OUR STAFF
The Rev. Gini Gerbasi, Rector
email: gini @ stjohnsgeorgetown.org
Gini Gerbasi is a graduate of the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington (with coursework in Anglican Studies at the Virginia Theological Seminary). She is also a graduate of both the Undergraduate and Law School at the College of William and Mary. In her previous life, she worked in public policy relating to poverty and hunger, and as a criminal defense attorney. She was ordained in 2007, and served as Associate Rector at Christ Church in Kensington, Maryland, before moving to St. John’s Lafayette Square in 2012. Gini left St. John’s, Lafayette Square to become our Rector in June of 2014.
Gini is a certified Daring Way Facilitator. Daring Way is based on the Research of Brené Brown, which explores topics such as vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness. Daring Way is a deeply theological approach to life that invites us, as Paul does, to recognize that in accepting our vulnerabilities we can be strong and courageous (2 Corinthians 12:10). In being real with one another, we can be truly free to love God, one another, and ourselves.
Gini is married to Joe Gerbasi, a federal prosecutor, and is the mother of Michael, 27 and Andrew, 23. When Gini is not working, you will probably find her at a baseball field, coffee in hand, cheering her favorite MLB team (the O’s!) or one of the men in her life.
Psst! Gini is on Facebook and Twitter, and also co-hosts a podcast – The Irreverends – with our former Assistant Rector, the Rev. Tim Watt, who is now Rector of Trinity Church in Newport, Rhode Island
The Rev. Sarah Helene Duggin, Associate Rector (part-time)
email: Sarah @ stjohnsgeorgetown.org
Sarah has served at St. John’s since she came to the parish to do field work as a seminarian in 2007. At St. John’s, Sarah has participated in a number of parish
ministries with an emphasis in the area of pastoral care. Sarah attended both Virginia Theological Seminary and Wesley Theological Seminary. Sarah is a member of the diocesan Constitution and Canons Committee, and she is involved in a variety of professional activities related to faith at work. Sarah came to the priesthood after a career in the law. She was a partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Williams & Connolly, LLP and then Vice President & General Counsel of The University of Pennsylvania Health System and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). In addition to serving at St. John’s, Sarah teaches Constitutional Law and Corporations at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. She also teaches courses in American Law for Canonists at Catholic University’s School of Canon Law. Sarah holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, an A.B. from Smith College, and an M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary. She graduated from Wesley in 2009 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2010.
Aaron Goen, Director of Music
email: Aaron @ stjohnsgeorgetown.org
St. John’s welcomed Aaron Goen (pronounced “Go-in”) as our Director of Music in August, 2021, and we are thrilled to have him with us! You can click here to go to Aaron’s website, which will give you a sense of his impressive musical gifts, though you’ll have to meet him in person to begin to get to know his relaxed, engaging personality. Since 2014, Aaron has served as the Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke, where he directed multiple choirs and a concert series. Aaron has also been serving as organist and accompanist at the National Cathedral School (NCS) and St. Alban’s School. In August of 2021, his position changed and he is now teaching music to 4th and 5th graders at NCS.
A native of San Diego, Aaron graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor’s in Music, as a Chancellor’s Scholar (cum laude), and received a Master’s in Organ Performance from Indiana University, where he was a Merit Scholar. He is married to Matt, who is a nurse anesthetist, and they have a three year-old daughter, Aubrey.
Kurt Ellison, Director of Operations
202-338-1796 – email: Kurt @ stjohnsgeorgetown.org
Nibe Winston, Accountant
202-338-1796
Vestry Meetings
These meetings are open to the public and are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
What happens at a vestry meeting?
The meeting format is both spiritual and businesslike. We open meetings with prayer, followed by a light dinner and a Bible study. The meetings are conducted according to an agenda sent out with other materials about a week before the meeting. Materials consist of committee reports, financial transactions, and draft minutes from the previous month’s meeting. Votes, in most cases, are by voice. At the end of business, we conclude with Compline and a prayer.