Clergy & Staff

Fr. Andrew Rowell is delighted to be the second Rector of Christchurch Montgomery. He has a passion for preaching and teaching God’s Word and for sending the church out into the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Andrew also serves as the Dean of the Western Deanery of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and on the Board of Trustees for the American Anglican Council and the Anglican Relief and Development Fund.

Prior to becoming Rector of Christchurch, Andrew was Associate Rector for Evangelism & Discipleship (2012-15) and Associate Rector for Youth & Families (2008-12) at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral in Tallahassee, Florida. Andrew received his undergraduate degree from Duke University (1995), his law degree from the University of Virginia (1999), and his Masters of Divinity from the Duke University Divinity School (2008). In his prior professional life, Andrew served as a homeless shelter manager, a speechwriter for the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a tax attorney at Hogan Lovells LLP in Washington, D.C. Fr. Andrew is married to Miriam “Mimi” Suber Rowell, who is a Critical Care Registered Nurse. Andrew and Mimi have two sons, Stephen Ebenezer (Eben) and Ezekiel McConnell (Zeke).

Although Alan Reid knew he was called into ministry as a teenager, he, like Jonah the prophet, went the opposite direction by pursuing a double major in Political Science and Public Relations at Western Kentucky University (BA, 1980). While he wasn’t swallowed by a big fish, in 1994 he finally relented but tried to do so on his own terms. Alan wanted to avoid preaching, so during his training at Asbury Theological Seminary (MA, 1997), he focused on Christian counseling. It was not until the Reids moved to Montgomery in 2000 that Alan entered vocational ministry—first as an administrative pastor, then as an associate pastor of discipleship and counseling. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2006 and later that year planted an Anglican church in Prattville. When that church closed in 2011, Alan joined the staff of Auburn University Montgomery. Fr. Alan and Teresa Reid joined Christchurch in 2015. He joined the church staff part-time as Pastoral Associate in 2017. The Reids have one adult daughter and two granddaughters.

Leah Slawson currently serves as Pastoral Associate for Adult Formation. She joined Christchurch’s staff in December of 2020 as Pastoral Associate for Students and Families and was ordained to the Vocational Diaconate at Christchurch in May of 2023. She loves seeing the transforming grace of God at work in the lives of those she teaches and counsels. She holds a B.S. in English Education from Auburn University and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to Christchurch, Leah taught high school English at Trinity Presbyterian School, worked as a freelance writer, and trained as a spiritual director.

She has been married to her husband Guice for 36 years and they have a son, a daughter and a son-in-law and expect their first grandchild in June of 2024.

Dcn. Dolly is honored to serve as the Ministry Leader of Celebrate Recovery @ Christchurch, oversee the Women’s Sunday School, Stephen’s Ministry, and Spiritual Care for the Christchurch Disaster Relief Program. She enjoys teaching the Bible and helping others grow in Christ.
Dolly has long been involved in pro-life and abstinence education ministries. She wrote the original abstinence education character program for Healthy Respect sponsored by Project REACH in New York. Dolly’s career has focused on working within the fields of education, counseling, juvenile diversion, and substance abuse treatment. Dolly was the founding Parent Center Director of Rankin County Schools in Brandon, Mississippi. Most recently she worked with Montgomery families, adolescents, and adults in all phases of substance abuse treatment at Chemical Addictions Program as a therapist, supervisor, interim director, and board member.
Dolly holds a B.S. in Secondary Education/History from the University of South Alabama, an M.S. in Counseling/Psychology from Mississippi College, a Certificate in Diaconal Studies from Trinity School for Ministry, a Pastoral Counseling Certificate from Liberty University, and is a licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, #15. She also holds a Certificate in Reality Therapy/Control Theory.
Dolly and Jack were married in 1975, have three children and seven amazing grandchildren.

Cindy joined the staff as the Children’s Ministry assistant in December 2011 and became the Director of Children’s Ministries in May of 2013. This time as Director of Children’s Ministries has given her a deep love for the people of Christchurch and the community of the River Region.  As Director of Parish Life, she will seek to keep our parish connected, coordinating events such as HarvestFest, Advent Workshop, Tree Trim Dinner, Shrove Tuesday, and providing support to the church ministry areas. Cindy is a native of Montgomery. She and her husband Bryan have been married 25 years, have two daughters and a puppy.

