Cathedral Clergy & Staff

The Rt. Rev. Bonnie A. Perry

The Rt. Rev. Bonnie A. Perry

Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan

313.833.4435
BishopPerry@edomi.org

The Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry comes from a Marine family and has lived in California, Hawaii, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and most recently, Chicago.

Perry earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit college in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduation, she served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in West Oakland and Skid Row, Los Angeles. Feeling called to ordained ministry and wrestling with being a Roman Catholic woman, she followed her call to ministry by matriculating at Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she met her spouse, Susan Harlow. In her final year in seminary, Perry was received into the Episcopal Church. In addition to her Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, Perry also has a Doctor or Ministry (specializing in Congregational Development) from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. 

Following her ordination as deacon and then as priest in 1990 in the Diocese of Newark, Perry served three churches in New Jersey: Christ Church, Hackensack, Christ Church, Ridgewood and St. Peter’s Clifton. In 1992, she moved to Chicago to follow her spouse, who had accepted a seminary faculty position.

For the next 27 years, Perry led the congregation of All Saints’, Chicago, growing the community from 35 people, to one of the largest and the most active congregations in the Diocese of Chicago. All Saints’ is blessed with a diverse and youthful congregation, with an average age of 38. All Saints’ has served its community in many ways, including the creation of Ravenswood Community Services, a ministry that offers a weekly family style dinner for 125 neighbors and groceries for another 200 + neighbors living on the North side of the city of Chicago. In addition, the congregation is deeply involved in community organizing, advocacy for access to quality public education for all children, full inclusion for LGBT people around the world and access to education and medical care for the people living in the diocese of Renk in South Sudan.

Perry teaches a class at Bexley-Seabury Seminary on Reimaging Congregations in Mission, which addresses the paradigms for effective ministry in the 21st century. She is also a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post.

On June 1, 2019, Perry was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan by the lay people and the clergy of the diocese at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. She is the first woman and first lesbian priest to be elected bishop in the diocese’s 185-year history.

In addition to her work as a clergy person, Perry is also an internationally recognized sea kayak coach and guide, holding top coaching and guiding credentials in both the British Canoe Union (BCU) and the American Canoe Association (ACA).

Perry coaches and guides regularly around the world in such places as Baja, Mexico, the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, the West coast of Scotland, the Inner and Outer Hebrides’; as well as New Zealand and Canada. She is sponsored by Kokatat, Werner Paddles, Seals Spray Skirts and Riverside Kayak Connection, located in Wyandotte, MI.

Perry is one of a handful of women in North American to hold the British Canoe Union’s: Advanced Sea Kayak Leader, Advanced Water Coach, and Advanced Water Provider/Assessor.

Perry resides in the city of Detroit and is married to The Rev. Dr. M. Susan Harlow, a United Church of Christ Pastor. Together, they have an Australian Shepherd named Tali and a long-haired, miniature dachshund named Owen.

The Very Reverend S. Scott Hunter, D.Min.

The Very Reverend S. Scott Hunter, D.Min.

Dean and Rector

313.833.4404
shunter@detroitcathedral.org

Scott came to the Cathedral as their 10th Dean and 17th Rector in April 2007, having served just prior as Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Michigan. Ordained deacon in 1988 and priest in 1989, Dean Hunter served parishes in South and North Carolina, in Illinois and in West Virginia, prior to coming to the Diocese of Michigan.

Born in Greenville, SC, Dean Hunter studied at Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC (Bachelor of Science cum laude with a major in Economics and minor in Biology); at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL (Masters of Divinity); and at the College of Preachers of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. He completed his Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from the Graduate Theological Foundation (South Bend/Oxford/Rome) focusing on leadership and spirituality. As an Oxford Foundation Fellow he studied at Oxford University while on sabbatical in 2014.

In addition to his roles as pastor, priest, and teacher, his responsibilities as Dean of the Cathedral include chairing the Cathedral Foundation Board & Community Services board, and serving on the Cathedral Chapter. The Cathedral Chapter oversees certain aspects of building and property ministry related to the Diocesan-Cathedral Center campus, also known as the Cathedral Close or Cathedral Green. The dean is also an ex-officio member of the Board of Crossroads of Michigan.

Additionally Dean Hunter is involved in several other leadership areas. He is a member of the Board of Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, where he serves on the Quality of Care Committee, and on the board of Midtown Detroit, Inc.  In the Diocese of Michigan he currently serves as a Trustee of the Diocese. He has worked locally with Mariners Inn. Nationally, he served on the board of directors of the Conference of Diocesan Executives and was a two-term president. He served on the founding board of The Nathan Network, a ministry of the church committed to a safer church environment for all people from 2001 to 2010. He was a founding board member and first president of the first recycling efforts in Buncombe County, NC.

He resides in Detroit with his wife. They have one adult daughter.

Jeremy David Tarrant

Jeremy David Tarrant

Canon Precentor, Organist and Choirmaster

313.833.7547
jtarrant@detroitcathedral.org

Jeremy David Tarrant joined the Cathedral staff in 1994 as Assistant Organist. Since 2000, he has served as Organist and Choirmaster, and in April of 2007 he was seated as Canon Precentor of the Cathedral in thanksgiving and recognition of his role in the liturgical and musical life of the Cathedral community.  He is the founding director of the Cathedral Choir School of Metropolitan Detroit.

Jeremy David Tarrant is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music where he earned the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance and church music in the classes of Robert Glasgow and James Kibbie. His other instructors include Betty R. Pursley and Corliss Arnold. He has had additional coaching with Lynne Davis.

Mr. Tarrant is in frequent demand as a teacher and clinician, and regularly serves on the faculties of the summer courses offered by the Royal School of Church Music in America, as well as the American Guild of Organists summer Pipe Organ Encounters. He has served on the faculties of Oakland University and the University of Michigan.

