Leadership

Meet our clergy, staff, and vestry.

Clergy & Staff | Vestry

The Right Reverend Frank S. Logue

D.Min., Bishop of Georgia
bishop@gaepiscopal.org

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, where he lived for six years, Frank Logue grew up in Marietta, Georgia. A 1984 graduate of Georgia Southern University, he worked as a photographer for two small daily newspapers in Georgia— the Warner Robins Daily Sun and the Rome News-Tribune. Frank married Victoria Steele in 1985.

Logue was ordained and consecrated as Bishop of Georgia at Christ Church, Savannah, on May 30, 2020. More…

The Reverend Cathy Zappa

Cathy Zappa joined our clergy staff in September 2024 as Interim Rector, after serving for ten years at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. A native of Atlanta, Cathy has spent as much time as possible in Savannah since she was nine years old. During seminary at Candler School of Theology, she got involved in prison ministry and became the director of an academic theology program at a women’s prison, and she continued in ministry there for several more years. She also was shaped by her time in homeless ministry at Church of the Common Ground in Atlanta. More…

The Reverend Samantha K. McKean

Senior Associate Rector
samantha.k.mckean@ccesavannah.org

The Rev. Samantha McKean grew up in a one-stoplight town in rural central Ohio. She was raised in the Baptist church and went on to study Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College (IL). Her college years were a rich time of exploring many different strands of the Christian tradition; by the time she graduated in 2013, she had found her home in the Episcopal Church. She graduated with her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School in 2017, and was her class’ recipient of the Jameson Jones Preaching Award. From there, she moved to Savannah to work and serve at Christ Church Episcopal, where she happily remains. She was ordained in 2019. Samantha lives with her husband, Garrett, their daughter, Vera, and their rescue dog, Murray. She has a passion for preaching, writing, and the delightful strangeness of the Bible.

The Reverend Patti R. Davis

The Rev. Patti Davis, Deacon accepted the call to be Christ Church's deacon in 2012. Patti is a native of Savannah and a graduate of Roanoke College in Virginia with a major in Psychology.  She is married to Rod, a retired Naval aviator, and they have two adult daughters.  Patti continues her long time ministry in nursing homes by serving as part-time chaplain at Riverview Health and Rehabilitation.  Patti has completed Kerygma, EFM, The Virginia Institute for Spiritual Direction, and the North Carolina Deacon Formation Program.  She was ordained a deacon in 1999. More…

The Reverend Doctor Bertice Berry

Deacon

Bertice Berry is a sociologist, author, mother, grandmother, lecturer, storyteller, and story curator. She received her B.A. from Jacksonville University in Florida and her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from Kent State University in Ohio. She was ordained to the diaconate on April 13, 2024 at Christ Church.

During Covid, Bertice reached out to friends and family by posting a series of uplifting storytelling videos on Facebook. These videos went on to be seen and shared by tens of thousands of people across many social media platforms, forming an online community of storytelling and support. During this time, she and her family also made over 30,000 fabric masks for hospitals, businesses, and those in need across the United States.

Bertice says that her overriding gift and joy is striving at every moment to be who God calls her to be. Christ Church is blessed by her ever-joyful, caring spirit and by her reminder that all of us are brothers and sisters on God’s team.

George H. Fergus

George Fergus was the Associate Director of Music and Chorister Program Director at Washington National Cathedral before coming to Christ Church. He maintained an active schedule of rehearsals and services in the cathedral’s music program, as well as appearing on the cathedral’s online stream of worship services and recitals, including the annual Christmas Day, Easter Day, and Independence Day concerts. More…

John Audette

Director of Children and Youth Ministries
john.audette@ccesavannah.org

Before joining Christ Church, John worked as a public school substitute teacher, focusing on middle school science and social studies, and he holds a provisional teaching certification in the State of Georgia. Prior to transitioning into education, John spent over 20 years in the business world, where he served as a founder, CEO, and strategic advisor to biotechnology startups. Alongside his professional career, John has been deeply committed to mentoring and coaching young people as a coach in lacrosse and other sports.

John’s experience also includes teaching scuba diving in Maui, and he has held certifications as an EMT, Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche Professional, and is currently completing his USCG Master Mariner. He earned his degree in Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Science from the University of Oregon.

John’s wife, Suzanne, is a landscape architect, and they have three children: Jack, a college student studying viticulture; Alexandra, a high school senior; and Max, a sophomore. With their three beloved dogs, Forrest, Doug, and Fred, they enjoy exploring and appreciating the natural beauty of the Lowcountry.

Suzanne Phillips Smith

Parish Administrator
office@ccesavannah.org

Our Assistant Director of Administration Suzanne Smith started at Christ Church on July 5, 2022. She has been working in church administration for more than 20 years, and we are very fortunate to have her expertise, professionalism, and warm personality.

Charles L. Epps

Sexton

Charles Epps has served at Christ Church since March 2020, where each week he fulfills duties essential to the running of our church. He opens the church each Sunday, sets up for meetings and events, polishes brass, changes out the hymn board, keeps the sidewalk and porch pristine, and more. Charles brings professionalism and a kind demeanor to everything he does, and Christ Church is grateful for his work. He recently retired after 26 years at Kroger, and today you’re likely to catch him on Sunday mornings at church or at Publix, where he also works part-time.

The Reverend Canon Todd D. Smelser

Priest Associate

The Reverend Canon Todd Smelser is a native of Liberty Indiana.  A graduate of Earlham College with an A.B. in music, and a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Todd was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1974. His first call was as Curate of Trinity Church in Fort Wayne Indiana, and then  Vicar and first Rector of St. Alban’s Church in Fort Wayne. After a brief stint as Youth and Young Adult Coordinator in the Diocese of New York, he returned to parish ministry, for nine years at St. John’s Church in Minneapolis and then for over seven years as Dean of St. James’ Cathedral in Chicago.  More…

The Reverend Liam Collins

Priest Associate

After 48 years of ministry, the last five at Christ Church as Assistant Rector for Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life, the Rev. Liam Collins has officially retired, but he remain with Christ Church as Priest Associate.

The Irish-born priest studied philosophy under Trappist monks in the mountains of Ireland.

And he still carries gems from his time at Mount Mellery Monastery. He believes that ancient spiritual disciplines such as “the gift of silence” help people live full and wonderful religious lives.

The Reverend Richard “Max” Maxwell

Priest Associate

The Rev. Richard “Max” Maxwell was born and raised in Midland, Michigan. He received his B.A. from Stanford University, M. Div. from Union Theological Seminary, and S.T.M. from The General Theological Seminary in NYC. After ordination in 1999 and before entering parish ministry, Max tested a monastic vocation at Holy Cross Monastery on the Hudson River. There he met another member of the community, Paul Kline, and the two decided to leave monastic life to explore a life together. More…

The Reverend David C. Seyle

United Methodist Pastor-in-Residence

David was born in Savannah in the Old Candler Hospital in the building that overlooks Forsyth Park.  He  “met” Claudia in the nursery of Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church.  The family story is that David’s mother remarked she would someday steal baby Claudia to be the daughter she never had.  The need for kidnapping may have been moot as the two children grew up in Savannah, attended Armstrong State, and were married at Asbury Memorial in 1971.

In 1972, the Seyles moved to Atlanta where David took a position as Music Director at a United Methodist Church, while also studying at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University.  He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1975 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1976. More…