of their mom's current or former students. She figures that they number into the hundreds if you count her sunday school, kidsgroup, chapel, and preschool students, not to mention all the students she has sewn costumes for at Trinity High School and Village Dance Theatre. In fact, some of the preschoolers she taught in her first sunday school class are now married and have children of their own. If you are looking for a church or school that will cherish your children for the individuals they are and teach them lessons that will last far into the future, St. Luke's and Ms. Becki and here waiting for you.

Youth Ministry	stlukesyouth@insightbb.com
	Melissa Ackman, Youth Minister Melissa Ackman, Minister of Youth, has been a member of St. Luke's since 1988 and feels strongly that youth ministry is her calling. Her passion for youth will provide life changing opportunities, connect youth as solid contributors to the parish family and develop a strong sustainable youth ministry program for future generations. Melissa comes from Northern Kentucky and began attending St. Luke's when her family relocated to Louisville in 1988. She has two children with her husband, John and works for a print media advertising company. Over the years, Melissa has taught Sunday School, helped re-organize Cub Scouts at St. Luke's, worked on the Flower Guild and has served on various committees.
	When Melissa was asked why youth ministry, she stated, "Being involved in youth ministry as a teenager changed my life and I witnessed many other lives influenced for the better as a result of youth group work. It is my desire and dream to bring this experience to life for the youth at St. Luke's" Melissa's vision for the youth program is to create an outreach foundation with a mentoring approach, where high school youth will support and mentor middle school youth, and so on. Many exciting things are on the frontier so please watch for times and dates of upcoming activities! We look forward to seeing you!
Parish Secretary	stlukeschurch@insightbb.com
	Dawn White, Parish Secretary Dawn White brings to St. Luke’s over 25 years experience as an office secretary / administrative assistant. She moved to Louisville in 2004 from Floyd, Virginia, to be with her husband and his family. She has a grown son in Virginia. Dawn and her husband, Jason, have 3 small dogs and 2 cats keeping them busy and entertained.

Communications

Volunteer

stlukesacts@insightbb.com

Joyce Day, Editor of ACTS publication, Media and Communications