An active concert organist, Jeremy David Tarrant has performed widely in North America and France. His debut solo recording of Widor’s Symphonie VII, along with music of Litaize and Vierne, was released in early 2018 to enthusiastic critical acclaim.

In July, 2014 Mr. Tarrant conducted the Cathedral Choir during its residency at Chichester Cathedral in England.  This tour included concerts and services in Canterbury and Southwark Cathedrals.  On the choir’s two CD releases, Nowell Sing We, and Evensong for All Saints, he is featured as organ soloist as well as conductor.

Jeremy David Tarrant is represented by Seven Eight Artists.

www.seveneightartists.com
www.jeremydavidtarrant.com

The Reverend Anthony Estes

The Reverend Anthony Estes

Detroit Church Partnership Missioner

313.833.7548
aestes@detroitcathedral.org

Anthony is on a spiritual journey that led to his ordination in this Cathedral as Deacon in December 2018 and as Priest in June 2019. A native Detroiter, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Anthony now serves The Detroit Church Partnership, acting as Rector of All Saints Episcopal Church Detroit; Rector of St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church Detroit; and Associate and Partnership Missioner here at the Cathedral. He also volunteers as a chaplain in the Detroit Police Chaplain Corps. Anthony is married to Brittany.

The Venerable Tim Spannaus

The Venerable Tim Spannaus

Deacon

313.833.4432
tspannaus@detroitcathedral.org

The Venerable Tim Spannaus is Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and deacon of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. Tim has been a deacon since 1996, having been raised up and serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and then being received into the Episcopal Church in 2006. He previously served at St. John’s, Royal Oak, where he initiated the Stephen Ministry program and Education for Ministry.

He is retired from Wayne State University, where he was Sr. Lecturer and Program Coordinator of Learning Design and Technology until 2020. He earned his PhD from Wayne State. He is former president and a Fellow of the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi).

He also serves the diocese and the Episcopal Church in a variety of roles relating to formation and Safe Church, Safe Communities, including the Task Force to Develop Safe Church Policies and Training. He serves on and was formerly chair of The Commission on Ministry and participated in the revision of the process for ordination, including developing competencies and formation plans for those seeking ordination.

Tim is married to Collette Pariseau and has two sons and two grandsons. He enjoys baking, woodworking, and road trips. 

The Reverend Judith Schellhammer

The Reverend Judith Schellhammer

Priest Associate

313.833.4415
jschellhammer@detroitcathedral.org 

Pastor Judith Schellhammer has had a long and varied career. She has worked as a Registered Nurse, taught in Patient Education, homeschooled her three children, served as a residence director in a college dorm for eighteen years, and worked as the Physics Lab Director at Hillsdale College.  She was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2016. Prior to her arrival at the Cathedral, she served with the others on the Ministry Support Team at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Cambridge Junction.

Her work with the Diocese of Michigan has also taken many forms: as a facilitator for Exploring Your Spiritual Journey (EYSJ), a member of and Assisting Secretary for Diocesan Council, creator and author of the Nuts and Bolts Blog, Dean of the Lyster Deanery, member of the Whitaker Advisory Council, and Deputy for General Convention.  She has also been a participant in diocesan educational opportunities including Anglicanism and Social Justice.

In her spare time, Pastor Judith likes getting to know new friends, going for long walks enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and gathering with friends and family.

Charlotte Comstock

Charlotte Comstock

Director of Operations and Provost

313.833.7541
ccomstock@detroitcathedral.org 

Charlotte is the Director of Operations and Provost. Charlotte has over 15 years of experience supporting senior leadership, designing process improvements, developing communications, and organizing meetings and events.  She is a Notary Public and a member of Toastmasters International. Charlotte is looking forward to working for a faith-based organization and making a positive contribution to the lives of others.

Robin Doher

Robin Doher

Financial Administrator

313.833.7542
rdoher@detroitcathedral.org

As the Financial Administrator Ms. Doher handles all pledge and contribution records as well as overseeing many of the day-to-day aspects of the financial operations of the Cathedral, the Cathedral Chapter, the Cathedral Foundation, Cathedral Community Services and the Cathedral Choir School of Metropolitan Detroit.  Robin joined the Cathedral staff in March of 2011. Prior to joining us she worked for the Country Club of Detroit and Wayne County Clerk/3rd Circuit Court. 

Dr. Sarah Simko

Dr. Sarah Simko

Associate Organist and Communications Coordinator

313.833.7544
ssimko@detroitcathedral.org

Dr. Sarah Simko is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan. Dr. Simko studied with Professor James Kibbie. She is the Adjunct Faculty Instructor of Organ at Madonna University. She completed her Masters in Music with Professor Kola Owolabi, also at the University of Michigan. She received her Bachelors degree from the Eastman School of Music, with Professors Nathan Laube, Edoardo Bellotti, William Porter and Hans Davidsson.

Dr. Simko is the recipient of a Graduate Award from the Presser Foundation, to be used to create a comprehensive set of recordings of organ music by living American female composers. The goal of this project is to expand the accessibility of a rich, and overlooked body of repertoire. Her CD’s, a set of three titled “Living Voices,” is in the process of being recorded and released.  “Volume 1: Sacred Inspirations” was recorded at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit, and is available on her website: sarahsimko.com.

Dr. Simko has given recitals at such notable venues as Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Methuen, Massachusetts; St. Paul’s Cathedral (Anglican), London, Ontario, Canada; Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, Detroit; the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal), Detroit; Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor; among others. She has performed in masterclasses with Dr. Marilyn Mason, Dr. David Wagner, Ken Cowan, Bruce Neswick, Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois, and Michel Bouvard.