Leadership

Meet our clergy, staff, and vestry

Clergy & Staff | Vestry

D.Min., Bishop of Georgia
bishop@gaepiscopal.org

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, where he lived for six years, Frank Logue grew up in Marietta, Georgia. A 1984 graduate of Georgia Southern University, he worked as a photographer for two small daily newspapers in Georgia— the Warner Robins Daily Sun and the Rome News-Tribune. Frank married Victoria Steele in 1985.

Logue was ordained and consecrated as Bishop of Georgia at Christ Church, Savannah, on May 30, 2020. More…

In July 2008, The Rev. Michael S. White became Christ Church’s forty-first rector. He is married to The Rev. Helen S. White, and they have two sons, Ethan and Jay. Previously, he served as the priest-in-charge for Christ Church, Georgetown in Washington, D.C.; a religious advisor for the U.S. Senate; rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Durham, North Carolina; and rector of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Richmond Hill, Georgia. He graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1995 and was ordained to the sacred order of priests on January 5, 1996. More…

Senior Associate Rector
samantha.k.mckean@ccesavannah.org

The Rev. Samantha McKean joined the staff of Christ Church in August of 2017. Two years later, she was ordained a priest here at Christ Church (what a joyful experience to be made a priest in the place she calls home!).

Samantha is a 2017 graduate of Duke Divinity School (M.Div.) and a 2013 graduate of Wheaton College (B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies). 

She lives with her husband, Garrett Zajac, their daughter, Vera, and their sweet rescue dog, Murray.

Associate Rector
helen.white@ccesavannah.org

The Rev. Helen White joined the staff of Christ Church in May of 2015. She coordinates Sunday School for All Ages, Children’s Chapel, and other formation programs involving children, families, and adults. On the Diocesan level, Helen currently serves as a chaplain for Clergy Spouses and an Examining Chaplain.

Prior to serving at Christ Church, Helen served as the Vicar at All Saint's on Tybee Island and the Assistant at St. George's in Savannah. She also served as a chaplain to Armstrong State University. She is a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary (MDiv), Georgia Southern University (MEd), and Furman University (BA in Religion). More…

The Rev. Patti Davis, Deacon accepted the call to be Christ Church's deacon in 2012. Patti is a native of Savannah and a graduate of Roanoke College in Virginia with a major in Psychology.  She is married to Rod, a retired Naval aviator, and they have two adult daughters.  Patti continues her long time ministry in nursing homes by serving as part-time chaplain at Riverview Health and Rehabilitation.  Patti has completed Kerygma, EFM, The Virginia Institute for Spiritual Direction, and the North Carolina Deacon Formation Program.  She was ordained a deacon in 1999. More…

George Fergus was the Associate Director of Music and Chorister Program Director at Washington National Cathedral before coming to Christ Church. He maintained an active schedule of rehearsals and services in the cathedral’s music program, as well as appearing on the cathedral’s online stream of worship services and recitals, including the annual Christmas Day, Easter Day, and Independence Day concerts. More…

Parish Administrator
office@ccesavannah.org

Our new Assistant Director of Administration, Suzanne Smith started at Christ Church on July 5, 2022. She has been working in church administration for over twenty years, and we are very fortunate to have her expertise, professionalism and warm personality. She will be in the church building and office during the week, starting a 9:00 A.M.

Charles Epps

Sexton


Priest Associate

The Reverend Canon Todd Smelser is a native of Liberty Indiana.  A graduate of Earlham College with an A.B. in music, and a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Todd was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1974. His first call was as Curate of Trinity Church in Fort Wayne Indiana, and then  Vicar and first Rector of St. Alban’s Church in Fort Wayne. After a brief stint as Youth and Young Adult Coordinator in the Diocese of New York, he returned to parish ministry, for nine years at St. John’s Church in Minneapolis and then for over seven years as Dean of St. James’ Cathedral in Chicago.  More…

The Reverend Liam Collins

Priest Associate

Priest Associate

The Rev. Richard “Max” Maxwell was born and raised in Midland, Michigan. He received his B.A. from Stanford University, M. Div. from Union Theological Seminary, and S.T.M. from The General Theological Seminary in NYC. After ordination in 1999 and before entering parish ministry, Max tested a monastic vocation at Holy Cross Monastery on the Hudson River. There he met another member of the community, Paul Kline, and the two decided to leave monastic life to explore a life together.

United Methodist Pastor-in-Residence

David was born in Savannah in the Old Candler Hospital in the building that overlooks Forsyth Park.  He  “met” Claudia in the nursery of Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church.  The family story is that David’s mother remarked she would someday steal baby Claudia to be the daughter she never had.  The need for kidnapping may have been moot as the two children grew up in Savannah, attended Armstrong State, and were married at Asbury Memorial in 1971.

In 1972, the Seyles moved to Atlanta where David took a position as Music Director at a United Methodist Church, while also studying at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University.  He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1975 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1976. More…