The vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. The number of vestry members and the term of office varies from parish to parish. Vestry members are usually elected at the annual parish meeting. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. There are usually two wardens. The senior warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support person for the rector. The junior warden often has responsibility for church property and buildings. A treasurer and a secretary or clerk may be chosen. These officers may or may not be vestry members. 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 St. Raphael 2026 Vestry
John Hazlett, Senior Warden
John Hazlett is a husband, father, teacher, Coach, Veteran, and Christian. He has been married for 33 years this November 4 to his lovely wife Leah Newsom, and son, Brandon is currently stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. This will be his 29th year of teaching at Rosenwald-Dunbar Elementary in Nicholasville, a journey from the classroom to enjoying the last 11 years as the Physical Education Teacher. He has been an Assistant Coach in Youth Football and Cross Country, and for the last 7 years has been coaching wrestling in Jessamine County. He served 30 years in the Army, with time on active duty during Desert Storm, to the Army Reserve as a Drill Sergeant, and finally to the National Guard as a Senior Infantry Instructor and acting Command Sergeant Major with the 238th Regiment, before officially retiring in 2016 as a Master Sergeant. He enjoys furry critters, sunsets and landscapes, traveling, and coffee on cool mornings, (well actually every morning.) He tends to be shy and reserved, although you would never guess it. However, with all the success that he has enjoyed, it was St. Raphael’s that took him in at the lowest and most troubled point of my life. The shelter and comfort that he found at St. Raphael’s gave him the opportunity to reconnect with my faith and to serve others. He’s still learning and growing as a Christian and feels blessed to do so at St. Raphael’s.
Term ends: 2028
Derek Phelps, Junior Warden
Derek was born in Laurel County, Kentucky. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Terri for the past 50 years. They have three daughters, Cherice Phelps, Jaclyn Gowan and Lauren Phelps and two grandchildren, Lilli Wharton and Cooper Gowan. He graduated from Laurel County High School, Sue Bennett Junior College, and Eastern Kentucky University. Derek worked for the Farm Credit System from 1977 to 1989 and went on to a career in the insurance industry in which he is still active.
An active Freemason and musician and in his spare time, he also collects antique clocks. A little over a year ago Derek and Terri began visiting several local churches before finding a home here at St. Raphael. Both Derek and Terri felt the warmness and kindness of the members of St. Raphael along with the message of Christ’s mission. They look forward to their continued journey in the path of Christ’s love and helping serve St. Raphael Episcopal Church.
Term ends: 2027
Janis Rosebrook
Janis Rosebrook is a life-long Episcopalian. She moved to Lexington from Los Angeles. She’s been a member of St. Raphael for several years. In Los Angeles, she was a vestry member, and was a member of Diocesan Council. She served 4 terms as President of the Board of Directors for the Diocesan adoption agency.
At St. Raphael Janis volunteers in the office (reorganizing the church files), and is a Sunday School Teacher, lay reader, and was in charge of the acolytes. She retired from UCLA, where she was Assistant Dean and CFAO of a large research unit.
Term ends: 2027
Lelia Brannen
Lives in Woodford County for over 37 years. Lelia is married to Clay Brannen – 40 years in January 2026. Lelia has two children, a son Nathan and daughter Anna, son-in-law Carlos and two grandchildren Lelia and Isabel.
In Lelia’s spare time she helps with grandchildren, loves to do anything outdoors, travels, and teaches and trains students in Yoga. Lelia teaches the Spirit Stretch yoga class here at the church. Recently retired in May 2025 from Sheridan Ky Book Mfg. in Versailles, KY. (26 years). Lelia’s role was Purchasing Manager, responsible for purchasing job-related and inventory materials. Her previous work experience in past job roles included General Manager, Operations Manager and Customer Service Manager with prior purchasing experience.
Understanding costs and budgets is essential to any business and it takes a team a community to create that success. Working together makes us work smarter to reach the achieved goal(s). Making sound decisions for a congregation is important to the livelihood of the church and the outreaching surrounding community. Encouraging others to participate in church events will keep us learning and growing together as a church family. Learning new tools to support ourselves, our families, and our community. Outreach is important and holding hands of those in need is what we do. I would do my best to serve the church and community.
