The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf,
XII Bishop of Rhode Island
401-274-4500 x223
The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf was ordained to the diaconate in 1977, and to the priesthood in 1978, in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. She served as a curate for four years, followed by a six-year position as the vicar of an inner city mission in Philadelphia. From 1986 to 1995 she was the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville, KY, and has served as the twelfth Bishop of Rhode Island since February, 1996. She has been married to Tom Bair since April 2007. Besides her many religious interests, Bishop Wolf was a tournament tennis player as a young person, and was on the United States Field Hockey Squad for six years as a young adult. One of her hobbies is creating whimsical figures out of wood, paint, and found objects. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she spent most of her life between Philadelphia and Boston.
Ms. Liz Crawley
Executive Assistant to Bishop Wolf
liz@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x223
Liz started with the Diocese on November 5, 2007 and was previously with St. John's, Barrington from July 1994 as Parish Administrator. She has a full-time position with the Diocese as Bishop Wolf's assistant. Liz supports Bishop Wolf by keeping her calendar (a very busy one), maintaining parish and clergy files; point of contact for communication with the Office of the Bishop and a myriad of other duties. She lives in Wickford, has one son Adam who lives in Berkeley, CA, and one daughter Bethany who lives in North Kingstown and works for the Bradley School in Wakefield. Liz is President and founding member of Beyond Our Walls [B.O.W.], an interfaith non-profit organization formed to do deeds of outreach in the local community and beyond; she is a board member of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Rhode Island. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister and is a member of the Outreach Committee of St. John's, Barrington. In her spare time she likes to read, garden, take a daily walk and spend time with close friends. Click here for Liz' staff duties
Mr. Tylan Creason
Canon for Program & Administration, Bishop's Chaplain
ty@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x242
Ty has been with the Diocese for 5 years and is involved in the administrative portions of the ministry of the Diocesan office. He has oversight of the program areas of Christian Formation, the Episcopal Camp and Conference Center, and Hispanic Ministry. Ty is also involved in Young Adult and Campus Ministry, and coordinate the Taizé ministry of the Diocese, leading the Cathedral Taizé service and the pilgrimage for young adults. As Bishop's chaplain, Ty coordinates visitations, confirmations and other Diocesan liturgies. He trained as a contemplative monk with the order of Julian of Norwich for two years and has remained affiliated with the order since. He did his undergraduate work in sociology, with graduate studies in business administration, counseling, and theology. In a previous life, Ty worked in mental health as a clinician and clinical manager. He is a fan of the New England Revolution (football) and the Patriots (American football). Ty loves to travel and recently took up sea kayaking. He has two cats, Margaret and Hilda. Click here for Ty's staff duties
Betsy Fornal
Canon for Congregations and Clergy
Betsy@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x225
Betsy has been working for the Diocese in some capacity since 1991, as Deployment Officer, Consultant and now Canon for Congregations and Clergy. Her job is to assist the Bishop in matters dealing with congregations and clergy. In the clergy arena, this includes managing transitions in congregations, recruiting and deploying clergy, working with clergy on vocational issues, supporting interim clergy and consultants, and managing our interface with other dioceses. For congregations, this includes congregational development, strategic planning, and mergers. She and her husband Pete have four children and two grandchildren. They also have one cat, Rookie, who came to them as a free agent and is now managing their team. Click here for Betsy's staff duties
Ruth Meteer
Communications Director
ruth@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x226
Ruth has worked in nonprofit marketing & communications for more than a decade, and came on staff with the Diocese in 2008. As Communications Director, a large part of Ruth’s responsibilities are the artistic and editorial work of RISEN Magazine, for which she has won many awards including the coveted “Award of Excellence” for the best Episcopal Magazine or Periodical from the National Episcopal Communicator’s Conference. Ruth also has oversight of the Diocesan web & social media presence, E-RISEN events newsletter, advertising, and public relations. She spends significant time assisting Diocesan programs and departments with their communications needs, and serves as a consultant to our 50+ parishes. When not at work Ruth enjoys singing, writing poems, and popping up at open markets with her roaming vintage clothing shop, Gypsy. Click here for Ruth's staff duties
Ron Turnbull
Comptroller
ron@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x231
Ron is a Rhode Island native and has been working for the Diocese since 1968. He serves on Diocesan Council, Commission on Finance, Commission on Investments and The Episcopal Housing Foundation of RI Board of Directors. Ron maintains the financial records of the Diocese and Episcopal Charities with emphasis on DIT investments, apportionment and budgets. He is often called upon for "corporate history" from parishes and staff because of his longevity at the Diocese. Click here for Ron's staff duties
Joan DeCelles
Assistant Treasurer
joan@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x229
A native of Rhode Island, Joan has been working in the Finance Office since 1981. She serves on the Commission on Supplemental Benefits. She is responsible for Diocese and Charities accounting, lay and clergy payroll and benefits. She also oversees the Finance Assistant. Joan graduated from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and from Providence College with a MBA degree. February, 2007 she added an addition to her family. She now has a cute Portuguese Water Dog named Brandy. Click here for Joan's staff duties
Regina Barattini
Finance Assistant
regina@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x227
Regina came to the Diocese at the end of the Summer of 2001. She is responsible for Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable. She has lived in Rhode Island all her life, is married and has two children. Regina enjoys music and reading. Click here for Regina's staff duties
Bob Batchelor
Treasurer
Bob@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x246
Bob is the elected Treasurer of the Diocese. He has been re-elected to this position for a number of years by the annual convention. As chief financial officer, he is responsible for the overall finances of the diocese in conjunction with the finance office under the very capable leadership of Ron Turnbull. Bob serves on the Commission on Finance, the Executive Committee of Council, Diocesan Council, Budget Committee, resource to Episcopal Charities and numerous ad hoc committees of the Diocese. He is also responsible to assure the annual audit of the Diocese. Bob interacts with parishes in advising them on financial concerns. Bob can be found at the Diocesan offices on a fairly regular basis. Bob and his wife Ruth reside in East Greenwich where they attend St. Luke's Church. They are blessed with three children and eight grandchildren.
