Meet Us
Clergy
The Rev. Canon Dr. Peter Stube
Peter Brownell Stube was born in Gloucester, MA in January, 1951. He grew up in a clergy/missionary family. There have been pastors and/or missionaries in the Stube family for 4 generations. He was educated at UNC Asheville, Columbia International University in SC and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained priest in 1980 in Montana and has served parishes in Montana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Atlanta, New Bern, NC and Philadelphia. He retired as Executive Director of the Seamen’s Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey in November. Since then he has been part time priest in charge at St. Mary’s Church in Stone Harbor, NJ.
Dr. Stube has been active in Diocesan and National Church work since he entered the ministry. In the 80’s he was diocesan youth coordinator and part of the Province VI youth team. He served on nearly every possible diocesan committee including Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee (President) and has been a Deputy to General Convention three times. Dr. Stube also served as the Canon Theologian for the Diocese of East Carolina focusing on developing processes for reconciliation during the tumultuous 2000’s.
In each place Dr. Stube has found ways to serve the larger community. In Arkansas he led the Forrest City Human Rights Committee for the mayor. Dr. Stube put together a diverse committee which was able to create ways for the three distinctive racial groups to work together better. In Atlanta, Dr. Stube was part of an interfaith initiative to create a center to feed and clothe the hungry. He also coached children in soccer and baseball for 15 seasons. In Springfield, PA he was part of an initiative to reach out to at risk youth and to create a youth center. In New Bern he was president of an organization concerned with creating blended housing in a depressed area of town. For this work he received a citation of merit from the local chapter of the NAACP.
Dr. Stube’s dissertation in 1990 proposed ways of moving forward to engage culture through the use of mission groups. The mission groups worked from the premise that spirituality and activism must be a seamless garment.
Throughout his ministry Dr. Stube has been engaged in reconciliation ministry. He has inherited two congregations that were in great turmoil led them to renewed vision and healing. He brings strong skills in conflict management and deep love for the people he serves.
Peter married his college sweetheart Rachael 45 years ago. Rachael is the librarian at the St. James School. They have 3 married sons and nine grandchildren.
Rev. Jay Walton
Jay Walton has served as the associate rector of Saint Matthew’s since 2014. A graduate of Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA, Jay oversees our youth and family ministries as well as taking part in our pastoral care ministry. While in seminary, Jay served as seminarian at St. Alban’s Church, Albany, CA and La Iglesia Episcopal de Santiago, a Latino mission of the Diocese of California. He volunteered with homeless ministries, food pantries, and Episcopal Charities. Prior to seminary, Jay worked in his family’s business for 15 years and has served as a mentor for Education for Ministry both in parishes and in Graterford State Correctional Institution, as well as acting as the diocesan coordinator and was a member of the Mentor Training Network. Jay has a sixteen-year old son, Ryan, who lives in Tucson, AZ. In his spare time, Jay enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time at the shore.
Parish Leadership
Members of the Vestry
Chris Suhy – Rector’s Warden
Christine Strittmatter – People’s warden
Pam Dunlap – People’s Warden
Karen Randall – Treasurer
Tim Jennings – Property
Joe Buesgen – Property
Tim Walsh – Finance
Bill Rhyddereh – Finance/ Property
Nancy Williams – Parish Life
Sunday School Administrator
Linda Baier
Children’s Catechesis Coordinator
Coffee Hour
Sue Acquaviva
Marie Clark
Acolytes
George Bishop
Ushers
Trent Coombs
Bill Reynolds
Worship Leaders
Pam Lang
Melissa Brown
9:00 Music
Martha Reynolds
Anne Flood
10:30 Music
Philip LeFevre
Neighborhood Shepherds
Connie Dee
Prayer Chain
Chris Strittmatter
Judy Ermigiotti
Pastoral Care Visitation
George Bishop
Treva McLaughlin
Newcomers
Karen Becker
Parish Staff
Carolyn Bedics – Parish Manager
Luray Watkins – Parish Administrator