Our 2025 Vestry Back row: Russ Griemsmann, Linda Spaziani, Beth Cox, Dave Parille, Bobby Ward, Janet Brown, Denise Holl, Richard Arthur, Perry Downs Front Row: Carolyn Flynn, Michelle Cummings, Jewell Smith Thornton, The Rev. Gina Gore, Lyn Meyers
2025 Vestry For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.Hebrews 10:36
The vestry consists of nine members, elected at the annual meeting for staggered 3-year terms. Also elected at the annual meeting are the senior warden, junior warden, clerk and treasurer for one-year terms, as prescribed by the parish by-laws. The vestry meets monthly from August through June, and during July if conditions warrant. At St. James’, the vestry meeting is chaired by the rector. Each vestry member serves as chairperson or vestry liaison to the various ministries operating at St. James’.
Lyn Meyers - Warden I’ve been a member of St. James' for more than 30 years and I am currently Chairman of the Stewardship and Finance Committee in the Vestry class of 2021. I’m a Choir member, Lector, Intercessor, Chalice Bearer, and flower deliverer. In past years I’ve served on the St James’ Vestry, as Treasurer, and as a Stephen Minister. Service on the Danbury Deanery led to two five year terms on the Standing Committee of the Connecticut Diocese and as a delegate at two Episcopal General Conventions.I’m currently Treasurer of the Danbury Lions Club and a Connecticut Lion past District Governor. Other community service Boards has included the Salvation Army, Danbury Music Centre, Aids Interfaith and Aids Project Danbury.Professionally I’ve been an Accountant for 46 years, ten years with an international accounting firm and opening Meyers & Co, CPAs in 1984. Other vocations have included real estate, retailing , life insurance, and the US Air Force.
Russ Griemsmann- Warden When I first met my wife, Judy, she introduced me to St James. I was active in my church on Long Island, having served as the Church’s Financial Secretary and member of the Finance Committee. I moved to Danbury from Port Jefferson when Judy and I were married at St James in 2008. Judy and I worked together on the Outreach/Missions committee and the Parish Life committee. We worked on raising funds for the Joining Jesus Capital Campaign in 2020. We also took the worship leader training and conducted one service while Father Dustin was on vacation.
I retired from teaching in 2007 at New York City College of Technology (CUNY) where I taught and chaired the Computer Systems Department. Boy Scouts took a great deal of my time on Long Island. I was a Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman, Commissioner and District Chairman and supervised High Adventure Training for Adult Scouters in Suffolk County. Here in Danbury, I serve as President of the Friends of Richter Park. Judy and I have four children between us, a son and daughter-in-law in Bayport, LI with two of our grandchildren, a daughter and son-in-law in Setauket, LI, a son and daughter-in-law in Bethel with the other two grandchildren and a son in Danbury. Skiing, golf, kayaking, hiking, and travel are some of our recreational interests. Spending time in my woodworking shop gives me many happy and satisfying hours. In 2022 I was asked to serve on Vestry where I am the liaison with the Capital Projects Committee and on the Finance Committee.
Beth Cox - Treasurer My family and I have been members of St. James’ for 24 years. I have been married to Dan for 31wonderful years. I am also the proud parent of Scott, who lives with his fiancée, Paige, in Las Vegas and works in the hospitality field, and Madeleine, who lives with her fiancé, James, in New Hampshire, where she is a Kindergarten teacher. My mother also joined the church a few years ago and is a faithful virtual member!
I have been co-chairing the Capital Projects Committee with Dan for the past four years. I was a member of the Vestry for two separate three-year terms: the first time as a chair of the Mission Committee and the second time as chair of the Welcoming Committee. I was also a counter and a member of the Mission Committee for several years. I am currently a member of the Pastoral Care Committee, where I lead the Notecard Ministry.
I graduated from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Communications, and from Pace University with an MBA in Finance. For the past 12 years, I have worked part-time as a bookkeeper and parish administrator at Christ Church in Redding. I have also been building my Mary Kay business for the past eight years. In the community, I served on the board of Habitat for Humanity for nine years, created and led the Caravan of Faith for five years under the auspices of ARC (Association of Religious Communities), and have served at Dorothy Day. In my free time, I enjoy leading a book club, cooking, taking care of our dog, Pippa, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. I am very excited for this new role and the opportunity to serve St. James’!
