OUR CLERGY
The Rev. Marian D. Fortner - Interim Rector
Greetings, people of St. Paul’s!
I am writing to you to introduce myself as your incoming interim rector for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and School. Your leadership and I have been talking through the summer to make plans for my arrival on September 1st, and I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you.
We will spend a year together while, in due time, the church moves through the process of discerning its path with a future settled rector. The year we share can be a good time to reflect on the life of St. Paul’s, its history, its gifts, and its vital role in furthering the kingdom of God in the world around us. It can be a wonderful time to grow and learn.
So, a bit about me. My husband, Tom, and I live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I served as the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church for ten years. Prior to that time, I served as the chaplain of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Jackson/Ridgeland for six years, when I left to become the Associate Rector of All Saints’ Church and Day School in Phoenix, Arizona. As you can see, I have an affinity for Episcopal church schools!
Since my time at Trinity, I have served as the interim rector in three parishes, and I “officially” retired during that time. But still God calls, as God calls each of us, to serve as and when we can.
When your bishop called, I was ready, and I look forward discovering where God is calling us together in the coming year.
I hope that when I arrive and get settled in, you will stop by to say hello and to tell me your St. Paul’s story - how you came to be at St. Paul’s and your hopes and dreams for St. Paul’s. I look forward to hearing your story and to sharing more of mine.
Your sister in Christ,
Marian+
Greetings, people of St. Paul’s!
I am writing to you to introduce myself as your incoming interim rector for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and School. Your leadership and I have been talking through the summer to make plans for my arrival on September 1st, and I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you.
We will spend a year together while, in due time, the church moves through the process of discerning its path with a future settled rector. The year we share can be a good time to reflect on the life of St. Paul’s, its history, its gifts, and its vital role in furthering the kingdom of God in the world around us. It can be a wonderful time to grow and learn.
So, a bit about me. My husband, Tom, and I live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I served as the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church for ten years. Prior to that time, I served as the chaplain of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Jackson/Ridgeland for six years, when I left to become the Associate Rector of All Saints’ Church and Day School in Phoenix, Arizona. As you can see, I have an affinity for Episcopal church schools!
Since my time at Trinity, I have served as the interim rector in three parishes, and I “officially” retired during that time. But still God calls, as God calls each of us, to serve as and when we can.
When your bishop called, I was ready, and I look forward discovering where God is calling us together in the coming year.
I hope that when I arrive and get settled in, you will stop by to say hello and to tell me your St. Paul’s story - how you came to be at St. Paul’s and your hopes and dreams for St. Paul’s. I look forward to hearing your story and to sharing more of mine.
Your sister in Christ,
Marian+
The Rev. Austin Wendt - Associate Rector
The Rev. Austin is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He recently graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, with his M. Div. (May 2024) and completed his M. Ed in higher education administration at Nicholls State University (December 2024), where he also received his B.A. in English and Political Science (May 2019). Austin has a passion for forming disciples of Jesus Christ and his ministry interests include evangelism, discipleship, spiritual formation, church revitalization, working across the wider Anglican Communion, and Ecumenical and Interfaith work. When Austin is not in school or doing the work of a ministry, he enjoys being active by working out and running. Austin is also passionate about Louisiana culture and its preservation and loves to be active in his local community. Austin enjoys traveling, a good beverage, and being with friends and family. His passion is found in leading others into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and helping others live out their baptismal call and vocation in the world.
The Rev. Austin is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He recently graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, with his M. Div. (May 2024) and completed his M. Ed in higher education administration at Nicholls State University (December 2024), where he also received his B.A. in English and Political Science (May 2019). Austin has a passion for forming disciples of Jesus Christ and his ministry interests include evangelism, discipleship, spiritual formation, church revitalization, working across the wider Anglican Communion, and Ecumenical and Interfaith work. When Austin is not in school or doing the work of a ministry, he enjoys being active by working out and running. Austin is also passionate about Louisiana culture and its preservation and loves to be active in his local community. Austin enjoys traveling, a good beverage, and being with friends and family. His passion is found in leading others into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and helping others live out their baptismal call and vocation in the world.
The Rev. Gina Jenkins - School Chaplain
Gina was raised on Long Island in New York. She received an Associate's Degree in Preschool Education from the State University of NY at Farmingdale, New York and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Cortland, NY. She moved to Savannah, GA where she taught school for 10 years, then opened a day care center in her home for 3 years all while leading the youth program at St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church on Wilmington Island, GA
In 2002 the Rt. Rev. Henry Louttit, Bishop of Georgia, appointed her to be the Director and Coordinator of Diocesan Youth Programs for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. Upon her husband’s graduation from seminary she moved to Slidell, LA with her family in 2011. She volunteered for 4 years as the youth leader at Christ Episcopal Church, Slidell, while working one of those years as parish administrator at St. Michael’s in Mandeville, LA and the other 3 years as religion teacher and lay chaplain at Christ Episcopal School, Covington, LA. During this time she entered the formal discernment process for ordination.
In the fall of 2015, she began seminary at the University of the South’s School of Theology. She served as student body president and orientation coordinator. She graduated in 2018 with a Master of Divinity degree. She was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2018 and began working as the School Chaplain and Religious Studies Teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal School. From 2017 through the present, she has served as the Camp Director of Activities at the SUMMA Theological Debate Camp (for high school age students) at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN
Gina has been married to The Rev. Harry Oliver Jenkins for 30 years and together they have two adult children (Ash and Oli), and two dogs (Scooter and Tess). She enjoys kayaking through the bayous of south Louisiana, fostering dogs, and exploring new places with her husband.
Gina was raised on Long Island in New York. She received an Associate's Degree in Preschool Education from the State University of NY at Farmingdale, New York and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Cortland, NY. She moved to Savannah, GA where she taught school for 10 years, then opened a day care center in her home for 3 years all while leading the youth program at St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church on Wilmington Island, GA
In 2002 the Rt. Rev. Henry Louttit, Bishop of Georgia, appointed her to be the Director and Coordinator of Diocesan Youth Programs for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. Upon her husband’s graduation from seminary she moved to Slidell, LA with her family in 2011. She volunteered for 4 years as the youth leader at Christ Episcopal Church, Slidell, while working one of those years as parish administrator at St. Michael’s in Mandeville, LA and the other 3 years as religion teacher and lay chaplain at Christ Episcopal School, Covington, LA. During this time she entered the formal discernment process for ordination.
In the fall of 2015, she began seminary at the University of the South’s School of Theology. She served as student body president and orientation coordinator. She graduated in 2018 with a Master of Divinity degree. She was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2018 and began working as the School Chaplain and Religious Studies Teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal School. From 2017 through the present, she has served as the Camp Director of Activities at the SUMMA Theological Debate Camp (for high school age students) at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN
Gina has been married to The Rev. Harry Oliver Jenkins for 30 years and together they have two adult children (Ash and Oli), and two dogs (Scooter and Tess). She enjoys kayaking through the bayous of south Louisiana, fostering dogs, and exploring new places with her husband.
