About Saint David's Episcopal Church
About Saint David’s Episcopal Church
Within our walls, we have created a place for all to worship, learn, serve, and prepare to go out into the world to love and serve Christ. Over the years a variety of persons have been a part of this parish, affectionately referred to as "the church on the hill" in West Meade. No matter how long they were here, they all played a part in making us who we are today.
Relationship is the greatest gift we offer. We create and build relationship in five different ways. In our worship services we offer God our thanks, praise and gifts out of what God provides for us in our lives. Through educational opportunities we form spirits and grow hearts to follow Christ as disciples. By serving others in need, we also serve The Divine. When we gather for meals or simply fun, we encourage and derive strength and joy from one another. And we strive to be the face of Love and ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven as individuals and a community, whether at work, home, school or play.
Saint David’s parishioners are unusually active. Nearly half of our roughly 300 regular members are engaged in one to three different ministries, while 19 percent are involved in four or more. The remaining 32 percent attend Sunday programs and follow God’s call to serve and renew people and places outside the Church.
The Rev. Carolyn Coleman
Rector
Carolyn is a Christ-follower because she believes that Jesus’s words and actions offer the best model to follow in her endeavor to live as richly and deeply as possible. Encountering the Sacred primarily through spending time under trees, on mountain trails and among the nimble creatures of air, water and earth, Carolyn tends toward the mystic in her spiritual reflection. The connectedness of Creation, all its parts, known and unknown, demonstrates that the Divine actively works to thrive and draw all createdness to Itself. Jesus, also, tells her so.
The Rev. Burns Rogers
Deacon
Burns Rogers has served as Deacon at Saint David’s since July 2017. He was raised in a small United Methodist Church in rural Kentucky before being confirmed as an Episcopalian at the Easter Vigil his senior year at The University of the South, Sewanee. Prior to his arrival at Saint David’s, Burns was a member of Saint Paul’s, Franklin, where his wife, Donna, still serves as the Minister of Music.
Throughout his ministry, Burns has played an active role in the Diocese, serving on Bishop and Council, as the EFM Coordinator, and as the Chairperson of the Mid-Cumberland Mountain Ministries Advisory Board. Burns is currently the Chairperson of the Dandridge Trust Board.
Parish Staff
Stephanie Budwey
Organist
Rahn Carlson
Nursery Coordinator
Laura Duke
Choir Director
Mary-Grace Thoni
Parish Bookkeeper
Scott Knowles
Parish Administrator
Selmon, Eric, & Sean Whitaker
Sextons
2025 Officers of the Vestry
Senior Warden: John Kitch
Junior Warden: Mary Leigh Rayhab
Clerk: Kim Dougherty
Recording Clerk: TBD
Treasurer: Karl Jahrling
Parish Chancellor: Raymond Leathers
The Vestry
Vestry members are elected by active church members to three-year terms on the church’s governing board. Class years denote each group’s final full year of service.
Class of 2025
Class of 2026
Class of 2027
Michael Cass
Lynda Christiansen
Virginia Wolfarth
Kim Dougherty
John Kitch
Joel Miller
Patricia McGuire-Hughes
Mary Leigh Rayhab
Sarah Riebau
Our Parish History
Saint David’s was founded as a parochial mission of Saint George’s Episcopal Church in 1963 by a group of families who had a vision for a parish with a strong commitment to the worship of God, serving those in need locally, and a supportive Christian community for growing disciples.
More than 50 years on from its founding, Saint David’s continues to be energized by the founders’ original vision. We are growing that vision, too. Seeking to be not just a supportive community to Christ-followers who attend here, Saint David’s began to offer its gift of relationship through forums open to anyone with interest to attend. From workshops on end-of-life care and planning to storytelling circles where Nashville judges, mayors and citizen leaders shared their vocations and their work with us, these forums allow us to share our gifts of education, community and good will with West Nashville.
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