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We strive to recognize and nurture the Christ in ourselves and each person that we encounter along the way. Join us for service on Sunday to experience for yourself the fellowship of Christ. Our mission as a parish is to open our hearts to God and to share Christ’s unconditional love with the world. We do this by following three pathways:
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is a congregation of families and singles, children and seniors, and a diversity of ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, interests, and backgrounds. We are followers of Jesus, guided by His teaching and example to love God and our neighbor. We welcome all people regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, racial background, mental or physical ability, recovery, political belief, economic condition, and all other expressions of what it means to be human. We invite you to worship with us and walk with us no matter where you are on your spiritual journey.
We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional territory and homelands of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini (ytt) Northern Chumash people, the first peoples of San Luis Obispo, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Chumash Tribe. Acknowledging the land is a transformative act that works to undo the intentional erasure of indigenous peoples.
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 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.
Fr Ian became Rector in 2016. Prior to moving to SLO, Fr Ian served as the University of Chester’s Chaplain to the Warrington Campus and to the Faculty of Health & Social Care after serving in the parish of St Clement’s Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester, UK. Prior to ordination, Fr Ian worked in Environmental, Health & Safety consulting in the Silicon Valley and then corporate events management and marketing. Following God’s call, Fr Ian attended seminary at the University of Cambridge and was ordained in the Diocese of Manchester, Deacon in 2004 and Priest in 2005. 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. He hosts a monthly radio segment on KCBX public radio called “Playing With Food”.
After spending 15 years in Higher Education Administration, Jen finally pursued their call to ministry and recently received an MDiv degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Jen is passionate about connecting with those finding themselves unwelcomed in religious communities, is passionate about justice issues, including Queer and Trans inclusion, food, and housing insecurity, and is looking forward to working with the students at Cal Poly and Cuesta. Jen has also been a poll worker since they were eligible in most elections. Fun Fact about Jen: They love music, musicals, and any accessible hiking trail they can find.
After spending 15 years in Higher Education Administration, Jen finally pursued their call to ministry and recently received an MDiv degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Jen is passionate about connecting with those finding themselves unwelcomed in religious communities, is passionate about justice issues, including Queer and Trans inclusion, food, and housing insecurity, and is looking forward to working with the students at Cal Poly and Cuesta. Jen has also been a poll worker since they were eligible in most elections. Fun Fact about Jen: They love music, musicals, and any accessible hiking trail they can find.
Cassandra has her Bachelor’s Degrees in Church Music and English Literature from Westmont College, Santa Barbara. She holds Master’s Degrees in Performance Flute from CSU, Northridge, and in Choral Conducting from SJSU. Ms. Tarantino has taught at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo since 2006 where she conducts the Concert Choir, teaches private voice and flute, and Musicianship and Classical Music Appreciation. In 2006 Cassandra founded the Cuesta Concord Chorus and has enjoyed touring the world with them singing with fellow choirs and for veterans. Ms. Tarantino became Director of Music in 2017. In April of 2021, Ms. Tarantino passed her Level III Sommelier Exam with the International Sommelier Guild. She has since become the Sommelier at CASS Winery in Paso Robles and has designed private wine events at Beda’s Biergarten in San Luis Obispo.
Pastor Karen came to St. Stephen’s in 2018, having retired from 25+ years of ordained ministry. She has an educational background in nursing, chemistry, environmental management, and theology. She graduated from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1992 and has served as an associate and rector in several different churches in CA. The three great loves in her life are Medicine, the Church, and Steph (her partner). She and Steph are delighted to be part of the St. Stephen’s family.