Who We Are
A Message from the Rector
For nearly 150 years, Grace Church has provided spiritual nourishment to its members and care for our neighbors. We invite you to experience God’s tender mercy through our worship, friendship, and passion to share God’s love with our community.
About Grace Church
History
In 1847, the Rev. Dr. Buxton conducted the first recorded Episcopal worship service in Haywood County, NC. Through the 1800’s missionary priests traveled the rugged terrain bringing the distinctive Episcopal tradition of liturgy and daily prayer to the mountains. By 1878, residents of Waynesville had sufficient resources and commitment to form the first parish in Haywood County named Grace Church in the Mountains. Grace has continued to be a beacon of hope and help…it is part of our DNA. We hosted the first AA meetings beginning in the early 1940’s and opened the county’s first food pantry in the 1980’s. Today, we are known as a “small but mighty” church with a strong commitment to outreach ministries.
Episcopal Identity
The Episcopal Church traces its roots back to the English Reformation, in which the English Church carved a via media or middle way between Roman Catholic structures and emerging Protestant sensibilities. We emphasize the importance of common prayer, the mystery of the sacraments as a reliable means of God’s grace, and the role of individual conscience regarding social and political matters. The Holy Scripture is our foundation, it informs our understanding of God and continues to guide and provide precious creation and humanity in particular. Our polity honors the calling and authority of all of God’s people: the baptized laity, deacons, priests, and bishops. All major decisions are made jointly by clergy and laity under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Missional Priorities
Grace Church has identified five priorities that guide our common life.
Seeking: We believe that every human being is seeking wholeness and well-being. We acknowledge that God transcends our rational understanding and seeking truth, beauty and goodness are part of an ongoing spiritual life.
Inviting: We respond to God’s great invitation to the abundant life by always making room for others, especially those whom Jesus came to save — the least, lost, last and lonely!
Serving: Our lives and communities are inevitably broken by forces that tear us away from God’s abundance. We are called to be agents of God’s reconciling love and share our time, talent, and treasure with those in need.
Belonging: Every person has particular gifts to offer a community. All are needed and all belong at Grace Church…from families with small, squawking kids to widows to households of all variations.
Reverencing: Nestled in these ancient mountains, we reverence the Creator, Savior, and Sustainer of this natural beauty through our worship and care for creation.
Leadership
Rector
The Rev. Joslyn Ogden Schaefer joined Grace in February of 2017. She graduated from Davidson College, University of Edinburgh, Episcopal Divinity School, and The Aquinas Institute. She views churches as a web of light, love, and friendship that the Spirit uses to sustain the world. She offers spiritual direction and leadership training using Bowen Family Systems Theory. She has two children, enjoys camping, reading, and piddling in her yard.
Minister for Formation & Outreach
Originally from Asheville, Will graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel-Hill in 2006. After a 12 year career in telecommunications, he pursued his Master of Divinity in Canada at McGill University and the Montreal School of Theology. Will is committed to a vision of church that is both prophetic and pragmatic, abundant and apostolic, rooted in Christ while embracing a watching world. He and partner Marian have one son (Liam) and love road trips, playing in the woods and floating down mountain rivers in canoes.
Director of Music & Parish Administrator
Sean has a diverse music performance and teaching background. He received his undergraduate degree in music education from WV Wesleyan College with a focus in classical saxophone and obtained a master’s degree in music performance from Marshall University where he exclusively studied jazz. He has given private guitar and saxophone lessons for 25+ years and has taught in classrooms from elementary through collegiate. He was the recipient of the Brittenback-Meezan Presidential award from the Association of Anglican musicians in 2024 & is enjoying the journey of learning to play the organ. He lives in Waynesville with his wife Allison and two sons.
Deacon
Deacon Carter is a lifelong Episcopalian. Born in Washington DC, he was baptized in the National Cathedral. A pilot for over 50 years, his flying career included serving as an Army pilot in Vietnam and 29 years as a Captain for Continental Airlines. After retiring as a corporate jet instructor in the fall of 2021, Carter and his wife, Chris moved to Waynesville as permanent residents of this wonderful community. They have two adult sons living in the Carolinas.
Ordained in 2009, Carter’s passion in ministry is for pastoral care and preaching the Gospel. He enjoys travel, fly fishing, and restoring his 1967 Triumph TR4 sports car.
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Orion Davis has been a priest for over 50 years. He and his wife, Pam have been attending Grace for over a decade now. They both love to travel as much as possible. He also follows college sports with much interest. Go Clemson Tigers!
