Meet Our Staff

Reverend Jani joined St. Paul's as Rector in March of 2023. 

She grew up in Michigan and graduated from Alma College (BA). Before coming to Bellingham Jani spent 30 years in California. She has a diverse background having worked as a physical therapy assistant, silkscreen company owner, film production assistant, facilities technician, Emergency Medical Technician, and was director of operations at Christ Episcopal Church, Los Altos, CA, for 15 years before completing her Master of Divinity degree at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. 

Ordained to the priesthood in April 2018, Jani has been active in community organizing through providing overnight parking for the houseless/homeless, STOP human trafficking and jail ministry. She served Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Saratoga, CA for 5 years and was interim rector for the last 2 years. She is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Claremont School of Theology, focusing on exploring the intersection of art and creativity in spiritual formation and pastoral care. 

Jani and her wife Deb have five children, as well as two dogs, two horses, and two parakeets. In her free time, Jani enjoys practicing Aikido, hiking, traveling, painting, sculpting, and creating mixed media artwork.

Jani is grateful and excited to be the Rector of St. Paul's. She believes God has brought all the pieces of her life together to support and guide her as she shepherds St. Paul’s now and into the future.

Email: rev.jani@stpaulsbellingham.org

Reverend Lindsay grew up in the Pacific Northwest. While she has lived in many different parts of the country since then, nothing feels as much like home as Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, tide pools, mountain lakes, and the beautiful, quirky people who also call this place home.

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She was ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul’s Bellingham by the Bishop of Oregon– the same diocese that sponsored her for ordination– after receiving her Master of Divinity from Louisville [Presbyterian] Seminary, as well as a certificate in Anglican Studies from Bexley-Seabury Seminary. Before she began her seminary studies, Lindsay completed a graduate degree in Sociology at The University of Montana and spent over a decade working in social services and public health in the Portland, OR area.

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Lindsay is passionate about helping the church explore what it looks like to join in God’s work in our cities and neighborhoods, and is committed to identifying and building bridges across theological and denominational communities.

This value has informed much of her work prior to ordination: as a program director at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, as an organizer for the Wild Goose West Festival, and as a convener of Community Missions--an experimental gathering of Christians of many denominations in Portland, OR.

Email: lrh@stpaulsbellingham.org

Martin (he/him) joined the staff of St. Paul's for a two-year curacy (clergy residency) in January 2024. He is no stranger to St. Paul's, having been an intern here in 2021. He was ordained as a transitional deacon by the Most Rev. Melissa Skelton in December 2023, whom he worked with at St. Paul's, Seattle where he formally began the discernment process for the priesthood. God willing, he will be ordained priest in June 2024.

Martin grew up in Arizona and still loves the desert. Raised an Evangelical, Martin followed a call to ministry and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Church Music with an emphasis in choral conducting from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, receiving the school's highest academic award. Midway through college, he was welcomed home through the liturgy, music, and theological breadth of the Episcopal Church.

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This call then found its expression as a lay professional in Episcopal congregations for over twenty years in both Washington state and Arizona. Prior to beginning his work at St. Paul's, Bellingham, Martin served for 13 years as the Associate for Music and Liturgy at St. Columba's in Kent. He also worked as the Parish Administrator at St. Paul's, Seattle and before that, the Director of Operations at Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, where he served for nine years.

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Martin attended the Vancouver School of Theology, earning the Master of Divinity degree in 2021. Besides his love of the ministry areas of teaching, preaching, music, and administration, Martin has a passion for encouraging the church to use theological and spiritual resources to address the existential threat of climate disruption.

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Martin and his husband, Christopher, now live in Bellingham where they've made new friends, tried restaurants, explored the city, and enjoy frequent walks and hikes.  

Dongho Lee, a native of Seoul, South Korea, is praised for her “drive and energy, coupled with the ability to tenderly shape a musical line,” (The Journal, AAM) she was awarded both the First Prize (Lilian Murtagh Memorial Prize) and the Audience Prize in the 2010 American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance, which was held at the 50th national convention of the Guild in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Lee has concertized throughout the United States, Europe, and South Korea. Significant recent venues in which she has performed include the Washington National Cathedral, Duke University Chapel, the Cathedral of St. Philip (Atlanta), the Cadet Chapel of the United States Air Force Academy, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and the Cathedral of the Madeleine (Salt Lake City). Additionally, she has performed as soloist with orchestra featuring concerti by Poulenc and Handel. She served on faculty at the Montreat Worship and Music Conference in 2020. Ms. Lee also served as Adjunct Instructor of Organ at Davidson College and Wingate University.

Ms. Lee earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Yonsei University in Korea, during which time she served as organist of the Seoul Anglican Cathedral. In 2004, she moved to the United States to continue her studies at Yale University and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where she earned a second master’s degree and was awarded the Julia R. Sherman Prize for excellence in organ playing. Read Ms. Lee's full bio here.

Email: Dongho@stpaulsbellingham.org

Boyd and his wife Michele are thrilled to be back on the west coast and in Bellingham. Originally from Marysville Boyd spend 37 years in New York City as a professional vocalist. 25 of those years on stage at New York City Opera.

Boyd also has over 15 years' experience as a woodworker and builder having worked as Production Manager for an international Trade Show/Exhibition Company.

“St. Paul’s is a beautiful facility and community and I look forward to working to keep St. Paul’s a beacon of faith in Bellingham”.- Boyd Schlaefer

Email: boyd@stpaulsbellingham.org

Bee Fenner (they/their) is the director of youth ministries at St. Paul’s, working with our middle and high school youth. Bee graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Psychology.

Bee first came to St. Paul’s in 2019, later joining the staff in 2021, and hopes to create an open affirming space for our youth to explore topics of faith and self.

Bee enjoys fiber arts, the outdoors, and spending time with their 13-year-old cat, Camden! Bee hopes to create a youth program that involves and centers youth contribution as essential to the church.

Email: bee@stpaulsbellingham.org

Benjamin grew up in Oregon but fell in love with Washington while living and working at the remote Lutheran retreat center, Holden Village. While at Holden, Benjamin worked as a maverick, posti, trails crew lead, kitchen staff, and, of course, helped take care of the village children.

After a short sojourn in North Carolina, Benjamin returned to the PNW to attend Western Washington University, where he graduated with a degree in storytelling and met his fiancé Lauren.

Benjamin has worked extensively in outdoor education, and believes that the splendor of creation and the inherent awe of children is an unbeatable combination. Most recently, Benjamin was a mentor at the local nonprofit Wild Whatcom.

Email: childrenandyouth@stpaulsbellingham.org

Monica grew up in La Conner, WA, where she participated in the Grange, church activities, and 4-H with livestock projects. She received her BA in English Education from Washington State University and completed her student teaching in Seoul, Korea. Monica fell in love with the world and travel and promptly moved to Osaka, Japan, to teach ESL for 5 years. 

 
Fifteen years ago, she moved to Birch Bay because it reminded her of the small hometown feel of La Conner. She lives there with her son, her roommate. She worked at the Blaine Public Library for almost nine years, supporting the international community with weekly ESL lessons. Most recently, she has worked at Whatcom Community College as the Program Coordinator for International Programs.

She is a lifelong learner and enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities – photography, taking walks, camping, reading, baking, needlework and sewing. Monica also loves gardening – caring for her dahlias, growing unique strains of squash, and growing annuals from seed each spring.

Email: office@stpaulsbellingham.org

Diane is our bookkeeper at St. Paul's. To reach her you may email: bookkeeper@stpaulsbellingham.org