The Rev. Jack King, Rector
The Rev. Thomas Ryden, Assistant Rector
The Rev. Doug Floyd, Church Planter for St. Brendan’s
Stephen Nelson, Financial Manager
David Clifton, Director of Worship & Music Arts
Kaye Freels, Director of Children’s Ministries
Volunteer Clergy
The Rev. John Roop, Assisting Priest
The Rev. Laird Bryson, FODC, Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction
The Rev. David Freels, Campus Mission
The Rev. David Sincerbox, Parish Deacon
The Vestry
Jared Adams
Greg Davidson
Heather Finley
Jim Harman
Eileen Judice
David LaRose
Robin Leonard
Jack King
Madison Randolph, Treasurer
Michael Rigas
McCall Simon
You may read minutes from Vestry meetings here.
Jack King, Rector
jack@apostlesonline.org
A long-time Knoxville native, Jack grew up in Fountain City, moved away to school, pastored in England, and eventually came back home. He’s grateful to serve the Kingdom of God in his hometown. He leads Apostles with a passion to see every believer “presented mature in Christ Jesus.”
Jack met his wife Emily in the fall of 2005, and married in July 2007. The Kings have a daughter, Madeleine, and a son, Colin. Jack’s main interests beyond parish ministry revolve around books: poetry, history, fiction, and biographies; distance running; playing guitar and hammered dulcimer; cooking for his wife and friends; and following the Boston Red Sox are other ways that Jack relaxes and unwinds.
Jack received a B.A. in History from Samford University in 2000 and an MDiv from Duke Divinity School in 2004.
Jack writes at AnglicanPastor.com.
Check out Jack’s bookshelf at Goodreads.
Thomas Ryden, Assistant Rector
Thomas grew up in Sharpsburg, GA and has come to Knoxville by way of Birmingham, AL and Johnson City, TN. He received the call to ministry while attending Samford University and has served in several youth and worship ministry roles while completing his undergrad and master’s degrees. He is thankful to God and to Apostles for the opportunity to serve as Assistant Rector. He is excited to journey with students as they are formed into the people God is calling them to be, to facilitate Apostles’ outreach to our community, and to help our church become more interconnected within itself.
He enjoys watching, reading, and debating all things Star Wars, playing guitar, and following the Atlanta Braves.
Thomas is married to Brittany, whom he met at Samford.
Thomas received his B.A. in Classics from Samford University in 2011 and his Master of Divinity from Emmanuel Christian Seminary in 2015.
Doug Floyd, Church Planter for St. Brendan’s
doug@apostlesonline.org
In December of 1988, Doug married his sweetheart Kelly, and two weeks later they moved into a community to serve and live alongside people struggling with drug and alcohol problems. Doug and Kelly’s initial step toward intentional community came to characterize their life in and out of ministry.
Inspired by Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Doug sometimes thinks of our journey with God’s people as a “circle of friends on pilgrimage for the love of God.” Doug writes, “We walk through life on our way to the holy city. Along the way, we live out and tell our stories: these stories are sometimes sad, funny, irreverent, and poignant. Ultimately they are doxological taken up into worship of God the Father, through Son, by the Spirit.”
Doug received a B.A. in English and Communication from U.T. in 1987 and a M.A. in Rhetoric from Regent University in 1994.
Doug writes at Doug Talks Torah and Foundling House.
Check out Doug’s bookshelf at Goodreads.
Stephen Nelson, Financial Manager
Stephen grew up in Ocala, FL, but is a mountain-man at heart. He’s thrilled to live in Knoxville and enjoys hiking, running, and cycling. He’s an insatiable learner and a dedicated craftsman—always building and creating with quality.
Stephen went to Samford University in Birmingham, AL. While the education was wonderful, he met Jess and they married in 2012. They have two boys.
The church is a constant in Stephen’s life. He was called to ministry in high school. In college, he preached and served as a camp counselor. After graduation, he served as the Youth Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Maryville, TN. He has a heart for building up the Kingdom and offering our community as a place of faith, integrity, and healing.
Stephen received a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Samford University in 2011.
David Clifton, Director of Worship & Music Arts
david@apostlesonline.org
From an early age, David Clifton has been involved with church worship music. After receiving a scholarship to join Peterborough Cathedral choir, he attended The King’s School Peterborough, a choir school founded by Henry VIII, where his interest in the arts grew into a full-fledged passion. He went on to study painting, ceramics, and education at Bishop Otter College, Chichester, and received his Bachelor of Education degree from Sussex University. During his time at college, he also studied music, played in several contemporary music groups, and signed his first recording contract. He spent the next season recording, writing, and touring with some of the UK’s leading music artists before dedicating more time to composition, recording, production, and consultancy work with record companies.
