Leadership

John Burley

Associate Rector
Pastoral Care

JBurley@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4326

Growing up in Columbia prepared me for the gentler climes of Mt. Pleasant. After three years in seminary in Pittsburgh I spent twenty two years serving churches in Virginia. I love the lowcountry marshes, soft sandy beaches, and southern tuck. Gayle and I were married in the bicentennial year and we have three grown children and six grandchildren. In my role here I get to bless what God is blessing. It is an unmitigated privilege to serve in a place with such an extraordinary church family and alongside talented and committed people that energize, encourage and enliven.

Claire Buxton

Children’s Ministry Director

CBuxton@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4329

I grew up in Mt. Pleasant, graduated from Wando before attending the University of South Carolina. I have been a part of St. Andrew’s since 2010 and either volunteered or worked in Children’s Ministry during my time here. I have always felt called to serve children since I can remember. I have 3 boys of my own: James, Griffin, and Freddy. I love reading, spending time with friends & family, running, hiking, and escaping to the mountains when I can.

Sam Fornecker

Associate Rector, Teaching and Equipping

SFornecker@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4321

My youth took me on a westward crawl across the Tar Heel State. As a student in Greensboro, I met my wife, Gina. We are now raising four wonderful kids – Brooks, Evelyn Rose, Alder, and Shep. I trained for ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and completed a PhD in historical theology at Cambridge University. Before coming to St Andrew’s, I was privileged to serve churches in North Carolina, Virginia, and Cambridge. It is an honor to work alongside St Andrew’s committed staff, and a joy to witness a people waiting on God to do wondrous works for His glory and for their good.

Randy Forrester

Associate Rector, Teaching and Equipping
Director, The Ridley Institute

RForrester@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4320

I was born in Atlanta, GA and was the third generation to graduate from Georgia Tech.  After college, I worked for a Congressman in Washington, DC.  There I met my wife, Paisley, and God has since blessed us with one daughter, Azure, and three sons, Julian, Clive, and Finlay.  I studied theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia and then served as Rector of King of Kings Anglican Church in Charlotte, NC for nine years.  I am passionate about preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and delighted to be part of such a dynamic church like St. Andrew’s.  I enjoy running, reading, tinkering around the house, finding good swimming holes, and following college football.

Rusty Graves

Lead Pastor, St. Andrew’s City Church (Charleston)
Assistant to the Rector

RGraves@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4331

Rusty grew up along the Gulf Coast and attended Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministry. He and his wife of almost 15 years, Laura, have three kids: Piper, Glory, and Shepherd. They are a family dedicated to sharing the Gospel with others through creativity, humility, laughter, and hospitality. In their free time, they enjoy exploring Charleston’s shops, theaters, restaurants, libraries, beaches, and parks.

Anthony Kowbeidu

Associate Rector
Missions

AKowbeidu@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4327

I was born and raised in Liberia, West Africa. I am a graduate of the School of Theology, The University of the South. I am married to Valerie Sitton Kowbeidu and this union is blessed with two lovely children, Geneva Gbadee Kowbeidu and Anthony Kodjo Kowbeidu II. I have a young and active family-we enjoy watching Kodjo play soccer and Geneva ballet dance. It gives me tremendous joy be part of St. Andrew’s and being involved in the re-evangelization of our society and the transformation of the world.

Dave Libbon

Lead Pastor, St. Andrew’s Park Circle (North Charleston)
Assistant to the Rector

DLibbon@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4369

I was born in the great steel city of Pittsburgh Pa. After attending Grove City College I moved south following the Lord to work with young people outside of Myrtle Beach. I married the love of my life, Lisa, in `05 and we have two beautiful daughters, two energetic dogs, and I love living in and serving the people of Park Circle. It is an honor to see the Gospel change lives across our city by the power and presence of Jesus Christ. Often you can find me in a book, on a surfboard, or with a fly rod in hand.

Mike Hughes

Chief Operating Officer

MHughes@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4370

My family is from Charleston and I graduated from the College of Charleston and USC Law School. I am married to Linda Hughes and have three adult children. Linda and I enjoy a variety of fitness and outdoor activities together. After serving as a Navy lawyer and then being in private practice, I became the CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association in 1990 and left there in 2015 to join this staff. I enjoy working here because of the shared mission of spreading the good news of the gospel in our local community and beyond.

Dwight Huthwaite

Worship Arts Team Leader

DHuthwaite@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4348

My wife and I became Anglicans when we joined Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax, VA in 1990. From Children’s to Youth Ministry in my early years, worship was always central. The joining of ministry and mission with music and the arts has always been at the heart of my vocation and most satisfying interests in life. Bethany and I moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1998 and we love it here, as do our four children Peter, Sam, Claire, and Maggie. I became the Worship Arts Director under Bishop Steve Wood in 2000, and I love what I get to do!