Denise Holl – Clerk I’ve been a member of St. James’ for 30 years. During that time I’ve served on many committees. My favorite ministries have been Mission, Pastoral Care and Faith Formation as these have been the source of my faith and spiritual growth, along with the development of deep friendships at St. James’. I plan to continue in these ministries, while supporting all other ministries at S. James’ and am very excited to fill the role of Clerk in the coming year. Retired these past few years, I spend my personal time, reading, gardening, painting and being Mom to Shiloh, my Welsh terrier.
Richard Arthur – Class of 2026 Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ my name is Richard J Arthur. I was born and raised from a small country on the West coast of Africa called Ghana. The population is about 33.4 million. Dominating religions are Christianity and Islam with the Anglican Communion holding about 5 percent of the population. I grew up in a very active Christian household with a father (The late Rt. Rev. J.B Arthur)who happened to be the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi (the second largest city in Ghana). My upbringing was unique to an extent, because of the numerous church activities I participated in. First it was me as the altar server from an early age of three, then encouraged to get more involved in church activities like the Youth group, ushering and the all important faith based prayer group. During my teenage years, l had the privilege to accompany my parents to the Lambeth conference (A ten year event for Bishops of both the Anglican and Episcopal churches). The Anglican church of Ghana has a very conservative approach to theological dogma not allowing women to be ordained priests. With significant progress the church has evolved, with women participating in the offering of communion. After a period of studying in the States. I achieved degrees in accounting and an MBA in Global Management. l ended up living in Danbury, whilst working in the corporate world in Stamford. I have been a member of St. James' church for about twenty plus years. Unfortunately my work schedule full of travels has hindered me from being as active as wished. However, my recent retirement has allowed me to free up some time and the opportunity to participate more in the church and community activities..
Perry Downs – Class of 2026 - Perry Downs married Suzanne Carley in 2020 and moved to New Fairfield and joined St. James'. He lived in Illinois for forty five years and taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He retired as Dean of Doctoral Education. Perry was raised in Fairfield, so moving back to Connecticut feels like coming home. His undergraduate degree is in Bible and theology and his graduate degrees are in Religious Education from New York University. He has three adult daughters and he and his first wife Sandra were foster parents to thirty children. Sandra passed away in 2019 from a form of dementia. He and Suzanne share common history from their high school days at Black Rock Congregational Church, where he was ordained to Christian Ministry in 1969. He is eager to contribute to St. James' through service on the vestry.
Linda Spaziani – Class of 2026 I have been a lifelong member of St. James'. As my mother often said, St. James’ is my second home. I was the 1st girl acolyte, the 1st girl to carry the small cross that my grandfather was the 1st to ever carry. I was on the calling committee that called the Coburns to be rector in 1981. I was then Bookkeeper for 20+ years and was Treasurer for 10 years. I was involved with the youth group as a youth and then as a leader when my son was of that age, and initiated the relationship with St. James’ and the Appalachia Service Project with the Methodist Church. I have sung in the choir, been a chalice bearer, altar server, and a member of many committees as well as co-ordinate the Thanksgiving Dinner for 20+ years with help from many others. I am the Controller at Amphenol RF in Danbury. I am excited to be coming on vestry again and doing communications work, as I love to create digital content. I count among the many blessings in my life, our St. James' Family and the witness we proclaim in the world.
Janet Brown – Class of 2027 - Worship I have been a member of St. James’ for almost 40 years. I worked in the church office for 20 of those years, retiring in 2009. At the present time I am a Stephen Ministry leader, a Lay Eucharist Visitor, a member of the Altar Guild, and on the Dorothy Day Ministry team. I served as Warden for six years up until 2022. I am married to Allan Brown and have two adult children, Emma who lives in England with her husband and step-son, and Matthew who lives in Sandy Hook with our beloved grandson Eli. I am happy to be asked to serve on Vestry as Worship Committee liaison for this wonderful parish of St. James’.
Carolyn Flynn – Class of 2027 - Buildings & Grounds I have been a member of St. James’ all of my life. I am married to Bob Flynn and we have two sons and four wonderful grandchildren. I am retired from Danbury Hospital after 44 years. Where I worked as an x-ray technologist and the information systems manager for the Radiology Department.
I have served on Vestry as warden and vestry person for many years. I am currently on the Altar Guild, Buildings and Grounds, Parish Life, and the worship committee. I also work on the Dorothy Day Team.
