Leadership at All Saints'
At All Saints', we have many ministers, because our ministers are our members. We believe that all Christians are called "to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 855) And we invite you to minister with us, as well! Welcome to All Saints' Episcopal Church, where our hearts and God's church are open to you!
Clergy
The Rev. Steven D. Paulikas came to All Saints' in June 2011 and has been Rector since December 2013. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Episcopal Relief and Development and the Board of Governors of the Episcopal Church at Yale, and he facilitates the process of discernment for holy orders through the Commission on Ministry of the Diocese of Long Island. He is a candidate for the DPhil in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford. While a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Steven co-chaired the New York Term Member Advisory Council. His opinion writing has recently appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Quartz, and his essay on the political response to evil is featured in Modern Ethics in 77 Arguments: A Stone Reader. He is a graduate of the General Theological Seminary, the University of Cambridge, and Yale University. Prior to attending seminary, Steven was a journalist based in Vilnius, Lithuania. He is married to Jesse Lazar.
The Rev. Spencer Cantrell comes to All Saints' as Curate having previously served as Priest Associate at St. Mary’s Harlem and as a Chaplain at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. He received his B.A. in Philosophy/Religion from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, and his M.Div. from the General Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the Bishop of Newark Preaching Prize and the Martyrs of Memphis Award for Outstanding Service. Born and raised in rural west Tennessee, he came to New York as an Episcopal Service Corps member, working as a legal advocate in NYC Courts with poor and marginalized New Yorkers with the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center. He has a background in community organizing and faith-based campaigns for social and economic justice. He lives in Crown Heights.
The Rev. Howard E. Blunt, Jr. has served for over 50 years in the priesthood. He was educated at Lehigh University, BA; and General Theological Seminary, STM. He holds four units in CPE studies and advanced level in psychotherapy practice. He was chaplain to several municipal hospitals and held numerous pastorates. He is now doing supply requests but mostly serves at The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew and here at All Saints', his neighborhood parishes. He also has taken part in caucuses for an inclusive life towards race, sexual orientation, and things that create social schism. Howard is also a tour guide for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
The Rev. Jennifer VanCooten Webster came to All Saints' in August 2013, just prior to Ordination to the Diaconate in June 2014. She attended seminary at George Mercer Jr. Memorial School of Theology. She is a graduate of the City University of New York, Brooklyn College, having received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Arts in Political Science: Concentration in Urban Policy & Public Administration. Jennifer was born and grew up in Guyana where faith formation began in the Anglican/Episcopal Church. Over the years, engagement in both her liturgical and professional life has led to the call to this ministry of servanthood. Deacon Jennifer resides in Canarsie with her family.
Program Staff
Adam Menninga, Choir Director. Adam has been enthusiastically singing in churches since age 4. He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music and the New England Conservatory of music with degrees in vocal performance. He has performed operatic roles with the NEC Opera Chorus, New York Metro Vocal Arts Ensemble and New York Opera Exchange. He has sung as a professional chorister with Opera Boston and the Wordless Music Orchestra at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He has served as Choir Director at All Saints Park Slope since 2014 and has worked to grow the All Saints Choir and Evensong Choir programs.
Ellen Wright, Organist. During the week, Ellen Wright can be heard daily playing the noon service at Our Lady of Victory on Wall Street. Over the years she has served as organist/director of music in several churches in the greater New York area as well as creator/teacher of music programs for elementary and secondary school in New York and Long Island. Stemming from her work in music education, she has developed a particular interest in children’s choirs and children’s music ministry. In 2015-16 she served as director of the Washington Heights Choir School. During the 70’s and 80’s she had an active concert career as a solo and chamber harpsichordist performing in European, South American and United States venues. Her teachers were Yuko Hayashi, organ, at the New England Conservatory where she did her undergraduate work and Kenneth Cooper, harpsichord, here in New York. She is in her third and final year as Dean of the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Ellen Wright is a poet as well as a musician with work in various literary journals in print and online. Her poetry collection, In Transit, was published in 2007 by Main Street Rag Publishing Company.
Katherine Slingluff is a photographer and musician originally from Alabama. She lives in Park Slope with her husband and two children, and her family are active parishioners at Grace Church Brooklyn Heights. Please be sure to stop by the parish office to say hello!
Jennifer vonGraevenitz, Children’s Christian Educator, was born in New York and grew up in Brooklyn, attending Ascension Episcopal Church in Greenpoint. Jennifer has worked with children of all ages, with a focus on early childhood development, stemming from caring for her adoptive siblings with disabilities. She has previously worked at the Garden City Waldorf School, Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights, Spoke the Hub, and Camp De Wolf. As an educator working with children, Jennifer emphasizes art, movement, and storytelling. She is married with two daughters.
Vestry
Liat Applewhite, Thomas Cannell, Anne Kelsey, Joy DeLancy (warden), Camille Goodison, Marva Griffith, Jennifer Kalb, Althea Leslie (clerk), Lena Mullings, Sharon Smith, and Devin Robinson (warden), Maureen Selby-Cox.