We are honored to announce the candidates for 2017 Vestry. Thank these folks for their willingness to serve and lead St. Thomas! Click on the names below to read their bios:
David Gilfillan
Jim Steele
Liz Corley
Colin Shannon
David Gilfillan
Betty and I attend 8 o’clock, where we have been lectors and ushers for a number of years.
Since joining St. Thomas in the early 90’s, I have served on the vestry and the search committee which found John Musgrave, and also served on the School Board, and as Vice President, led the search which brought Ann Decker to the school
I am a “cradle Episcopalian/Anglican” I was Baptized, Confirmed, and Married in the Church of Ireland. Betty and I have two sons, both married, and have two grandsons, a granddaughter, and a step grandson.
Betty and I both attended high schools and colleges in Belfast, but after qualifying in Industrial Engineering, I almost immediately started a career in Technical Education, leading to HR work in the oil industry. I became a Member of the British Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. At present, I am retired, but still do some teaching as an Adjunct Instructor in Process Technology at the College of the Mainland
We have lived and/or worked in – Northern Ireland, Nigeria, Bahrain, France, New York, Dallas, Indonesia, Houston, and Qatar.
Jim Steele
I was born in Austin, Texas in 1946. I graduated from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois in 1968 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation I served 3 years in the US Army. In 1977, I moved to Houston to accept a job with a major saving and loan.
I was raised as a Christian Scientist, but around 1970 I found it didn’t meet all my needs; however, I never lost my belief in God and always believed that He had guided me my entire life. In 1982 I married my wife Polly, and through her, became acquainted with the Episcopal Church. We attended St. Peter’s in Pasadena until about 1996 until we moved closer to Clear Lake. We transferred our membership to St. Thomas about the same time. We attended regularly, but I really did not begin to take an active part in the parish until about a year ago. This fall, Mike asked Polly and me to be co-chairs of the Stewardship drive. I also got confirmed. I regularly attend the adult Sunday school class between services, and I have joined the Holy Smokers.
I am very excited about what this parish has accomplished in the last year under Mike’s guidance. When I was approached about being on the Vestry, I felt that this would present me another opportunity to serve the church in another capacity and to be a part of the continued growth of St. Thomas.
Liz Corley
I was born in Victoria, TI where I was first introduced to the Episcopal church. I was about 4-years old when the couple (who were to later become my Godparents) began taking me to Sunday school with their son. It was a wonderful way to give my mom a break (I had a 2-year old brother and she was pregnant with my youngest brother) for a few hours, and introduce me to Sunday School with her son who was my same age. When my brother was born, we all began attending regularly, and I attended pre-K and Kindergarten at St. Francis.
When I was in the 5th grade, we moved to Portland, TX where we attended St. Christopher by the Sea, and I was confirmed at St. Christopher. In 1970 we moved to Clear Lake City where we attended St. Barnabas, and our family was very active there for many years.
I began attending St. Thomas following a car accident that took my father’s life. I needed a place to heal and a support system of friends to help me with the process. I found both at St. Thomas. I joined the choir and the DOK, and am so grateful for the friends I have made here.
I am employed in the hazardous waste disposal industry for Specialized Waste Systems, Inc. as their Client Services Manager. I enjoy the challenges of the business, and am happiest when working with our customers to provide excellent customer service for the proper handling and disposal of their waste. The demands of the job keep me very busy, and are quite rewarding.
I am also been a member of the Bay Area Chorus (BAC) for about 15-years (two of those years when I was in high school), and sang with various community chorus’ through the years. I have served on the Board of Directors for BAC for most of those years in various capacities, and am currently the VP-Finance. Music is something I shared with my father for most of my life, and I am thrilled that it is something I now share with my mother here at St Thomas!
I am very honored to be considered for the Vestry here at St. Thomas, and look forward to being an active part of the growth and changes here.
Colin Shannon
My personal journey with God and the church seems to somewhat follow John and Charles Wesley. I was baptized in the Episcopal Church, and then grew up as a Methodist. I rediscovered my Episcopal roots in college and was confirmed in 2006 at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church at Auburn University in Alabama, from which I graduated in 2008.
I’ve been attending services at St. Thomas since 2013, and became a member in 2014 along with my wife, Julia, who was also confirmed here that same year. In 2015, we were married at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston. We’ve both always felt a great sense of warmth and Christian love from the members of the church, and truly enjoy the Episcopal way of worship.
I feel honored and blessed to have been nominated to serve on the vestry. I hope that by serving on the vestry, I can help St. Thomas continue down the amazing path that it’s currently traveling. Peace+