The Rev. Rhonda M. Lee, PhD

Rector Time Certain

A native of Montréal, Québec, Rhonda has called Durham home for almost three decades now. An avid reader of memoirs and mysteries, she is also a writer, whose most recent book is Seek and You Will Find: Discovering a Practice of Prayer (Forward Movement, 2021). Ordained since 2005, Rhonda has experience as a parish priest, spiritual director, and retreat leader, and most recently served for seven years as a canon on the staff of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Rhonda and her spouse, Wayne, met as students in Duke’s history PhD program and he now teaches at UNC.

Email me: rector@stlukesdurham.org

The Reverend James B. Craven, III

Priest Associate

Jim Craven has been at St. Luke’s since 1992. Jim was ordained a deacon at the Duke Chapel in 1985 and, after only ten years and two weeks, was ordained a priest here at St. Luke’s in 1995. He was a volunteer prison chaplain for 17 years. Jim has been a lawyer since 1967, ordained since 1985, is a retired naval officer, and still doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. We let him preach and celebrate regularly, and occasionally he does services without adult supervision. Educated, after a fashion, at the U.S. Naval Academy, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke Law School, and the Duke Divinity School, Jim’s real passions are Durham Bulls baseball, Duke football, and fishing. He and Sara are the parents of Jamie, Joe, and Will, and the grandparents of Olivia and Harris. They share their home with their cats, Ruthie and Buddy.

Email me: jbc64@mindspring.com

Kate D. Wisz

Deacon

Kate grew up in central Kentucky and has called North Carolina home for half of her life. Ordained to the vocational diaconate in January 2023, Kate joins St. Luke’s as its fifth deacon. Passionate about a dizzying array of subjects, Kate will happily join discourse on giraffes, all things fantasy, crafting, best burger joints, as well as vegan recipes, to name a few. Kate and her spouse, David, have only ever known a frenetic life, having raised triplets, and Kate continues in that vein of movement through yoga, walking, and hiking while also embracing the renewal of meditation and labyrinths in her practices. Drawing on her experiences raising her own multiples and being a part of the first months of her nieces’ and nephews’ lives, Kate serves as a postpartum doula. When not occupied by these pursuits, Kate works as a civil servant in a federal agency.  Driven by a commitment to see and serve those who are not seen by the world or our community, Kate seeks to walk alongside the marginalized, raising those voices as children of God for all to honor.

Email me: deacon@stlukesdurham.org

Kaye Saunders

Director of Music and Organist

Kaye Saunders, Music Director and Organist at St. Luke’s, has been a musician in the Episcopal Church since 1991. She has worked with adult choirs, RSCM-based graded children’s choirs, community children’s choirs, and handbell ensembles. She holds degrees from Coastal Carolina University, where she also taught as adjunct music professor, and Graduate Theological Foundation, where she earned a Master of Sacred Music degree. She has enjoyed work as a vocalist, having sung throughout the coastal region during her years as a resident of South Carolina, where she was featured with organizations such as the Piccolo Spoleto festival, The Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art, Long Bay Symphony, Carolina Master Chorale, and at Mepkin Abbey. As a composer, she has several choral anthems published by St. James Music Press. Kaye also teaches private voice and piano lessons. She is a member of the American Guild of Organists, and is certified in the early childhood curriculum Musikgarten. She also currently serves as part-time parish administrator at St. Titus’ Episcopal Church in Durham.

Email me: kascarolina@gmail.com

Mike Sistrom

Parish Coordinator

Mike Sistrom, a native Oregonian, came to Chapel Hill for graduate school in American history in 1988. He and his wife Mig have lived in Durham and Mike has been a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church since 2001. He’s run St. Philip’s Durham County Jail Ministry since 2003 and is a lector/intercessor at church.  He retired from Greensboro College in 2021 after 25 years as a professor, department chair, and college administrator. While there, Mike conducted a number of community history projects with his students, including about four area churches. (Perhaps St. Luke’s could be the subject of a history project involving parishioners, especially youth!) Since 2021, Mike has served on the Durham Sheriff’s Community Advisory Board, the Durham city-county Community Safety and Wellness Task Force, the Stepping Up Initiative, and is active with the Durham Democratic Party and local history organizations. Mig is a CPA in Durham who runs her own firm focused on nonprofit accounting. Mike and Mig just celebrated 30 years of marriage. They enjoy live music, art, time with friends and family, the North Carolina mountains, and their pit bull Zeppelin and cat Voodoo.

Email me: parish-coord@stlukesdurham.org

Ms. Carol Joyner

Director of Hospitality and Nursery Attendant

Ms. Carol Joyner is the Director of Hospitality and Nursery Attendant at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. For many years, “Miss Carol” has been a familiar, comforting presence in the nursery for the youngest members of our St. Luke’s family as well as for young visitors. More recently, she has taken on leadership of our two after-church coffee hours, helping to welcome and provide for members and guests of St. Luke’s.