Bishop Jake is the author of A Full Hearted Life-Following Jesus in this Secular Age (Abingdon Press, 2024), Finding God in Messy Places (Abingdon Press, 2021), A Resurrection Shaped Life (Abingdon Press, 2018), Your Untold Story (Church Publishing, 2018), and Gospel Memories (Morehouse, 2016). He has three adult children and lives in Alexandria, Louisiana, with his wife Joy and rescue pup, Gracie.
The Rev. Canon John Bedingfield came to St. James in November of 2021. He was called as Rector in January, 2022.
Canon John was ordained in the Diocese of Texas, after having received a Masters of Divinity degree from The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest – what is now Seminary of the Southwest. He also earned a liberal arts B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Texas School of Law.
Canon John practiced law for a number of years before being ordained to the priesthood. He has served congregations in Houston and Silsbee, Texas; and Lafayette, Opelousas, St. Joseph, and Alexandria, Louisiana.
Canon John is married to Donna. They have two grown children and nine grandchildren in Florida and Texas. You will see them with Taylor, their youngest, on Sundays. Taylor has Down Syndrome and is very proud of having graduated from high school in 2020 and is currently enrolled as a student in the Louisiana State University at Alexandria SPERO Program. The Bedingfield family also has a dog and a cat (who are very close to each other in size, and who run the household). Canon John appreciates most genres of music and loves playing the guitar.
Originally from Durham, North Carolina, Shelley has lived across the country and internationally as a former military spouse, eventually reaching Augusta, Georgia in 2016. While stationed there with her young family, she was able to complete her undergraduate coursework at Augusta University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Studies focusing on Anthropology and Communication.
She went on to serve that same campus community as the Episcopal Campus Ministry’s missioner, and it was from this space that she heard God’s call to ordained ministry. She and her child, Penn, left Augusta for The University of the South (Sewanee, TN) in 2021, where she received her Master of Divinity degree in May of 2024. From there she accepted the call from the Diocese of Western Louisiana to serve as curate at St. James Episcopal Church in Alexandria. Mother Shelley was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop Jake Owensby on behalf of Bishop Frank Logue on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at St. James Episcopal Church.
Mother Shelley and Penn enjoy many shared hobbies – crafting, painting, disc golf, nature walks –and are both often found with books in hand. Their small retinue is made complete by Abbot and Eliza, their much-loved and quirky rescue cats.
Michael has served as Music & Choir Director since 2012, and he has been very active as both an accompanist and choral director for community theatre and music productions around Alexandria. Michael has 30 years of music teaching experience, especially piano.
Michael has served as the accompanist for the Louisiana College Chorale for 15 years, which toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He has been the Musical Director and/or accompanist for more than 50 productions for the CENLA (Central Louisiana) area, working with LBM Productions, City Park Players, Lagniappe Theatre, and Hallelujah (sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art). Michael has also performed with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and has composed original scores for several local productions.
Michael lives in Alexandria with his daughter, Emma.
A Central Louisiana resident for most of her life, Melva has enjoyed a fulfilling career in music education as well as in church music ministry. She holds both national and state certification as a teacher of piano through the Music Teachers National Association and the Louisiana Music Teachers Association. In 2021 she was honored to be named as the LMTA Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and currently serves as the Vice President of Certification for LMTA.
Melva holds a Bachelor of Music degree as well as a B.S. in Public Administration from Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College) and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern State University. She recently retired as Director of Music and Liturgy from St. Rita Catholic Church.
Melva and her husband Marty have an adult daughter, Morgan, who is a student in the SPERO program at LSUA. The family pets include Diamond Doves, House Sparrows, a green-cheeked conure, and a calico cat.
