Our Church Leadership

Our Church thrives because of the energy and style of the people who are a part of our leadership. Here are a few of the people that make our church community special:

The Rev. Ian Delinger - Priest

Our Rector, Rev. Ian Delinger began his ministry with us on May 1, 2016.  Prior to coming here, Rev. Ian served as the University of Chester’s Chaplain to the Warrington Campus and to the Faculty of Health & Social Care.  He was born in California, and was raised in both rural western Nebraska and on the central coast of California. Fr. Ian is very interested in showing the Church and active faith in a positive light in the public arena, including in the media. 

The Rev. Karen Faye Siegfriedt  - Associate Priest

Pastor Karen comes to St. Stephen’s with 25 years of ordained ministry experience.  Born in Boston MA, she made her way out to California in 1981 as a research assistant and later worked as a hazardous waste manager.  Feeling called to the priesthood, she attended the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and graduated in 1992.  She has served as an assistant at Holy Innocents in SF and St. Luke’s, Los Gatos.  She was rector of St. Jude’s in Cupertino for 12 years and rector of Trinity Church in Sutter Creek for 7.  She has an educational background in nursing, chemistry, environmental management, and theology.  The three great loves in her life are Medicine, the Church, and Steph (her partner).  She and Steph moved to Morro Bay at the end of 2017 and are delighted to be part of the St. Stephen’s family.  .

Staff

Stephanie Olsen - Office Manager

Stephanie Olsen, a California native, is married to Mark Olsen and is the proud fur mom of two cats named Strider and Eowyn. 

2020 Vestry

Senior Warden:Gail Taylor

Junior Warden:

Lee Hollister

Members:

Bill Crewe

Diane Levison

Craig McCollum

Jim Murphy

Jennifer Sayre

Roxanna Shaheen

Clerk of the Vestry:

Alison Preston

Treasurer:

Katie Arndt

Sexton:

Chris Arndt

The vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. Vestry members are elected at the annual parish meeting, usually held in January. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. The senior warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support person for the rector. The basic responsibilities of the vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church's mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances.

The Clerk of the Vestry records minutes of the Vestry meetings.

The Treasurer administers the financial assets and liabilities of the parish.

The Sexton has responsibility for church property and buildings.