Rector

The Reverend Joshua D. Walters began his tenure as Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in August 2019. 

A native Hoosier, Josh grew up on his family’s farm in rural southwestern Indiana. Josh majored in history at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and in 2006 earned his Masters of Divinity at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. While in seminary, he served as the Seminarian-Associate at Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights. 

Josh was ordained in the Diocese of Indianapolis and following graduation and ordination, he served as the Associate Rector of Christ Church in Winnetka, Illinois, on the North Shore of Chicago; and then Rector of Grace Episcopal Church and Day School in Massapequa, New York. 

From 2012 until his arrival in McLean, Josh was the Rector of Christ Church in Pittsford, New York, a suburb of Rochester. The hallmarks of his ministry there were his emphasis on hospitality and pastoral care, Christian education for all ages, the expansion of a respected music program, and creating a community where all are welcome. 

Josh and his wife, Emily, are the parents of James and Eleanor. Additionally, he is the proud walker of their beloved lab-mix, Dewey. Josh craves being in the outdoors whether it’s his backyard or on the trail. Perhaps his most beloved hobby of all; Josh loves good food of all kinds and sharing it with friends.

Interim Director of Music

Dr. Karl Robson joined the St. John’s staff on August 28, 2023.

Karl comes to us from St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish in Chevy Chase, MD, where he served as Director of Music for over five years. Karl is also a frequent collaborator with Washington area ensembles, including the Washington Master Chorale and the professional choirs of Christ Church, Georgetown and Emmanuel, Baltimore.

Karl was raised in the Lutheran church, serving several congregations in Minnesota throughout high school and college. He completed undergraduate work magna cum laude with departmental distinction in Church Music and Organ Performance at St. Olaf College. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts as well as the Master of Music in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. As a graduate student in Rochester, New York, he served as Assistant Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he was formally received into the denomination.

Karl was a recipient of the Ruth and Paul Manz Scholarship and the Peter B. Knock Award — scholarships awarded to promising young church musicians — as well as Eastman’s James B. Cochran Organ Prize and Gerald Barnes Award in Organ, given for outstanding recital and jury performances within the school’s organ department. He was a semi-finalist in the 2015 St. Alban’s International Organ Competition (UK).

When not on the bench, Karl enjoys distance running, raiding Washington, D.C.’s record stores for classical recordings on vinyl, enjoying the culinary talents of his husband Adam Detzner (also a church musician, serving as Minister of Music and Organist at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Annandale), and watching classic films.

Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries

Sally is a lifelong Episcopalian and was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from Kennesaw State University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Religious Studies.

She has worked in children, youth, and young adult formation for many years; from preschool to campus ministry. Most recently, Sally has served as Director of Children’s Ministry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Prior to her move to Tennessee, Sally served as Director of Youth Ministry at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Marietta, Georgia. While at St. Catherine’s in Marietta, Sally also served in a staff role for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta as their Youth Missioner.

At home—with her husband Wallace, their two children, and pup, Bishop—Sally enjoys cooking new food with her family and designing and sewing clothes for her children.

Parish Administrator

As Parish Administrator Tim is responsible for everything from snowplowing to bell ringing; from the church building to paying the bills. The good news is that we have a great team of staff and volunteers that mean Tim is well supported. 

In the 1990’s Tim worked at AOL where he launched their computer support forums, managed the release of the AOL software on those ubiquitous CD’s we saw packaged with computer magazines, frozen steaks, etc., and led a team that supported the launch of AOL software in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Central/South America. 

He also taught at the Apple Store.

Tim started his working life as a bookkeeper. he joined St. John's after working at St. Anne’s in Reston, Virginia where he directed their outreach ministry work. 

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and loves talking about his 2 grandsons, Gavin and Aidan. He also plays a little guitar, listens to music, and enjoys technology. 

Although he has lived in the USA for four decades he was born in the UK—you may notice an accent when you talk to him.

Director of Communications

Elys Mclean joined the St. John's staff in September 2014. 

She began her communication career at USA TODAY where she worked for 15 years as an Illustrator and Informational Graphics Specialist. 

She designs, edits, and coordinates digital as well as printed communications and promotional products for other Episcopal churches, as well as for local and national organizations.

Elys has a love for seafood, gardening, walking, and yoga!

Elys is the very proud mom of a son and daughter—both in their twenties.

Seminarian

Second Lieutenant and Chaplain Candidate Chris Leung (USAF) is a Jamaican and Cantonese hobbyist musician who was born in Hong Kong. After moving to the States, she finished her Primary and Secondary Education in Massachusetts and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Originally a Seventh Day Adventist by birth, Chris eventually rediscovered her spirituality in the Anglican traditions and sought confirmation. After several months of spiritual discovery and discernment through different parish ministries she applied for postulancy in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and has continued that journey as a Seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Chris has been a part of the VTS Dean’s Task for Diversity and Inclusion, The Task force for General Convention on Imagining a Church grounded in Social Justice, and has also worked as the Dean’s Office Assistant and hosting several guests on campus.

Chris is currently in her senior year at VTS and is now a Candidate for Holy Orders. Over the summer she was commissioned second lieutenant as a Chaplain Candidate in the United States Air Force and will complete her officers training following graduation in the spring of 2025.

In her down time (if she gets any!), you can find Chris reading a book, riding her motorcycle, at the beach, or playing video games.