Saint Mark thrives due to the combined efforts of hardworking staff, experienced clergy, and dedicated lay leadership. These are our faithful clergy, talented staff, and frequent partners of the church, who dedicate their time to serving our Saint Mark family.
OUR CLERGY & STAFF
Rev. Dr. Carolyn Stephens (she/her) was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is the youngest of seven children, with four older brothers and two sisters. She attended Montego Bay High School for Girls, and then Montego Bay Community College.
After college in Jamaica, she worked as a reservation supervisor with Jamaica’s national airline, Air Jamaica, for 6 years. She then came to the United States to further her studies. She completed her undergraduate degree at Georgia State University, and then attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree.
After graduating from Candler School of Theology, she served as a part-time local pastor at Tenth Street Underwood United Methodist Church for two years. She was then appointed as associate pastor at Cannon United Methodist Church in Snellville. During her tenure at Cannon, she oversaw adult education, spiritual formation, and mission and outreach.
At the end of her three years at Cannon, Carolyn was appointed to serve as senior pastor at Brookhaven United Methodist Church. While at Brookhaven, she guided the church into a new direction, encouraging and challenging them to go outside the wall of the church into the community and to be a good neighbor.
After serving at Brookhaven, Carolyn served as the senior associate pastor at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where she oversaw worship, pastoral care, prayer ministry, spiritual formation, mission and outreach, and other ministries.
In May 2023, Carolyn earned her DMin (Doctor of Ministry) from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
One of the primary guiding principles for how Carolyn lives is Christ’s teaching on love of God and love of neighbor. She is intentional about creating space for all persons to know they are children of God and that they are loved and they belong. She is zealous for, and fully committed to the work of the Kingdom. Carolyn loves the church. She is passionate about preaching the Word of God, teaching, and ordering the life of the church, so its members can grow in the knowledge of God, and become mature disciples of Jesus Christ. She longs for the day when the church will fully be vessels of God’s love, grace, and goodness in the world it is created and equipped to be. She is also deeply passionate about helping persons know God’s love for them.
Carolyn is married to Anthony Drummer, and has two stepsons, Christian and Donovan. She has 25 nieces and nephews, who live all over the world and are very dear to her heart. Carolyn is an avid walker. She loves to go to parks and be in the outdoors to see the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. Carolyn is looking forward to visiting some of the national parks over the next few years. She loves to travel, especially to other countries to see the cultures and the peoples and bear witness, again and again, to the truth that at the end of the day we are all humans, image-bearers of the Most High God. The beach, particularly the Caribbean Sea, brings her great joy. Carolyn loves all things Star Trek, in all the ways and forms it is and has evolved over the years. She also loves to cook and read.
The Rev. Andy Peabody (also happily answers to Andrew)
Andy is a lifelong United Methodist. His father was the Rev Dr Joe Peabody Sr, who pastored churches in North Georgia for over 50 years, up until his death in 2020. Andy's mother, Anne Cantrell Peabody, was an educator in the public and private schools of Georgia. Andy's brother, the Rev. Joe Peabody, Jr is an ordained Elder in the North Georgia Conference.
Like many preacher's kids (PKs) Andy and his brother got used to moving as part of the itinerant system. Andy grew up in United Methodist churches from Dalton to Augusta, Athens to Roswell, and Powder Springs to Dunwoody. He attended college at Emory University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in history in 1992. After a teaching assistantship and a few years of graduate studies at the University of Georgia, Andy returned to Emory, receiving his Masters of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology in 1998.
Upon graduation from seminary studies, Andy served for a year as a VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America, often commonly known as "the domestic Peace Corps). He served with Urban Action (later to be renamed Action Ministries), working out of the former United Methodist Center on Ralph McGill.
In 2000, Andy began working at MUST Ministries, where he first volunteered as a teenager in the Safe Night Of Rest (SNOR) night shelter during high school. Andy served at MUST for 12 years, providing leadership for programs serving persons living in homelessness as well as individuals and families in financial crisis. While at MUST, Andy directed programs that helped provide those in need with food, clothing, shelter, education and employment assistance, and free health care. After his time with MUST, Andy served several years as the Executive Director of Rockdale Emergency Relief in Conyers.
Andy pursued candidacy for ministry in the North Georgia Conference, was commissioned in 2007, and ordained in 2011. (His candidacy mentor was the Rev. Jimmy Moor - former senior pastor at St. Mark.) Andy is a member of the Order of Deacons, which means that his primary calling is to lead the church in the areas of Word, Service, Justice and Compassionate Ministries.
He has served on the Executive Committee for the Order of Deacons, as well as teams of the annual conference such as the Committee on Persons Living in Poverty, the Advocacy Team, and the Refugee/Resettlement Team. He was part of the inaugural Racial Justice and Healing Academy cohort in North Georgia.
For the past 18 months Andy answered a missional call of the cabinet to serve as pastor in charge of a UMC congregation - a church which elected to disaffiliate from the connection this past December.
Andy describes himself on his social media page as follows.
A Son, Brother, and Friend.
A Minister, Advocate, and Activist.
An aspiring Scholar, Musician, and Peacemaker.
Andy is a two-time cancer and chemotherapy survivor who is looking to celebrate in 2025 5 yrs since his last indication of cancer. He is happy to share with all of us that he currently participates in hemodialysis 3 times each week as he works towards and hopes for an eventual kidney transplant.
Andy uses he/him pronouns.
He is excited to be joining St. Mark United Methodist Church!
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Madi Dunn (she/her) is a North Georgia native who has recently moved back to the Metro Atlanta area after receiving a B.A. in Religion from Mercer University in 2020. During college, Madi began discerning a call to ministry that led her to study at the Candler School of Theology, where she is currently a second-year student pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Madi loves working in ministry with children, as well as coloring outside the lines and finding any opportunity to laugh. Outside of classes, Madi also enjoys reading for fun, as well as baking, and cuddling with her large elderly fur baby, Beastie (Beastie’s hobbies include snoring like a beast).
