Leadership

Interim Rector

The Rev. W. Merritt Greenwood has accepted the call as Interim Rector of St. John’s Petaluma. Rev. Merritt comes to us from Trinity-Folsom.

Ordained in 1982, he has served parishes in eight Episcopal Church dioceses. He responded to the call to intentional interim ministry in 2000 and has led nine congregations through the interim journey. All of these have been occasions of joy as the communities have discerned their unique call to mission and ministry in a wide variety of settings.

Merritt is a graduate of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Rev. Laurie Warren, Deacon

Laurie has been part of St. John’s, Petaluma community since 2012, prior to fulfilling her calling to Holy Orders. She was “raised up” by St. John’s congregation to pursue her calling to the diaconate. Laurie attended the School for Deacons, was ordained to the vocational deaconate in June of 2020, and assigned to St. John’s by Bishop Megan. Laurie is a member of the Fellowship of the Society of St. John’s the Evangelist (SSJE), Episcopal Benedictine monastery and this spiritual grounding enables her to serve God’s people both in the church and in the world. Laurie works as a behavior analyst in the public sector and has been dedicated to serving people with significant disabling conditions for over 30 years: as a special education teacher, social worker, and recreation therapist. Deacons are called to bring the concerns, needs, and hopes of the world into the church and the Gospel of the church into the world. Laurie feels blessed to be able to serve the people of St. John’s and of the Diocese of Northern California.

The Rev. Melanie Donahoe, Priest Associate

The Rev. Melanie Donahoe moved to Petaluma in 2022 after serving as Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in San Carlos for 12 years. In addition to parish ministry, Melanie has served as a Campus Minister, a Hospital Chaplain and a Disaster Relief Chaplain. She now joyfully volunteers as an occasional preacher and presider at St. John’s and leads pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Ireland and Scotland.

The Rev. Jeannette Myers, Priest Associate

The Rev. Jeannette Myers was born in Petaluma in 1950. She was baptized at St. John’s one month later. She attended St. John’s through her college years at Sonoma State University. She was confirmed, married and ordained at St. John’s. She has served churches in the Dioceses of Northern California, California, Massachusetts and Hawaii. At the present time she is working with the Sunday School, covering pastoral emergencies and visiting and taking communion to parishioners. She also leads Centering Prayer on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings in the Sanctuary.

The Rev. Robert Conover, Guest Preacher

The Rev. Robert Conover is a retired Presbyterian minister. He served as pastor to congregations in New York and California and for 15 years served as the Executive Presbyter & Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of the Redwoods. Bob holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in liturgical theology and homiletics and for 17 years served as an adjunct professor at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Bob's wife, Kathy, is a member of St. John's.

Krystel Becerra Alfaro, Sunday School Teacher

Krystel Becerra Alfaro is our new Sunday School teacher. Krystel has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Sonoma State University, where she is currently pursuing an MA in Education. She has 10 years professional experience as an early childhood educator in Sonoma and Marin Counties, and focuses on fostering authentic partnerships with children and their parents, leading with integrity, respect, and empathy.

The Vestry

The Vestry is the governing “board of directors” of St. John’s Petaluma. The term of office is three years, and one-third of the Vestry members are elected each year at the Annual Parish Meeting to serve as “agents and legal representatives of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the parish to its clergy” as described in Cannon 14 of the Episcopal Church.

The Diocesan Constitution and Parish by-laws suggest that one be “a communicant whose name shall be duly enrolled in the Register of the Parish, is sixteen years of age or older, is regular in his/her attendance at services, and is a steward of his/her time, talent and treasure for its support.”