St. Luke’s will elect five new Vestry members at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 22nd.
Candidate pictures and profiles are found below.
Name: Lori Koehler
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: 12 yrs
Occupation: Account Manager – Public Health
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with? I am currently involved with the Children’s,
Youth and Hospitality Ministries. Margaret Koehler, my daughter, is part of the choristers program (5 years) and
attends St. Luke’s Episcopal School (since Kindergarten). I have directed the Christmas Pageant for the past 2
years.
What do you love about St. Luke’s? I love the St. Luke’s community at large, the diversity and individuality
amongst our members. I am grateful for and amazed by the people who share their talents with the St. Luke’s
Church community in the various ministries. I love being part of a community that shares its talents outside of its
walls, as well, as fosters and feeds the faith of the individuals in the church. I love seeing the work of God through
the people of St. Luke’s and sharing that with others.
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership? The gifts I would bring to the Vestry are interpersonal
communication skills and organization skills. I am very detailed oriented and am passionate about working with
others as a team to help and service others in the community. I am passionate about working with the school and
growing the relationship between the church and school.
Name: Claude Koontz
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: 12
Occupation: Investment Management
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with?
• St. Luke’s Episcopal School – Board of Trustee Member – 10 years/Board Treasurer – 2 years
• Usher’s Guild – 11 years/ Usher Team captain – 4 years
• Amigos
• Stewardship Committee – 2 years
What do you love about St. Luke’s?
• The people – my fellow parishioners
• The school and its Christian mission/daily chapel
• Commitment to liturgy
• Dedication to a robust music ministry
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership?
• 10 years of experience as member of SLES Board of Trustee
• 7 years of experience as member of St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home Board of Governors –
2 years Board Treasurer and 2 years Board President
• Long – term focus (since 2001) on increasing church and school security
• School background
• Finance background
Name: Tyler Mercer
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: Approximately 3 ½ years.
Occupation: Attorney with Valero Energy Corporation.
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with? Stewardship Committee.
What do you love about St. Luke’s? I love the fact that St. Luke’s provides a welcoming environment. Members
and visitors alike are greeted with enthusiastic and positive attitudes toward them. The sanctuary and grounds
convey this same feeling.
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership? I would bring the ability to build trusting relationships
with the other members of the vestry, including effectively networking, listening, and negotiating. Additionally, I
have the ability to make decisions and choices with prudence.
Name: Steve Rogers
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: 7 (since 2004)
Occupation: Property management - General Manager, Alamo Mini-Storage Companies
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with? I am currently involved in the Greeter/Hospitality
Ministry. I coordinate the coed recreational basketball, softball and volleyball teams for St. Luke’s and have
recently taken over leadership of the DWTX Episcopal Sports League consisting of several other parishes in San
Antonio. On the diocesan level, I have been active in the Bishop’s Happening Movement for several years and was
part of a team that put on two Happening weekends in the Diocese of Northwest Texas. Happening is a youth-led
Christ-encounter weekend for high school students, modeled on Cursillo.
What do you love about St. Luke’s? I believe a strong program for children and youth is vital to the future of St.
Luke’s and the Episcopal Church. All three of our children were involved in the youth group here and our oldest
daughter participated in its leadership. She has gone on to be a youth minister at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in
Houston. I am very enthusiastic about the current clergy here, David, John and Stephen.
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership? I am patient and compassionate and have business
experience in both large corporations and small business. I have previously served twice on the vestry of St.
Mark’s - San Antonio.
Name: Verlyn Stahlecker
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: 1995- Present
Occupation: Retired Mathematics Professor
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with? Lay Ministry (John Team), adult classes, Habitat
for Humanity, & St. Luke’s Men’s Club.
What do you love about St. Luke’s? I like the choices of services that are available; I have attended all the different
services and served as lay reader in three of the four. The friendliness and sincerity of the priests and parishioners is
makes St. Luke’s church a comfortable and loving place to worship. The music ministry is especially meaningful to me.
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership? I have served on vestries at St. Mark’s in Havre, Mt.,
The Church of the Good Shepherd in Sundance Wyoming, and as senior warden before moving to Texas. I served
on the school board at St. David’s in San Antonio. I have experience serving on committees as a faculty member
and served in a leadership position as chair of my department.
Name: Will Russell
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: 8 years at St. Luke’s – I have been a lifelong Episcopalian
Occupation: Tax Consultant, CPA
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with? I have been a member of the finance committee
for the past 3 years. Additionally, I have previously served on the Adult Education committee (for 3 years).
During my time in Adult Education I lead the Christian Living Sunday school offering. In addition, I have been
involved in the youth ministry.
What do you love about St. Luke’s? I love how the church is open to different ideas and viewpoints. I love the
commitment to liturgy and tradition and the commitment to Christian formation. I think the church has a well
rounded approach with its commitment to these things as well as its children and youth ministries, music
ministries, outreach, and many other areas.
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership? With my financial background, I have the ability to
oversee financial issues of the church which is one of the main responsibilities of the vestry. Additionally, I have
the ability to bring a “big picture” perspective to most decisions that affect the church. I believe my well rounded
background within the church with my prior involvement in several different areas will help me to be a steward for
all the ministries within the church and not just a few of them.
Name: Cornel Walker
Yr’s attending St. Luke’s: Seven
Occupation: Attorney
What groups or Ministries of St. Luke’s are you involved with? Usher’s Guild. I served three years on a team
and for two of those years I led my team as a captain. In January I will rotate into a one-year term as head of the
guild. Confirmation Classes. I have been blessed to serve as a mentor to two confirmants. Habitat for Humanity. I
have assisted with two builds.
What do you love about St. Luke’s? It is friendly, the services are personal and meaningful, the clergy are outstanding,
the congregation is loving and caring, and it feels like home.
What gifts or skills would you bring to vestry leadership? I bring patience, an understanding of issues
that will impact the Church, the ability to listen to all opinions, the skill of prioritizing, and a caring heart.
