Our People

Ken grew up in Bastrop and graduated from UT and seminary, both in Austin. For 34 years he lead congregations in mostly small churches - Pearland, Bastrop, St Paul’s Waco, and St. Christopher’s Austin.

He was chosen to serve in many roles of leadership in the Diocese of Texas and the national church.

After retiring from active parish ministry, he worked as Ombudsman (kind of company chaplain) for an electric cooperate from 2006-2017. He lives in Bastrop with his wife Toni.

After election to the Bastrop City Council and as mayor, he is now chair of the Bastrop County Historical Commission. Ken continues writing about Texas history (mostly Bastrop County), and has completed nine books in that vein.

Director of St James Preschool: Laurie has been director of St. James Preschool since 2014 and a preschool administrator for over 10 years.

I have been officially serving churches in a musical capacity for 60 years. My musical career actually began several years earlier when I started playing piano for my mom’s Sunday School department. Singing in church choir and playing for Vacation Bible School soon elevated to playing for church services when I was in the ninth grade.
Bachelor’s degree in music education from Valdosta State College (now University).
Master of Music degree in conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ordination to the ministry of the Gospel, after careful examination by the ministers of our Indian River Baptist Association (think Diocese).
Music teacher, grades 5-9, and a part-time job as music and youth director for the First Baptist Church, Donalsonville, Georgia.

Mary and I met in Seminary and were married in Fort Worth, Texas. We have five grown children and two grandchildren.
We have served churches in Sterling, Illinois, Vero Beach, Florida, and Shalimar Baptist, Shalimar, Florida.

I began early “retirement” in 2010 and moved to Muldoon to provide care for Mary’s mom. I taught school at Sacred Heart, La Grange, playing piano on Sundays for Bible Baptist, La Grange, then for First Baptist, Schulenburg. We have served at St. James since March of 2014.

My journey with the Lord began nine months before I was born. Scarcely a Sunday has been missed – morning and evening services, Wednesday nights, and weeks of Revival, Vacation Bible School, Camps… until retirement.

However, it was not until Seminary that I began my walk with the Lord. Outwardly I looked like a fine Christian, but inward doubts about my relationship to Christ led to a crisis: How could I serve churches in Christ’s name filled with doubt? God moved in some remarkable ways demonstrating His personal love for me. Have I had doubts and worries since? Yes, but underneath there is a deep sense of a personal relationship. God is not a concept or imagination but a living reality in my life. It is Him I serve; in whichever situation He leads.

Eric retired from Shell Oil and moved to Swiss Alp in 2003. He began attending St. James with his wife, Suzanne, who is a life time Episcopalian. He first became treasurer of St. James Men’s Club and then took over the St. James treasurer’s job in 2006. He served 6 years and then again took the job in 2019. He works well with numbers and spreadsheets, and is convinced St. James’ Financial Administrator, Evelyn Grant, makes the job easy.

For Eric, St. James is a special place providing a strong sense of respect and community.

Eric grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and went to work for Shell Oil upon graduation from South Dakota School of Mines. He started with Shell at the refinery in So. Los Angeles, transferred to downtown L.A. with the logistics organization, and to Houston in 1970. His career was primarily in logistics of refining/marketing with stints in Pipeline, Refining and E&P.

He and his wife reside at a bison ranch 11 miles south of La Grange.