The Rev. Dr. Scott M Harding,
Rector
Fr. Scott M. Harding was called to be the rector of St. Matthias’ in July of 2019. He has a strong passion for bringing God’s grace and healing to the parish and community through a common vision of being partners with one another in the transforming power and love of Jesus Christ. It is his hope that those to who come to St. Matthias’, and those to whom St. Matthias’ goes will experience the love and joy of God through worship, prayer, outreach, and relationships. In addition to enjoying spending time with his wonderful wife, Kristi, and their five children and one granddaughter, Fr. Scott enjoys cooking, reading, and all types of sporting events. He is an avid cyclist, and his goal for the upcoming year is to ride 5000 miles.
The Rev. Gwin Hanahan
Priest Associate
Gwin was ordained an Episcopal priest at All Saints Episcopal Church, Atlanta in April 2013, five days before her 65th birthday. Following her ordination, she celebrated her first communion with the Church of the Common Ground, a church community on the streets of downtown Atlanta. Gwin came to St. Matthias’, Toccoa after she and her husband Jim came home from Tanzania where they had been invited by Bishop Mdimi Mhogolo to return, Gwin as a teacher-priest and Jim as a physician. Mission work is in their future! Growing up in the then-village of Clemson, SC, as the daughter of a country doctor, Gwin accompanied her dad as he attended patients across three rural counties. Gwin and Jim raised four children in the Episcopal church while Jim built a large family practice in his clinic in Seneca, SC, and Gwin kept the home fires burning, sometimes teaching at the Clemson Montessori School. Their five grandchildren are lights in their lives.
Deacon Lisa Parker
The Rev Deacon Lisa Parker comes to us from Sarasota, Florida. She and her husband Mike, her husband of 29 years recently moved to Martin. They fell in love with Northeast Georgia after a visit to Toccoa for the 2017 Eclipse. She was ordained a deacon in December of 2019 in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Prior to discerning her call to the diaconate, she served on the vestry, altar guild and stewardship team. In Florida, Lisa was active in social justice ministry with a local coalition of Churches that successfully advocated for a comprehensive treatment court to provide treatment not incarceration for the homeless mentally ill in Sarasota. Lisa also supported the local Food Pantry by recruiting volunteers to keep it running during the pandemic. She is a graduate of Education for Ministry. She is an active member of FORMA and the Association of Episcopal Deacons.
She and Mike have two grown children. Paige lives in Idaho and Jake moved with them to Georgia after a stint in the Army. She was the owner of Lisa M Parker Insurance, Inc. specializing in group benefits for small employers and Medicare. After college, Lisa was a case manager with New York Hospital and a shelter manager for Grace Church Community Center in White Plains, New York. She is an avid quilter and sewist. She and Mike enjoy annual summer road trips that generally cover 2000 miles or more.