Mary Ann Kolakowski Director of Christian Formation
maryann@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x247Mary Ann serves parishes and persons within the diocese as a resource in support of life long Christian Formation. She regularly visits parishes and meets with formation and education leaders to support and assist in their planning, and connects new leaders with experienced ones whenever possible. She coordinates a variety of workshops and trainings and oversees the diocesan resource materials currently available in the Resource Center. She is responsible for the Diocesan Safe and Healthy Church Practices Training and is available to co sponsor and offer support to any diocesan group offering training and programming to the diocese. Prior to beginning her work on Diocesan Staff, she worked in the education and social service fields. She has taught professionally in schools and programs from pre- school to high school and in adult education programs throughout Rhode Island. She completed her undergraduate studies in History and Secondary Education and her graduate work in Religious Studies at Providence College. She has many years of experience as a Christian Educator and Lay Leader in Roman Catholic and Episcopal parishes in Rhode Island. She is a certified Education for Ministry (EFM) mentor and currently serves as convener of the Province 1 Christian Formation Network. She is a member of Trinity Church in North Scituate, Rhode Island and lives with her daughter Elizabeth and their dog Buddy in Chepachet. Click here for
Mary Ann's staff duties
Gloria Williams
Diocesan House Receptionist
gloria@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x221 Gloria is a Rhode Island native and it is her voice that you hear on the other end of the phone, greeting Diocesan callers or greeting visitors to Diocesan House. She occupies the 2nd floor Reception area. Gloria maintains the Diocesan Master Database. In addition to processing Parochial and Parish reports, she maintains the meeting calendars for the office and web and schedules the use of Diocesan meeting rooms. She handles both incoming and outgoing mail, the communication system, office equipment and is general office support staff. Click here for
Gloria's staff duties
The Rev. Susan Carpenter
Director of Summer Camps and Youth Programsprogram@eccri.org,
www.eccri.org Susan’s association with ECC spans 50 years! She was a camper from 2
nd grade right through high school and has stayed involved with the ECC community in various capacities. Her son and daughter-in-law met at ECC and she cannot wait for her grandson to become the third generation to fall in love with the camp. Susan Carpenter grew up in Scituate, RI. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education from Rhode Island College, and returned to the Scituate School system as a sixth grade teacher. In 2008 she also graduated from The General Theological Seminary in NYC with her Master of Divinity degree, was ordained, and served as the Associate Rector at St. John’s in Barrington. Susan is married to her high school sweetheart, Brian Carpenter, and they have two sons and one grandson. While the boys were young, Susan left teaching and opened “Cherry Valley Herb Farm”. She also founded and ran the RI Herb Festival, an annual event from 1998 – 2004.
Reverend Jose F. RobertsHispanic Ministries
revjroberts@yahoo.com 401-274-4500 x 245Rev. Roberts is from The Dominican Republic. He was ordained a priest August 15, 1982. He married Dolores Roberts on February 20, 1983, and has three children, Carolina Elizabeth age 23, Robert Isaac age 22, and Jose F. 20. He has been the Hispanic Missioner of this Diocese since January 2004, and is responsible for the Hispanic Ministry development. He also works as the Priest in charge of Saint George's Church in Central Falls, and the founder and Priest in charge of La Mision El Mesias, which is now worshiping in The Cathedral of St. John.
The Very Reverend Harry E. Krauss, III Dean of the Cathedral
hkrauss@cathedralofstjohn.org 401-331-4622Harry has been at the Cathedral for a little over two years and in addition to serving as the Dean he is a member of the Diocesan Council. Previously, he was the Vicar of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City and the Rector of All Saints' Church, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He read a degree in History from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia and a Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Harry was a Signal Officer in the US Army for four years and served at the Pentagon, in the GHQ in Qui Nhon, Viet Nam and in the GHQ, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas. In addition, to his clerical duties he collects private press books from the first quarter of the twentieth century and has a passion for heraldry. Harry also enjoys traveling and listening to classical music. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, the Morgan Library and the Burgon Society.
Peggy Amatore
Director - Episcopal Charities
peggy@episcopalri.org 401-274-4500 x234
Peggy is a Rhode Island native and lives with her husband in Matunuck. She began her work with Episcopal Charities in 1981. The purpose of Episcopal Charities is to raise and distribute funds to diocesan and community social service agencies serving those in need throughout Rhode Island in accordance with the Episcopal Charities Mission Statement. She coordinates and is responsible for all phases of the Episcopal Charities Annual Campaign, grant review and grant distribution process. Peggy recruits, trains and works closely with volunteers, parish chairs, campaign volunteers and Board members. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Rhode Island Chapter (AFP-RI) - an international networking organization. Peggy is also a member of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island (GCRI), in association with the Rhode Island Foundation - a group of many funders throughout the state.
Chris Decelles
Bio coming soon
Click here for Chris' staff duties
Tony Lonardo
Bio coming soon
Click here for Tony's Staff duties