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
I am Austin Wendt, and I am honored to introduce myself as the new Associate Rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. I have been serving as a deacon and was ordained a priest on Saturday, December 14th, at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Baton Rouge.
Although I am originally from Bossier City, Louisiana, and grew up in Baton Rouge, I have always deeply loved the City of New Orleans and its vibrant culture. I enjoy working out, running, traveling, and practicing French with fellow Louisianans and Francophones calling New Orleans home. I am thrilled to begin my priestly ministry at St. Paul's and to be part of this wonderful community.
My passion for Jesus Christ, the Bible, formation, and discipleship drives my ministry. I am dedicated to evangelization, the revitalization of the Church, and the transformation of society by building up God's kingdom. I look forward to getting to know all of you at St. Paul's and working together to build a stronger Church and make God's Kingdom known in New Orleans.
I love our parish's Rule of Life. I will seek to grow in relationships with each of you, commit to serving our congregation and parish community, and commit wholly to growing in Christ with our entire church family.
I am joyfully anticipating joining the St. Paul's family in early January and embarking on this journey with you. I am excited to see how God will work through us to make a difference in our community.
Yours in Christ,
Austin Wendt
I am Austin Wendt, and I am honored to introduce myself as the new Associate Rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. I have been serving as a deacon and was ordained a priest on Saturday, December 14th, at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Baton Rouge.
Although I am originally from Bossier City, Louisiana, and grew up in Baton Rouge, I have always deeply loved the City of New Orleans and its vibrant culture. I enjoy working out, running, traveling, and practicing French with fellow Louisianans and Francophones calling New Orleans home. I am thrilled to begin my priestly ministry at St. Paul's and to be part of this wonderful community.
My passion for Jesus Christ, the Bible, formation, and discipleship drives my ministry. I am dedicated to evangelization, the revitalization of the Church, and the transformation of society by building up God's kingdom. I look forward to getting to know all of you at St. Paul's and working together to build a stronger Church and make God's Kingdom known in New Orleans.
I love our parish's Rule of Life. I will seek to grow in relationships with each of you, commit to serving our congregation and parish community, and commit wholly to growing in Christ with our entire church family.
I am joyfully anticipating joining the St. Paul's family in early January and embarking on this journey with you. I am excited to see how God will work through us to make a difference in our community.
Yours in Christ,
Austin Wendt

The Rev. Gina Jenkins - School Chaplain
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.