Clergy & Staff

The Rev. Robert L. (Bob) Sessum, Rector
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he graduated from Rhodes College with a B.A. in 1965 and Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master's in Divinity in 1970. Bob has served churches in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. Mr. Sessum is married to Donna Ann Synder and they have one son, Paul, who is a young adult living in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Rector is involved in Diocesan committees as well as national and international ministries.

The Rev. Elise Johnstone, Assistant to the Rector
Elise is from central Kentucky, being raised mainly in Berea and Richmond. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia in 1997 and a Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary, New York, New York in 2005. She was ordained to the transitional diaconate in June 2005, and as a priest in January 2006. She is married to Ryan Shrauner, who works as a librarian in the greater Lexington area. They have just welcomed their first child, Walter Henry Johnstone, into the world in January 2010.

The Rev. Lauren Hendrick, Deacon, Minister of Christian Formation
Lauren is from Texas where she was an RN in pediatric oncology/hematology. She moved to New York where she went to Bexley Hall Seminary's Deacon Program with the Diocese of Central NewYork. She was ordained November 2005. She moved to Lexington in October 2006. She has three daughters.She has been involved with youth and children's programs for 25 years.

Dale Chapman, Parish Administrator
Dale has served as the Parish Administrator at Good Shepherd since 1995. She has a bachelor's degree from UK and is the mother of Lesley. Dale is an active member at Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington. There she serves as a verger and leads an Education for Ministry (EfM) group there, as well as at Good Shepherd. Dale serves as the diocesan coordinator for EfM and is active in the Companion Diocese of Haiti program, having traveled to Haiti in 2008.

Cindy McKee, Parish Secretary
Cindy has been the Good Shepherd parish secretary since August 2000. She can answer most of your questions or at least point you in the right direction to get an answer. Cindy and her husband, Wendell, live in Carlisle, Kentucky, and are members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Paris. Cindy has two sons—Steven and his wife Mindy, John and his wife Mackenzie—as well grandsons Collin and Carter and granddaughter Addison. Her spare time is spent visiting her family in Missouri and cruising the Caribbean with her husband.

John Linker, Organist/Choirmaster
On staff at Good Shepherd since 2001, John originally hails from Bureau County in north central Illinois, and has served parishes in that area and throughout greater Chicago. A graduate of Northern Illinois University (BM, 1997) and Roosevelt University (Chicago Musical College, MM, 2003), John is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). As an organ recitalist he has performed in numerous venues and with various ensembles throughout the United States and Europe. John holds memberships with and has active leadership roles in the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity. John is married to Lexington native Molly McCann Linker, and both are proud guardians to three felines Nigel, Pierre, and Tom. http://www.johnlinker.com

Stephanie Sonne, Assistant Organist, earned her Bachelor of Arts cum laude from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee during the spring of 2007, having studied under Dr. Robert G. Delcamp for a degree in Music with a concentration in Organ Performance. Upon graduation she received the prestigious Gilbert Gilchrist Music Award for outstanding recital performance. While at the University of the South, Stephanie performed with the University Choir at times as a Soprano or Alto, travelling with the Choir to a residency in Wells Cathedral, England during the summer of 2005. She was privileged also to study under David Briggs, Organ Emeritus of Gloucester Cathedral, while in her undergraduate, and is currently studying under Dr. Schuyler Robinson, Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at the University of Kentucky.

Joyce Roth, Minister for Newcomers and Visitors
My years of classroom teaching taught me how to relate to others, to organize my time, and to find creative ways of working with people. As a newcomer to the Episcopal church, to Lexington, and to Good Shepherd myself, I love meeting new folks and helping them feel comfortable in our parish family.