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Earle Pratt holds a Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, MA and a Ph.D from the U. S. International University, San Diego, California. He has served as an organizational consultant to non-profit organizations and a psychotherapist in private practice. Earle was rector of Trinity-St. John’s Church, Hewlett, L.I., New York for twenty-eight years. He is an avid golfer and delights in the varied challenges of ministry. He and his wife Valerie have enjoyed building & decorating their home in the glorious Smoky Mountains!
Bishop
José Antonio McLoughlin was consecrated as the seventh bishop, and first Hispanic, of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina on October 1, 2016.
Prior to his election as bishop of the diocese of Western North Carolina, José served as the Canon to the Ordinary and Chief-of-Staff for the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma since 2008. Previously, José served congregations in the dioceses of Southeast Florida and Virginia.
The Vestry
The Vestry is the elected lay leadership of the Church. Their responsibilities include ensuring provision for the stewardship of our beautiful grounds, buildings, and finances. They work closely with the Rector to provide spiritual leadership for the Church through prayer, study, and discernment. They service three-year terms and enjoy an annual spiritual discernment retreat each January.
Additionally, Vestry members provide leadership in specific areas of parish life: worship, congregational care, administration, programs, and community outreach. They also shepherd a group of 20 – 25 households who are each other’s prayer partners.
Mary Lockey
Senior Warden
Betty Bradley
Junior Warden
Joyce Brooks
Congregational Care
Suzy Leclaire
Parish Programs
Jesse Nelson
Worship
Georgia
Raines
Parish Programs
Alex Coímbre
Outreach
Trent Pcenicni
Parish Programs
Blake Hadley
Parish Programs
David Ferguson
Clerk
Michael Boss
Treasurer
Worship
Worship is the center of our common life. The ancient structure of hearing God’s word, responding with our prayers, and receiving spiritual grace through Holy Communion sustains us for our various callings in daily life.
Every Sunday, over 30 people are involved in crafting and offering our beautiful liturgy.
Congregational Care
Life has its ups and downs, times of celebration, grief, and change.
While all members of Grace are called to care and pray for each other, some of us have a special calling to do so.
Opportunities for Congregational Care include:
Sending cards
Prayer Team
Visits
Assistance with transportation and meals
Medical Loan Closet
Grief & Caregiver Support
Outreach
Grace’s Outreach Committee is committed to helping each member of Grace discern the ways they can use their time and talent to “love their neighbor as themselves.” Grace’s food pantry is open Monday – Friday from 10 – 11 am.
We have longstanding ministry partnerships with Pathways and Bethel House, which serve unsheltered neighbors.
We are also developing a partnership with Clyde Elementary School.
Fellowship
From Coffee Hour after each service to a summer tubing trip to our sacred Maundy Thursday meal, fellowship is an essential part of our common life.
We also have several small groups like Pub Theology, the Marthas Knitting Group, and the Caregiver Support Group, where fellowship and learning or service are intertwined.
Caring for the Grounds
Grace has been blessed by God to steward about three acres of land in downtown Waynesville. We have a community garden, labyrinth and plans for an educational rain garden. Additionally, we tend our sacred memorial garden where cremains of Grace members are interred.
We also use our land to teach about ecological stewardship.
Finance
Our guiding principles for financial stewardship are flexbility, transparency, and simplicity.
Our Finance ministry ensures we are paying our staff fairly, stewarding our members’ offerings wisely, and meeting reporting obligations.
The Finance Ministry works with lay volunteers who count offerings, sign checks, and conduct an annual audit. We also steward and raise awareness about Grace’s Endowment.
Adult Education
Every Sunday at 9:15 we offer an educational forum. The topics vary. We’ve had a six-week Bible overview, speakers from non-profit partners, church history, ministry updates, and programs focusing on the spiritual emphases of the church year.
Additionally, we offer a weekly bible study, Education for Ministry, book studies, and seasonal Bible studies.
Music
From Sunday choir, to chime choir, to our Taizé service with contemplative chant, music allows us to worship God with body, spirit and mind.
Children and Youth
We treasure our children and youth. You’ll see them as acolytes lectors and during our children’s sermon at the 10:30 service.
We partner with First United Methodist Church for youth group (middle & high school) and Clean and Green (K-5) at 5:00 pm.
And Camp Henry is an awesome diocesan summer camp we send our kids to!
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