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Meagan was born and raised in Alabama. She moved to Boone, North Carolina to attend Appalachian State University where she graduated in 2019 with a BS in Sustainable Development. During college, Meagan began discerning a call to ministry while participating and serving in a variety of ministry settings. After graduating, Meagan moved back to Alabama and served with Birmingham’s YWCA Building Communities and Bettering Lives AmeriCorps Program. In 2020 she moved to Atlanta to attend Candler School of Theology. Meagan is currently in her third year at Candler and is set to graduate in Spring 2023 with a Master of Divinity. Prior to starting as the Assistant Director to the Young Adult Ministry, Meagan completed her ConEd II and Candler Advantage Internship at Saint Mark. Meagan enjoys being outside, gardening, spending time with friends, and taking care of her pup Sophie.
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Many of you may have witnessed Luke's incredible dedication to our community. He has been a dynamic force, enthusiastically participating in various activities and wholeheartedly responding to the calls of service and ministry. His impact extends not only within our church walls but also to our brothers and sisters at supper club, where his connections have left a lasting impression.
Luke, who is originally from Spartanburg, SC, spent a year and a half in Atlanta. He grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition, earned a degree in Christian Studies at Anderson University, and embarked on a year of seminary.
Five years ago, he took a hiatus from the church but found his way to Saint Mark in October 2022. Since then, he has immersed himself in our loving and inclusive community, contributing tirelessly to our work for the marginalized.
Luke's journey has been marked by meaningful interactions, from entertaining us on the front lawn during our Barbecue and Backpacks event to leaving a lasting impression at our Pride Open Mic night.
Recently, Luke decided to continue his calling to ministry, he began his studies at Candler to complete his Master of Divinity. Having worked with various youth groups in the past, teaching, counseling, preaching, and even assistant directing a summer camp called Seesalt, Luke is stoked to rekindle this passion and work with our incredible youth here at Saint Mark.
His interactions with our youth, particularly during the lock-in last semester, left him inspired by their love, care, awareness, maturity, and wisdom beyond their years. Luke's vision is clear – he wants to empower our youth to internalize the values of love and justice found in Jesus' gospel. He aims to help them tap into their own gifts, encouraging them to live out these values and, in turn, change the world around them for the better, starting right here at St. Mark and carrying God's love wherever they go.
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Deana is in charge of financial records and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Deana can answer your questions about your giving record, memorial gifts, and other building or finance related issues.
Justin Bowen
Interim Director of Fine Arts
(he/him) •
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Johnny is originally from Alabama and a graduate of The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He has been working in the Information Technology industry since 1984. In 2010, he started his own consulting firm Techiebud, LLC. Since the pandemic, Johnny has branched out into the multimedia field and has been instrumental in helping create and maintain the live-stream broadcast of the church's weekly worship service.
One of Johnny's favorite pastime activities is playing frisbee with his two Border Collies. He also enjoys taking vacation cruises when he can.
Dale Becker
Church Chef
(he/him)
William Steele
Church Sexton
(he/him)
Terry Oxner
Church Custodian
(he/him)
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Robert is no stranger to the United Methodist Church. He joined Saint Mark back in 2003. Since that time, Robert has been actively involved in the North Georgia United Methodist Church. He has served as the Producer of Annual Conference since 2007. In that role, Robert coordinates all the activities on the ground in Athens, Georgia each year. Robert was also the Associate Lay Leader and the Lay Leader of the former Atlanta-Emory District. Robert currently serves on the Superintendency Committee for the Central North District. If the doors are open at Saint Mark, chances are, Robert is around.
Elders in Residence
Rev. Steve Fazenbaker
Retired Elder in Full Connection
North Georgia Annual Conference
(he/him)
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Steve Fazenbaker (BEE ’86, MSEE ’88) is a Program Director in the Division of Student Engagement and Well-Being at Georgia Tech, overseeing the STAR Network. STAR (Students’ Temporary Assets and Resources) is a network of programs dedicated to connecting students with everything they need to thrive and flourish during their time at Georgia Tech. Students who are food under-resourced, housing under-resourced, experiencing a financial crisis, or in need of other resources are served by the STAR Network.
Steve holds two degrees from Georgia Tech (BEE ’86, MSEE ’88), and a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University. He also pursued advanced studies in Science and Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His passion for facilitating discussions across the disciplines of Religion, Ethics, Science, and Technology has led him to his current work addressing experiences of abundance and scarcity – an issue that impacts, and is impacted by, each of these disciplines.
Rev. Dr. Brett Opalinski
Elder In Full Connection
Florida Annual Conference
(he/him)
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The Rev. Dr. Brett Opalinski is an ordained United Methodist Elder from the Florida Annual Conference. He has served in local churches for over twenty years, as well as chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Florida Annual Conference. He is a Candler graduate (98T) and has a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity from Iliff School of Theology/University of Denver. He has been a long time social-justice and civil rights advocate working in issues related to anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights, poverty, and criminal justice reform and is committed to helping local churches (and the General Church) engage the world in a way that makes the Kingdom of God visible.
Currently, Dr. Opalinski is the Assistant Dean of Methodist Studies, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Spiritual Formation and Church Leadership at Emory University Candler School of Theology.
His research interests include Methodist history/theology, Monasticism, Celtic Christianity, Contemplative Spirituality, and New Monastic expressions of church community.
Rev. Dr. Carol Rawlinson
Retired Elder in Full Connection
South Carolina Annual Conference
(she/her)
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Rev. Carol Rawlinson is an Elder in Residence here at Saint Mark.