Term ends: 2028
Lisa Booth
Lisa Booth and her husband Mike have attended St. Raphael’s since 2018. Lisa is a clinical support professional at Family Practice Associates. The couple live in Lexington. They enjoy spending time with their family, grandkids, and pets. Lisa is a member of the Crafter’s group.
Term ends: 2026
Carol Summers
Carol Summers and her spouse (Michael) have recently retired. We enjoy camping, boating, traveling and have many hobbies. We have attended St. Raphael since 2008.
Term ends: 2026
Alison Clendenen
Alison was born in Connecticut, grew up in Virginia and ultimately served in the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She holds a B.A. in art from Roanoke College and a M.Ed. in Catholic School Administration from Marymount University. She met her husband Chris and stepson Matt, at Roanoke Catholic School (K-12) where she taught art and later worked in marketing, publications and public relations in the development office.
After relocating to Lexington in 2004, she founded the art department at Seton Catholic School, (K-8), and assisted with marketing and art acquisition. At Pax Christi she served as a Eucharistic Minister. Later she was Expressive Programs Director with Employment Solutions, Inc., a local job, arts and wellness provider to adults having intellectual and/or physical challenges. Currently Alison custom frames art and memorabilia at Hobby Lobby, Brannon Crossing. She enjoys music, art, museums, history, reading, gardening, travel, nature’s beauty, shows and movies, spending time with friends, family, and co-workers, and SREC! Alison acknowledges the abundance of offerings for spiritual growth and fellowship within a kind and gently welcoming, peaceful and joyous community. She thanks everyone for the opportunity to serve on Vestry.
Term ends: 2027
Tony LoBianco
Tony and his wife Amy have been members of St. Raphael’s since 2003. Tony has served two previous terms on Vestry and was Sr. Warden in 2019. Tony was a former member of the Diocesan Commission of Ministry and has served as a lector, leader of the book group, and on the Search Committee for a rector. He graduated from Education for Ministry (EFM) in 2018.
Tony does research in disability and education at the University of Kentucky. He enjoys reading, playing chess, and incoherently rambling about philosophy and theology. He is a former member of a Toastmasters club and the ManKind Project. His son, John, is a senior at Dunbar High School.
Term ends: 2027
Chris Bollinger
Chris Bollinger finds God in the oddest of places, or so he’s told. Euclid’s proof that there is no largest prime and Cantor’s work on infinite sets are just the beginning. He will wax poetic about the Laws of Large numbers and especially the Central Limit Theorem if given to a captive audience. His two children (Beth and Thomas) will no longer accompany him to science museums that have a Galton board. Chris, and his wife Amy, first arrived at St. Raphael’s in the spring of 1999 with a precocious 4-year-old daughter and another one (a son it turned out) on the way. He credits St. Raphael as the extended family that helped raise two magnificent people, and he is deeply grateful for the love and support he has found here. Chris has ushered, taught 5th grade Sunday school, led three J2A groups, led Wired Word (adult Sunday School), co-chaired a capital campaign, co-chaired a nominating committee (to call a rector), served on vestry and the finance committee, and now chooses to abuse his friends in the congregation by singing tenor in the choir.
Chris’s hobbies include racing sailboats, playing at guitar, grand strategy computer games, travel (especially if it involves pubs) and reading (history, historical fiction, science fiction). He also loves a good documentary (helps with napping). In his spare time, Chris is a University and Gatton Professor of Economics at the University of Kentucky, he is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Research Data Center, serves on the State of Kentucky Consensus Forecast Group, serves on the Executive Committee of the Federal Statistical Research Data System, and is a vice-president of the Southern Economic Association. Despite recent criticism, he still maintains that non-commutative algebras are fun.
Term ends: 2025
Melinda Storey
Melinda Storey was the Organist and Choir Director at St. Raphael’s and retired from that role at the end of 2019. During her tenure in that position she thought of St. Raphael’s as her church, and continued as a part of the congregation. Melinda lives in Lexington. She has two daughters and grandsons.
Clerk: Carol Summers
Treasurer: Paula Sevigny