We celebrate these clergy who have accepted new calls in the Episcopal Church in Colorado this year:

The Rev. Jim Atkins, Priest Associate, St. Mark’s, Durango

The Rev. Mark Chambers, Rector, St. John’s, Ouray

The Rev. Terri Colburn, Vicar, St. Elizabeth’s, Brighton

  The Rev. Chris DeVore, Vicar, St. Raphael, Colorado Springs

In Sept 2022, Chris was called to serve as Deacon-in-Charge of St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church. He now serves as a bi-vocational Vicar following his ordination to the Priesthood in Jan 2023 in the Diocese of Texas. His call to the ministry followed a career in software application sales. Chris grew up in Texas but knew he would one day live in Colorado. He loves to spend time in the outdoors with his family and pets, hiking, climbing, fly fishing, and skiing.

The Rev. Hentzi Elek, Long Term Supply Priest, St. Martin in the Fields, Aurora

The Rev. Claire Elser, Associate Priest, Grace & St. Stephen’s, Colorado Springs

The Rev. Melissa George, Rector, Ascension, Salida  

Reverend Melissa served as a healthcare chaplain before transitioning into parish ministry. She accepted a call as Rector of Ascension, Salida and Little Shepherd in the Hills, Crestone in June of 2022. Reverend Melissa embraces the Benedictine motto “work and pray” to seek balance in self-care and ministry, and she loves pondering the glory of God in nature and other contemplative practices. Husband Mark George, tabby cat Tiberius and corgi Roxy complete her family.

The Rev. Vicki Hesse, Interim Assisting Priest, St. Michael’s, Colorado Springs  

Vicki serves as Interim Assisting Priest at St. Michael’s in Colorado Springs. She earned her Masters of Divinity at Iliff School of Theology and later, a certificate in Anglican Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary prior to her ordination in 2012.  She served parishes in Tucson, Arizona and Detroit, Michigan as well as with the Diocesan staff in Michigan. Vicki is an active YMCA gym rat, Peloton rider, and loves hiking in the mountains.

The Rev. John Hill, Vicar & Executive Director, Cathedral Ridge

John was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and has his Bachelors in Business Administration from Southwestern University and his MDiv from Virginia Seminary. He served as Executive Director of Camps and Conferences for the Diocese of West Texas. There he led Camp Capers and built Mustang Island Conference Center. He has also been the Director of Laity Lodge Family Camp where he started a family camp program and constructed a new family camp facility that helped families spend time with one another with the Lord in God’s creation. He is a developer at heart with a love to create programs that reach a variety of different people from all socio-economic backgrounds offering “Outrageous Hospitality” to all.

He has served as Rector of three churches, in Melbourne, Australia, San Antonio and Denver, helping the churches grow deeper in the Lord and wider in the community. John has been married to Holly for 30 years and they have two children in university. When John is not working, he can be found outside with family and friends: fly fishing, hiking, snow shoeing, skiing, biking, and playing tennis.

The Rev. Terri Hobart, Rector, St. Thomas, Denver

The Rev. Anna Horen, Interim Rector, St. Andrew’s, Denver

The Rev’d Anna Horen comes to St. Andrew’s after serving for three years as Priest-in-Charge at St. Martin’s in Aurora. Anna+ was born and raised in the New York City area in a loving Italian-American family, moving to northern California after college.

Anna+ was raised as a progressive Roman Catholic, and in childhood felt a call to the priesthood. After serving for many years as Director of Faith Formation and Pastoral Associate in the San Francisco Bay Area, reversals of church reforms led her to the Episcopal Church. She was received in 2011, ordained in 2016 and served as Associate Rector in the Bay Area for three years. Anna+ holds an MA in French and MS in Computer Science from the University of California at Davis, an MA in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union, and a Certificate in Anglican Studies from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She is a certified spiritual director and had a private practice for 17 years. In March, she completed a two-year “Excellence in Leadership” program offered by the Rocky Mountain Synod of ELCA. She is a strong adherent of shared ministry, decision-making by consensus, and welcoming everyone without exception.

Anna+ and her husband Bob moved to the Denver metro in late 2019 to be closer to family.  They have been married for 42 years, and have two sons and two grandchildren.  Her interests encompass music and the arts, genealogy, technology, reading, and, of course, cooking big Italian Sunday dinners.  Anna+ is delighted to serve as Interim Rector of St. Andrew’s.

The Rev. Bill Lupfer, Rector, Christ Church, Aspen  

Bill Lupfer is serving as Rector of Christ Church in Aspen. He has been a parish priest for 30 years, serving parishes in Chicago, Detroit, Portland OR, New York City and Phoenix.  Prior to parish ministry, he served in prison and wilderness adventure ministries.  He has been married to Kimiko Koga for 33 years.  They have two children:  Sarah who lives in New York City and Kyle who lives in Tokyo.  Bill graduated from CU and is thrilled to be back in the mountains.

The Rev. Peter Munson, Interim Rector, St. John the Baptist, Breckenridge

The Rev. Peter Munson began serving as the interim rector at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Breckenridge on August 1, 2023. Peter has been a priest in the Diocese of Colorado for over 30 years. His passions include preaching, leading Lectio Divina groups, and hiking above treeline. In 2019, Peter walked across the United States and raised money for four different charities that do great work on behalf of children.

The Rev. Karen Smith, Transition Priest-in-Charge time Certain, St. Matthew’s, Parker

The Rev. John Wengrovius, Associate Priest, Christ Church, Denver