Lee Ann Hester serves as the Director of Children’s Ministries. She longs for children to know God and live in His presence day by day. Prior to coming to Christchurch, Lee Ann taught sixth grade Sunday School for over fifteen years, was a director of Vacation Bible School, and led the preschool choir at Trinity Presbyterian Church. For three years, she was the librarian at Montgomery Christian School. Lee Ann, a native of Tuscaloosa, holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama and has completed one third of the coursework towards a master’s degree in Childhood Education from Auburn University in Montgomery. Lee Ann and her husband, Roland, enjoy their three married children and grandchildren, spending as much time as possible at their farm in Grady, Alabama.

Ruth Wible Brewbaker joined the Christchurch staff as an Assistant Children’s Ministry Director in May 2019. She has a great love for helping children grow in Christ through their time of spiritual formation during Jr Worship and B.L.A.S.T. Praying over our Christchurch children, parents and volunteers each week, and sharing prayer needs with others who have a heart for the children of our church, is also an important part of what Ruth enjoys in Children’s Ministry. She is a Montgomery native; has a BFA in Art from Belhaven College; and a M.Ed in Elementary Ed from Auburn University in Montgomery. Ruth and her husband, Dick Brewbaker have five adult sons, three wonderful daughter-in-laws and three grandchildren.

Katherine joined Christchurch as the Director of Missions and Outreach in 2016. After growing up in Montgomery and graduating high school from the Montgomery Academy, she attended Vanderbilt University where she majored in psychology. After spending 15 years in New York City (go Yankees!) God opened doors for her to return “home” in 2016. She has known her husband, Andy, since grade school and they are kept very busy as they shuttle two active kids around town!

Thomas Bowers was appointed Music Director of Christchurch in 2015. He has a love for early music, particularly its role in the spiritual life of the Church throughout history and its unique ability to connect people with their creator.

Thomas received his BA in Music and Philosophy from FSU, and his MA in Harpsichord Performance from the Longy School of Music in Massachusetts, where he worked as a church music director and harpsichord builder. He is a founding member of the Baroque ensemble Incendium Novum.

Thomas lives in Montgomery with his wife, Kellie, who is an archaeological curator at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, and their two kids, Jack and Josephine.

Ben joined Christchurch in January of 2015 as Director of Student Ministries after Student Ministry experiences at Frazer UMC, Aldersgate UMC, Millbrook UMC, and Trinity UMC Prattville. After five years in that capacity, Ben is excited to rejoin student ministry as an assistant, along with continuing media responsibilities.

Ben is from Dothan, Alabama, and grew up attending First Methodist Dothan.  He earned his B.A. in History and Religion from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, and his M.A. in History from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Ben is married to Jordy Allen Cheney, and has two daughters, Anna and McAllister. 

Georgianna is a native of Montgomery, Alabama where she attended and graduated from Eastwood Christian School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Huntingdon College in 2015.
 
Following graduation from Huntingdon, Georgianna went on to serve in state government. Having served in multiple internships in the United States Senate during college, Georgianna later moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked for U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Georgianna moved back to Montgomery in 2022, where she worked in government relations before joining the staff at Christchurch.
 
Georgianna and her husband, Mitchell, were married at Christchurch in 2016, and have one son.

Leah Blanks joined the Christchurch staff as the Rector’s Assistant in November of 2017. She supports the efforts of the Rector and staff at Christchurch, creates many of our print materials, and facilitates our weekly Scripture Walk. Leah earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Troy University. Prior to joining Christchurch’s staff, she worked as an Executive Assistant at a bank and then as the Administrative Manager at a local accounting agency. Leah is a native of Montgomery and is married to Brian who is a Market Manager at a bank. They have a daughter and a Mini Goldendoodle.

Melissa Leisy joined the staff of Christchurch as Parish Administrator in June of 2019.  Melissa and her family have been members of Christchurch since 2011.  She has served as a volunteer with Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Youth Sunday School Teacher, VBS, HarvestFest, The Bazaar, Wednesday Night Cook Team, Family Promise, and Paseo.  Melissa has also served on the Vestry and as a LEM at another liturgical church, all giving her a unique overview of the life of the church.  In her prior professional life, Melissa was in sales in the pharmaceutical and specialty medical product industry and a secondary math teacher.