Our Clergy & Staff

In December 2018, Fr. Joel Morsch became the thirty-third priest called to serve St. Andrew's as Rector. Previously, Fr. Joel Morsch was Rector of Christ Church, Bradenton, Florida for twelve years. He is married to Barbara and has three grown daughters and five grandchildren. Two of his daughters live in Bloomington, Illinois and the third lives in John’s Creek, Georgia.

Fr. Joel lived, worked and volunteered in St. Charles, Illinois for many years before hearing God’s call to the priesthood. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1997. He graduated from Nashotah House Theological Seminary in 1998.

After ordination, he went to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Naperville, Illinois as Associate Rector from 1998 until 2002. In 2002, he was called to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Franklin, Tennessee as Rector. He was in Franklin, Tennessee until 2006 then became Rector at Christ Church.

Parishioners and community members may request an appointment with Fr. Joel. Normally, appointments occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Call the office at 618-656-1929 during these hours to make an appointment.

To reach Fr. Joel directly, text or call 941-773-6018.

Father George Pence, a retired priest who is a member of St. Andrew's and assists with pastoral care, was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Chicago. He and his wife Ione have been married 56 years and have lived in the Edwardsville area a total of 27 years (ten years in the 60s and 17 years recently).

He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy at McKendree University, an M.A. in Social Science from the University of Illinois, an M.T.S. from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Church History and Ethics and a Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education and Statistics from St. Louis University.

Fr. George is a late vocation priest, coming to the Priesthood at age 40, after a career as a University Professor and Administrator. He was ordained a Priest in the Diocese of Central Florida in June of 1979. Since ordination, he has served Parishes in Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois and his last two assignments were as Rector, St. John's, Kewanee, IL, and as Canon Administrator and Treasurer, Diocese of Quincy in Illinois. He has also served as interim priest at St. Paul's Alton and interim Pastor of a Lutheran Church in Godfrey.

Henry Evans describes himself as “Someone who loves to play the organ!” He holds the Bachelor of Music Degree and a Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Piano Pedagogy from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and a Master of Music Degree in Organ Performance from the University of North Texas. In 1992, He was awarded the Organ Scholar Fellowship at Church of the Incarnation (Episcopal), Dallas, TX. He has played the organ and conducted church choirs for thirty-six years. During his extensive training, he studied with several well-known organists. His teachers included Kathleen Thomerson and Jesse Eschbach, and he was one of the last students of the French organist Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier. He has served as dean of the Saint Louis and Southern Illinois Chapters of the American Guild of Organists.

Eight parish volunteers currently work in place of an office staff member and oversee the printing of bulletins for Sunday services and special services, handle office phone calls and voicemail, distribute mail and packages, declutter the office, and help with organization in the choir room and the kitchen.

Current Office Volunteers are Marianne Cavanaugh, Mary Jane Helsel, Velma Schmidt, Marilyn Strangeman, Jane Weingartner, LaVernn Wilson and Cindy Yelverton. Marilyn Strangeman is pictured (left) as she prints Sunday bulletins. Contact Jane Weingartner to become a volunteer in the parish office.