Our Leadership
Rector
REV. JENNIFER CLEVELAND
The Reverend Jennifer B. Cleveland arrived at St. Augustine’s in November 2022. Raised in Seattle, with a life-long connection to Lopez Island (just up the road and a ferry ride away), she is thrilled to be here, after serving in churches in Eastern Washington, the Chicago area, and in Western Oregon. She and her husband, Stewart Stout, were engaged in the development of a Spanish-speaking congregation in Yakima, Washington, and she comes to St. Augustine-in-the Woods after fifteen years of serving as school chaplain for PreK - 12th grade students and their families at Oregon Episcopal School, Portland, Oregon. She and Stewart have two adult children who are currently studying in Brazil (Nick) and in Seattle (Becca). While various animals have graced their household over the years, currently their cat, Mickey, rules the roost.
Staff
Shantina Steele
Bookkeeper
A Washington native, Shantina Steele moved to Whidbey after graduating high school in 1990. She and her husband have four children and four grandchildren also living locally. Shantina spends most of her time managing her husband’s busy chiropractic practice and also serves on the Board for the League of Women Voters.
360-331-4887
staugs@whidbey.com
Missioner for Music
Henry Lebedinsky
Historical keyboardist, composer, and conductor Henry Lebedinsky has performed with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Charlotte Symphony, Seraphic Fire, Sonoma Bach, and the Cantata Collective, among others. Recent conducting engagements include the Seattle Baroque Orchestra and Sonoma Bach’s Live Oak Baroque Orchestra. As part of a career built on collaboration, he serves as co-Artistic Director of the San Francisco Bay Area’s GRAMMY-nominated AGAVE and Seattle’s Pacific MusicWorks.
With countertenor Reginald L. Mobley, he has introduced listeners on three continents to music by Black composers from Baroque to modern, including recent appearances at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and Festival Printemps Musical des Alizés in Morocco. Henry's compositions for choir and organ are published by Paraclete Press, Carus-Verlag Stuttgart, and CanticaNOVA, and two volumes of his poetry and hymns are in preparation. He holds degrees from Bowdoin College and the Longy School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music in historical organ performance as a student of Peter Sykes.
Our Vestry
The Vestry is the local governing body of our congregation and is composed of nine lay members and the Rector who serves in an ex officio capacity. The Senior Warden and the Junior Warden serve as vice-chairs of the Vestry.
The Vestry provides appropriate administrative oversight and leadership to our parish. We elect one-third of the Vestry each year and members serve three-year terms.
Mark Anderson
Class of 2025
Mark Anderson is a retired architect with deep roots in the Northwest and the Episcopal Church. He and his wife Carol have raised their 3 children and 6 grandchildren here over the last 50 years. He enjoys bicycles, canoes, old cars, backpacking and the tranquility and drama of the beach.
Bryan Avila
Class of 2026
Bryan Avila became a part of the Saint A's family back in 1990. Following an extended hiatus, during which he dedicated eight years to the U.S. Navy as an aircraft mechanic, he seamlessly transitioned into a successful career in commercial aviation. Since reuniting with the congregation and taking on the role of a torchbearer, he eagerly anticipates contributing even more to the community.
Kathryn Beaumont
Junior Warden
Class of 2024
Kathryn Beaumont is a retired Oregon attorney and returned to her Washington roots in 2017. She was overjoyed to find St. Augustine's where she serves as a eucharistic minister, lector, and Communications Committee chair. She and her husband enjoy being close to their children and grandchildren, all of whom live in Seattle.
Gail Corell
Class of 2024
Gail Corell is from England and a retired midwife. She is also a retired USAF spouse of seventeen years and an avid Whidbey Island community volunteer for seventeen years. She is a kind, giving, thoughtful, and generous person who loves helping others and enjoys the beauty of every day.
Ron Costeck
Class of 2026
Ron Costeck relocated to the Northwest in 2002. In 2018 he moved to Whidbey Island to take the position as Island County’s District Court Commissioner. Ron and his wife Natasha joined the St. Augustine’s congregation in 2022, with the baptism of their daughter Katie. Both are joyful at having found such a great community and fellowship, and look forward to serving.
Joan Johnson
Vestry Clerk
Joan Johnson's family first came to St. Augustine's in 1974. They have had ten baptisms, six confirmations, two receptions, five weddings, and one memorial service here. Joan has served as Christian Education and VBS coordinator, preschool director (22 years), Vestry member (3 terms), Senior Warden (3 years), and clerk.
Elaine Ludtke
Class of 2025
Elaine Ludtke has been a member of St Augustine’s since 1970 when her husband came to teach at South Whidbey Schools. She has previously served in Vestry leadership positions and has seen this parish go through many celebrations and changes. Serving our parish community is one way she is faithful to Christ.
Maureen Masterson
Class of 2026
Maureen Masterson has been a member of St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods for 23 years. During that time she has volunteered with the Mission Sunday Offerings, coffee hour, Holiday Market and Trash and Treasure Sale. Maureen currently serves as an acolyte, lector and as a member of the vestry.
Brad Portin
Senior Warden
Class of 2025
Brad Portin and his husband, Mark Wicks, have attended St. Augustine’s since 2016. They moved to the Bush Point area of Freeland after both retired from careers at the University of Washington. They have two sons who live in California and Texas and enjoy traveling adventures.
Nancy Ruff
Treasurer
Nancy Ruff is a retired Texas public school teacher and administrator who has retired to Paradise. Travel and photography are her passions, and she loves the challenge of managing our finances!
Frank Shirbroun
Class of 2024
Frank Shirbroun is the son of Christian parents. His mother was an ordained minister. He was Professor of New Testament in the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, CA for more than 17 years. Frank and his wife lead Celtic Christian pilgrimages to sacred sites in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brittany.
Laura Valente
Chancellor
Laura has been a member of St. Augustine’s for 22 years and its Chancellor for 10 years. Laura grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas but has lived in Washington for 35 years. She has been an attorney for 38 years and her work includes private practice and training volunteers for the King County Superior Court to advocate for abused and neglected children in court. She has served as an Administrative Law Judge for Washington State and the federal government for 30 years. In her free time, she likes to hike, bike and kayak with her husband, Meade Brown, and spending time with family and friends. She is an avid conservationist and a member of numerous botanical organizations, including the Washington Native Plant Society. She has enjoyed many pleasant hours making her yard on Whidbey a wildlife habitat.