We have a really wonderful staff at St. Stephen’s, in addition to exceptional lay leaders who keep our life as a community bounteous and beautiful. On this page, you’ll be introduced to our staff and given the opportunity to contact them. Please do!
The Reverend Karl Stevens became Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s on January 1st, 2020, and was made Rector on December 4, 2022. Karl has been ordained for nineteen years, and has spent most of his career working in campus ministry, first as Chaplain to Kenyon College, and then as the Missioner for Campus Ministry on the diocesan staff. Karl’s interests in the arts, practice of contemplative Christianity, and desire to work for social justice leads him to live out his call at St. Stephen’s with great joy and excitement.
You can contact Karl by emailing rector@ststephens-columbus.org. You can sign up for his Substack newsletter by going to https://livingtheendofchristendom.substack.com/.
The Reverend Brice Patterson is our Deacon and Campus Minister. Brice recently graduated from the School for Diaconal Formation and was ordained to the vocational diaconate in March 2022. Brice is a talented preacher and leader, with a passion for social justice, as well as being an avid hiker and runner. He is married to Emily (a gifted poet), and they have a young daughter, Saoirse, who was baptized at St. Stephen’s. Brice works very near to the church, at OSU’s Fisher College of Business.
You can contact Brice by emailing deacon@ststephens-columbus.org.
Our Music Director and Choir Master, Dennis Davenport, is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Music at Otterbein University. A composer with a strong background in musical theater, Dennis leads a vigorous and gifted choir composed of student and non-student parishioners.
You can contact Dennis by emailing ddavenport@otterbein.edu.
Our Director of Children and Youth Formation, Darien McCoy, is an alum of the Episcopal Service Corps and is a former staff member of Procter Summer Camp. He has a passion for teaching children and youth of all ages about God, the Episcopal Tradition, and how to explore and understand themselves and their faith. Darien leads Children’s Church and Youth Group while overseeing the needs of our Nursery program.
You can contact Darien by emailing darienmccoy@gmail.com.
Liz Hecker, our Parish Administrator, has a strong background in office administration. She runs the nerve center of the parish and is our go-to person on a host of projects and procedures. Liz is a talented singer who was active in the Columbus music scene for several decades. She now sings in the church choir.
You can contact Liz by emailing parishoffice@ststephens-columbus.org.