David Parille – Class of 2027 - Stewardship When I was born my family was living in Bethel and was attending St. Thomas Church. Shortly after that we moved to Danbury and joined St James. This is where I was confirmed and have remained. St James is the only church I have been a part of and I look forward to an opportunity to give back by joining the vestry. Except for my college years I have lived in Danbury. My dad started a small manufacturing business that I have been a part of for 50 years. We are entering our 77thyear and have evolved into a supplier for several of the leading aerospace and aircraft companies in the country. The people at St James have shown me that their determination and hard work will ensure a successful future for our church and provide help to the people in need in our community. I am very proud of what they have done and continue to do every week. The challenges ahead will not be easy and I hope to do my small part to continue the great work they do.
Bobby Ward – Class of 2028 Born in Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown, NY, I was baptized Episcopalian in Elmsford NY, and moved to Putnam Lake in 1961. I received my confirmation at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Brewster NY. I attended Full Gospel Family Center for 17 years. After leaving there, I attended Mt. Zion Baptist church periodically, When my husband and I found out the church became open to marrying the LGBTQ+ community, we began to attend St. Andrews in Brewster once again, and were married there in 2013. St. Andrews went out and we found ourselves looking for a home church once again. My husband grew up in Danbury so he recommended coming to St. James. Our first time was in November of 2023, and we both knew this was going to be our home church. Everyone was warm and inviting. I have been coming regularly ever since. I am on the Building and Grounds Committee, the Welcoming Committee, the LGBTQ+ and Allies committee. I am also a part-time member of the Chancel Choir. I am very active in helping maintain the building and grounds. Semi-retired, I am starting a discount painting business. St. James has become my Home Church and you are all my Church Family.
Michelle Cummings – Class of 2028 I first came to St. James’ in 2005 when my wife and I moved to Danbury from Hyde Park, NY. We had been parishioners of St. James’ Hyde Park (FDR’s church!) since 1998 and we both served on their Vestry. I have been a parishioner here at St. James’ Danbury since 2005. My wife and I separated in 2020 when we both accepted the fact that I wasno longer the man that she had married. I worked for Cartus Corporation, a global relocation service in Danbury for over 30 years until their business model changed in 2020, so that they no longer required a team of people to manage and sell the homes they had purchased on behalf of their corporate clients. That position required a unique variety of skills, including negotiation, property management, decision making, and reporting. Those skills, as well as my previous experience as a member of the Vestry in Hyde Park, will serve me well on the Vestry here in Danbury. I believe that St. James’ is currently in a unique position to increase the size of the congregation thereby allowing the church to thrive and survive. Otherwise, by maintaining the status quo, it risks the church closing its doors due to a diminishing congregation. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, just my presence here as an active and visible member of this congregation can be a confirmation to potential parishioners that St. James’ embraces the concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion and is open to all who would like to worship here. Feeling a part of this church as I do helps me to be who I am. I am attending the LGBTQ+ and Allies group that is newly formed. I have joined the renewed Welcoming Committee. I have served on and off as an Usher since arriving in 2005, a ministry that is important to me. I seek to join the Vestry because I believe that I can help the Vestry with some of the things necessary to move forward in that direction, along with the decisions necessary to maintain the physical structure of an aging church.
Jewell Smith-Thornton – Class of 2028 I found St. James Episcopal Church online in the during the pandemic as there was church service at 10:00 am the priest at that time delivered a service that touched me as I felt that there was a spiritual void in my life that only God and finding a church home could fill. When church services resumed to in-person and jumped at coming to the church and was welcomed by the members who asked my name and encouraged me to continue attending. I was overwhelmed by this and I was happy to find a church home.
Both of my parents felt it was important for me to have a relationship with God, love, and family as the core values growing up. My mother was Episcopalian and my father a Baptist helped me to appreciate attending both religious services growing up. As the middle child and only daughter growing up in an urban community. As a child myself and few other children would go to the local Baptist church for Sunday school and church service. My grandmother Beryl Rouse the family matriarch when we visited during the summers attended an Episcopalian Church In St. Croix Virgin Islands. She was a choir member and when she relocated from St. Croix to the Bronx with my Aunt found a church St. Edwards the Martyr Church Located on 109th Street between 5th and Madison Avenue in New York, this became my family’s home church. My grandmother encouraged me to become an Acolyte and I did until my Teenage years and began focusing on other things. I returned Later as a young adult with children and encouraged their Spiritual journey my daughter too become an Acolyte for the same reason. Both my mother and grandmother joined an order Daughters of the King, and I also joined this order as an adult. By profession I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NY and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Connecticut and enjoy speaking with people in providing counseling or groups. Perhaps providing pro bono counseling in being of service to others.