More recently, David has combined his professional experience with his role as a church musician to serve in London at Holy Trinity Brompton, St. Mark’s, St. Saviour’s, and Emmanuel. In the fall of 2009, David moved from London to join the Apostles Anglican staff as Director of Music and Worship Arts.
David’s music can be downloaded at Little Room Recordings.
Kaye Freels, Director of Children’s Ministries
Kaye grew up in South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B. A. in History Education. After 13 years in the banking industry, she started an in-home daycare. Later, she was employed at Grace Episcopal Church in the nursery and taught Mother’s Morning Out. From there she moved over to Grace Episcopal Day School as a Pre-K and First Grade teacher for five years. In 2008, she and her family relocated to Knoxville, when her husband, David, became the Campus Missioner at the University of Tennessee. David and Kaye have three children, Kaitlyn, Becca, and Ben and live with their cat Mrs. Peele.
Kaye has continued her post-college education by taking classes that focus on Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She has applied to add Pre-K through Grade 3 certification to her Tennessee Teacher’s License, qualifying her to teach grades Pre-K – 12. She enjoys combining her education and ministry experience to lead children’s ministry at Apostles.
Laird Bryson, FODC, Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction
Laird was born in Camden, New Jersey shortly after the ark landed. In Florida, Laird met and fell in love with Carley Ann Freck (aka Bitsy) at the tender young age of 15. He never did get over that love, and they married in 1960. Laird served as a Flight Medical Officer and a Cardiologist in the United States Air Force and later in private practice. Answering a clear and persistent call from God to enter the ordained ministry, Laird left medicine and served as a Priest in various parishes throughout East TN.
Laird retired from parish ministry and he and Bitsy entered into what turned out to be a three-year adventure in motor homing full time across the United States (all the states except Michigan) and parts of Canada. They both have served in a wide range of mission both locally and abroad.
Laird received a B.S. in science from University of Florida in 1964, an M.D. in Internal Medicine at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in 1972, an MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1991, and a Master of Sacred Theology in Spiritual Directions from General Theological Seminary. He is also a professed member of the Third Order, Society of St. Francis.
The Rev. David Freels, Campus Mission
David is a native Knoxvillian, a West High and UT graduate, who is returning home after 20 years. David came to follow Jesus through YoungLife and volunteered as a leader through college. After 9 years as a Deputy Sheriff’s investigator (more Mayberry than CSI) in South Carolina, he returned to full-time youth ministry at Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park, FL in 1997. David was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2002. “Relational ministry is what made the difference in my life and God has opened the door for that to happen at UT. God has been shaping my heart and preparing the way for a disciple-making mission at UT and I am excited and thankful to be a part of what God is doing through and with the Mission in Knoxville.”
David and Kaye live with their three children, Kaitlyn, Becca, and Ben, one grandchild, Harry, David’s mom, and with their cat Mrs. Peele.
The Rev. David Sincerbox, Parish Deacon
David is a retired math, science and physics instructor who also served as a science museum director. He holds two degrees from the University of Tennessee. He has sixty semester hours above his Masters in educational administration and is certified as such with the state of Tennessee. David has over thirty-five years as a Bible teacher, small group leader and spiritual leader. He was a Presbyterian ruling elder for over twenty years. After retiring as a math instructor, he served as the special assistant to the Reverend T. M. Moore, noted author and lecturer, at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee for two and a half years. David was ordained as an Anglican deacon on August 4, 2009. David serves as a parish deacon at Apostles, serving as the church’s representative in the city through outreach and service projects. David has led Apostles to work with Operation Backyard and serve low-income families at West Hills Elementary School. He has been married to his wife, Sandy, for forty-one years and she is an invaluable part of his ministry.
David writes at Breakpoint.org
The Rev. John Roop, Assisting Priest
John is a native of Knoxville and was a third generation member of the Christian Church, where he served as deacon, elder, and especially as a teacher. He and his wife were drawn to the Anglican Church in a somewhat roundabout manner by the rhythm of the daily office, the richness of liturgy, and the presence of a sacramental worldview. John was ordained to the priesthood in 2015. He looks forward to continued ministry at Apostles.
John married his high school sweetheart, Clare, 41 years ago. They both work as high school teachers—John in mathematics and Clare in biology. They have one wonderful daughter, Mary Kathleen, who is currently in college studying secondary science education. John enjoys playing and composing music for various instruments, and reading—with coffee, of course.
John writes at First Blessings and Anglican Pastor.