Staff

Mission Statement

Christ Church is a community that welcomes all into the Household of Faith. We continually seek new ways to broaden our ministry, to renew our faith, and to serve Christ in all persons. Together we strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.

Brief History

Christ Church Parish was founded in 1702. The church is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and is part of the Four Corners Historic District. We are both an historic and a very modern church, fully utilizing the Book of Common Prayer. We are an Episcopal Church, a branch of the world-wide Anglican Community of Christian Churches, both Catholic and Protestant.

The Reverend Lisa Sauber Mitchell, Rector
Mother Lisa Mitchell graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology. She worked as a Medical Technologist for over ten years in Oklahoma, Los Angeles, and New York City. She attended Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, from 1982 to 1987, receiving a Master of Arts Degree in Theology. She then earned an STM (Masters in Sacred Theology) from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary, Nashotah, Wisconsin, in Liturgy with the thesis, Medieval Eucharistic Piety Among the Laity. She was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Los Angeles in 1989 and Priest in 1990. Mother Mitchell served as the Associate Rector of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, Buena Park, California, 1989-1990 and was Vicar and then Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Vinita, Oklahoma from 1991 to 1997. She has been at Christ Church, Shrewsbury since 1997, serving as the twenty-sixth Rector of the parish. She is currently a member of the Companion Diocese Committee for the Diocese of New Jersey and is the Diocesan Coordinator for EFM.

Staff
Victoria Cuff, Deacon Victoria Cuff was ordained to the Diaconate in October 1998 and served as deacon at Christ Church, Middletown, where she also served as Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries until May 2012. While serving in Middletown she set up two Godly Play classrooms. She and her husband have led five youth pilgrimages to England. In 2005 she was named as Archdeacon for discernment for the Diocese of New Jersey. Victoria retired from that position in 2013 and joined our staff that same year. She is married to William Cuff. The Cuffs have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Bill Balmer, Deacon After spending 40+ years in the financial services industry, Bill was fast approaching retirement when he jumped at the chance to follow the road to the Diaconate ~ hoping to do God’s good work, have some fun along the way, and stay relevant as long as possible.  A cradle Episcopalian, Bill had many years of experience in a number of different lay ministries, but his main interest was primarily finance (in addition to parish finances, he served for many years as a Diocesan Investment Trust board member).  Bill was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of New Jersey in May 2015. Since being ordained, he has become especially interested in preaching and teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, adult faith formation, facilitating weekly lectionary and bible studies, and mentoring first offenders in the local community as well as inmates at the N.J. Youth Correctional Facility in Bordentown.  Bill has also been active in various outreach ministries in central Jersey and beyond, including a diocesan supported medical equipment ministry and a faith in action Jubilee center which maintains a weekly community fellowship supper, food pantry, and thrift store serving anyone who comes to them for help. Bill and his wife, Jane, have been married for more than 50 years, and together they have two adult children, Evan and Erin, and six grand-children that have brought immeasurable joy and excitement to their lives.
Iris Chen, Music Director Iris Chen is a multifaceted musician: she is a church music director, a performer, an educator. As a keyboardist, she plays both the piano and organ. Earning her Master of Music degree and Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, she has often performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist in numerous settings. Ms. Chen is a skilled church musician, directing the choir at Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, for six years, and also at Faith United Church of Christ, Union. Finding interesting and varied music to match the liturgical calendar is her overarching goal, and one that she enjoys immensely. A music director must also be a teacher, and Ms. Chen is devoted to education, having taught music lessons to students of all ages for over two decades. She initiated a children’s choir at Faith UCC, and helps adult choristers not only learn the notes, but also the phrasing and expression of the music at hand. A native of Taiwan, Ms. Chen was baptized at Christ Presbyterian Church. She searches for spiritual meaning in all that she does, trying to live simply and being mindful of natural resources. Ms. Chen lives with her husband and two daughters in Edison, and enjoys cooking, going to museums, and spending time with her family.
Debbie Roese, Office Administrator Debbie was hired August of 2021 as our new Office Administrator. Her background consists of 15+ years of office management and accounting. She feels encouraged to use her organizational skills to help the church run efficiently. Debbie resides in Middletown, NJ.
Halina Nibbling, Sexton Born in Poland, Halina came to the United States at the age of 10. She grew up in North Jersey, where her parents still live. Halina and her husband Larry (the love of her life who she describes as kind, sweet, and hilarious) currently reside in Middletown. Their kids, Chelsea and Charlie, have four paws. They also have two in heaven, Cheyenne and Shelby, who she misses everyday. Larry found Christ Church four years ago and they have loved being members of this community. She considers it a privilege to be a part of this church, and now a member of the staff. Halina also serves as an acolyte and chalice bearer and is a member of the Altar Guild. Previous to working here, she was a dental hygienist for 25 years.
Bishop William “Chip” Stokes, XII Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey On May 4th, the Diocese of New Jersey elected The Rev. William “Chip” Stokes to be our 12th Bishop. He was Consecrated on November 2, 2013. For more information visit http://www.dioceseofnj.org/about-bishop-stokes/.
Donna Devlin Donna Devlin is part of our church staff and is our Regular Guest Educator. For more information on what Donna does to help others visit her website http://www.OneOtherVoice.com

Vestry 2023
	Peggy James	Senior Warden, Stewardship
	Connie Gaddard	Junior Warden
	Walter Dein	Property
	Elaine Feyereisen
	Sue Napoletano	Overseas Missions, Church School
	Sheila Hatami-Watson
	Martie Viets	Parish Life
	Larry Nibbling	Finance
	Carl Alfano	Property Coordinator. Graveyard Chair
	Dianne Regiec
	Robin Solbach

Office Of The Vestry
	Steve Craven	Treasurer
	Lynn Marengo Larry Nibbling	Assistant Treasurers
	Nancy Stewart	Vestry Clerk

Other
	Jamie Green	Parish Historian