Christ Episcopal Church Clergy and Staff

The Reverend Peter Faass

Contact Rev. Peter

Rector
Rev. Peter came to Christ Church in September of 2006 as our priest-in-charge. He was instituted as our thirteenth rector in September of 2009. Born in the Netherlands, his family immigrated to the United States in 1957. Rev. Peter grew up in Connecticut. He attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City from which he graduated in 1999. He was ordained as a deacon in June of that year and then to the priesthood in December. After serving just over two years as a curate at Trinity Church in Torrington, CT, the Rev. Peter moved to New Hampshire where he served as the rector of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist for five years.

People often ask what they should call him; Reverend, Pastor, Father? His response: If you are under sixteen years of age you may call me any of those three, if you are older than sixteen any of those three or just plain Peter will do. Just don't call me late for dinner!

Rev. Peter loves liturgy, Bible study, cooking, hiking and reading. His favorite ice cream – for which he has a passion – is vanilla!

The Reverend Jim Greer

Adjunct Priest
Father Greer first became an Adjunct Priest at Christ Church in 1984 after serving parishes in Texas, Indiana, and Michigan. He later became rector of St. John's in Ohio City and chaplain at the VA Medical Cneter at Wade Park. Fr. Greer retired from St. John's in 1996 and from the VA in 2002. He has since served as interim rector for parishes in Parma, Brecksville, and Willoughby.

Jim graduated from General Theological Seminary in 1958 with an STB (MDIV) and received his STM from Nashotah House in 1972. In 1996, he was awarded the Chapter of the Years by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In 2008, Jim celebrated his 50th anniversary in the priesthood at Christ Church, the Greer's home parish (when not supplying elsewhere) for which they are grateful.

For the past 25 years, Jim and his wife Karen (Christ Church's grounds supervisor) have lived just one block east of Shaker Square. Jim's special interests are Prayer Book studies and liturgical theology—as we pray, so we believe.

Contact Rev. Melanie

The Reverend Melanie Sunderland

Adjunct Priest
Rev. Melanie came to Christ Episcopal Church as an Adjunct Priest in Easter 2010. She currently serves as a full-time chaplain with The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center and the Horvitz Palliative Medicine Unit and has been there for three years. A native of Utah, Rev. Melanie came to Cleveland in 2003 to serve as chaplain at Lutheran Hospital, a position she held for four years. From Utah to New Jersey to Ohio, she has lived in several areas of the country and many walks of life.

Rev. Melanie came to ministry later in life. She was a Health Educator prior to ministry, having received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from the University of Illinois in 1984 and a Master of Science degree in Human Sexuality from New York University in 1992. She obtained her Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia in 2001. She returned to Utah and served on the Ute Indian Reservation and in Salt Lake City. She is currently studying for certification as a Spiritual Director.

Contact Justin

Justin David Miller

Director of Music & Organist
Justin Miller graduated in 2009 from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey following organ studies with Ken Cowan. During his last two years at Westminster he held the post of Assistant Organist at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Morristown, New Jersey. As an active choral accompanist Justin collaborated with several ensembles, including the Westminster Schola Cantorum and the Westminster Symphonic Choir in preparation for performances with Gilbert Kaplan, Kurt Masur, and the New York Philharmonic. Justin's recent recital performances include St. Thomas Church, New York City; The Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York; Park Congregational Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan; St. Peter's Church, Morristown, New Jersey; and Blackburn Cathedral. During the 2009-2010 academic year, he held the organ scholarship at the Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Blackburn, England, where he was an integral member of a cathedral music program involving over 150 singers. In addition to accompanying the Daily Office, he played for major events attended by local dignitaries, members of Parliament, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin is currently pursuing a Masters of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studies with Todd Wilson.

Contact Leslie

Leslie Swaim-Fox

Director of Christian Formation
Leslie joined the staff at Christ Church as the Director of Christian Formation in the Summer of 2000, and is a life long Episcopalian. She loves her work, which brings together her passion for the spiritual life and the amazing lives of children! Leslie earned a Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has completed over 180 hours of training in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, becoming certified as a teacher for 3-6 year olds and for 6-9 year olds. Leslie lives in Cleveland Heights with her husband and their two children. When she isn't busy working in the atrium, she loves reading, walking with her dog, and spending time with family and friends. Dark chocolate, in all of its wonderful forms, is Leslie's not-so-private "secret passion."