Greg Shore

Communications Director

GShore@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4323

I was born in California, raised in Maryland, and moved to Hampton, South Carolina as a teenager. I went back to Maryland to attend college and later moved to this area. In my time away from the office I enjoy participating in endurance events, CrossFit, watching high school sports, and hanging out with kindergarteners. My home is in North Charleston where I live with my cat, Kowbeidu. I am incredibly privileged to watch God work in so many ways, publicly and in private, in so many lives.

Jonathon Welch

Youth Ministry Leader

JWelch@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4382

I have been in Student Ministry for most of my adult life and love investing in students, leaders, and parents. It’s so much fun to see a student take their next, best, right step with Jesus. It’s what makes it all worth it.

I was born and raised in Orange County, California and attended Fuller Theological Seminary. After seminary, God called me unexpectedly to the Pacific Northwest in 2016. It was here in this season I met my amazing and beautiful wife, Ellie! We were married in June 2018 and are so excited to be a part of the Low Country, Mount Pleasant, and the beautiful beaches.

My wife and I are passionate about students, church, and seeing people encounter Jesus.

When I’m not working you’ll find me on a beach, reading a good book, enjoying a great cup of coffee, or even watching the latest Marvel movie. If you listen closely you may even hear me cheering on my favorite sports teams: the Angels, the Rams, and the UCLA Bruins.

Connect with me on Instagram & Twitter: @jonathon_welch

Tim Winkler

TWinkler@StAndrews.Church

Tim received his Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College where he studied rhetoric and theology. He received his Master of Arts in Theological Studies, with a concentration in interculturalism, from Columbia Biblical Seminary. He is currently a PhD candidate with his research focusing on patristic missiological practices of the ante-Nicene church.  A bi-vocational clergyman, Tim is also CEO of the Winkler Group, a full-service capital campaign management and strategic planning firm with headquarters in Charleston.

Tim has been married to his wife Deborah for 30 years, and they are the parents of three grown children: Mitch, Baleigh, and Carson. Tim and Deborah have answered the call to become full-time missionaries and, Lord willing, will depart for the mountains of Ecuador to serve an unreached people group in 2022.

Richard Bilas

I was born and raised in northern New Jersey. In my senior year in high school I met the love of my life, Janet, and after my graduation from Duke University we married. After several years working for a large corporation in New York City we moved to Charlottesville, Virginia where I received my Ph.D. in Economics. Twenty-five of the next forty years were spent in academe and for the last fifteen of those years I was an appointee of two California Governors. Having raised three children (four grandchildren and three great grandchildren) we moved to Mt. Pleasant in 2005 and I went back into academe as an adjunct professor at both the Citadel and the College of Charleston. Janet and I moved to Somerby Mt. Pleasant in 2014 where I began a lay ministry. I know now I was called to Somerby and that calling led to my being ordained to the diaconate on December 15, 2016. I now have the honor of serving both here at St. Andrew’s and ministering to my friends and neighbors at Somerby.

Sam Clawson

SClawson@StAndrews.Church

Even though I am in my 70s, I am a new deacon. I follow outstanding priests and deacons. I hope to follow in their footsteps.

My formative years were spent at Christ School,  with a firm religious education including nightly evening song, Sunday sung Eucharist, corporate communions on holy days and weekly sacred studies. Little did I know then where it would lead me.

I am married to the love of my life Betsy and we have two married children and one granddaughter. I am a semi-retired attorney. Betsy and I enjoy our family and each other. We like to travel, day hike, and spend time with our children and granddaughter.

I love our Anglican heritage as it is founded on the incredible love of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads us to the loving Father and our salvation.   How can we as miserable sinners not respond in abject gratitude to his love, grace and mercy?  Thanks be to God.

Suzy Cook

SCook@StAndrews.Church
843.284.4380

I was born In Jacksonville, Florida and lived in that area until I moved to
Atlanta for college. Following college I went to work for the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, where I met my husband to be. We moved to
Tallahassee Florida, where I worked in telecommunications for 33 years.

I was transferred to the South Carolina market in 2000, and quickly
heard about St Andrews. I attended St. Andrews for the first time at the
Easter service at Boone Hall in 2000. I knew I could find a home with
this church family.

Following my retirement from teleco, I became a receptionist at St.
Andrew’s for 12 years. I attended as many classes in religion and
religious history as I could. I was called to the diaconate in 2013,
graduated from Trinity School for ministry in 2020, and it was then that I
was ordained. I am the first woman admitted to the diaconate in St.
Andrew’s history, a fact of which I am proud.

I am now divorced and have one son, Bryan, and two granddaughters,
Callie and Kennedy. We are big fans of the University of Tennessee and
attend as many games as we can and catch the rest on television.