The Rev. Alan C. James (addressed as Alan or Fr. Alan) began his ministry as interim rector on February 15, 2024, while the parish searches for its next rector (senior pastor). Alan has been engaged in a variety of ministries over his 28 years serving as a priest in the Episcopal Church. Prior to coming to COS, Alan was the interim rector, rector, or associate rector of seven congregations in California, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. He has also served as a regional canon missioner on the bishop’s staff in the Diocese of Western Michigan and canon to the ordinary in the Diocese of Ohio.

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Fr. Alan’s passion in ministry is assisting congregations discern who they are as a faith community - how they can best steward their individual and collective gifts while deepening their relationships with God and one another. It is his goal to help parishioners see and share the gift of God’s joy and peace with one another.

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A native of San Diego, California, Alan served as an officer in the US Navy for four years prior to ordination. He is married to the Very Rev. Lisa Hackney-James, the Provost of St. James Cathedral. Together they have a blended family with six adult children and seven grandchildren.

The Rev. Jess Elfring-Roberts (she/they), a vocational deacon, is a product of diocesan youth ministry from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, holding a B.A. in Acting from Columbia in Chicago and an M.Ed. from Moreland University (Washington, DC). As a speaker and facilitator, Jess is renowned as a catalyst for positive transformation. They have pioneered a unique approach to social impact by bridging spirituality and comedy, using improv to break down barriers, spark creativity, and inspire empathy and trust. With authenticity and connection, Jess empowers individuals and communities to create a more vibrant and equitable world.

Jess's vocational ministry focuses on youth and young adults, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. In the broader Episcopal Church, Jess has made contributions as a deputy to the General Convention in 2018, 2022, and 2024. Jess has also partnered with the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing and the Office of Youth Ministry's pilot program on Racial Healing, serving as a chaplain. Additionally, Jess has been part of the Episcopal Youth Event Design Team and currently sits on the Council of Advice for Safe Church, Safe Communities. During the biennium, Jess chaired the Standing Commission on Formation and Ministry Development.

As the Executive Director of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers, Jess draws upon 20 years of experience in camp and hospitality ministry to build up inclusive, enriching environments. Their dedication to pastoral care, community advocacy, and bridge-building creates spaces where everyone feels welcomed and affirmed.

Jess resides in Chicago alongside her wife, Rebecca, and their two daughters Eliza and Tilly. Jess enjoys being creative either performing improv with the group Part Dog, teaching at Second City, or making film shorts with Urban Pebble Productions.

Richard was born in Pittsburgh and did most of his schooling in the east. In 1992 Richard came to Chicago and made it his well-loved home. He has been a priest for over 30 years with the early part of his priesthood dedicated to serving small rural parishes. Since coming to Chicago Richard has engaged in both clinical care (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) with his outpatient psychotherapy practice and university teaching. Currently he is an Associate Clinical Professor at Northwestern’s Medical School and an Adjunct Professor in DePaul’s Religious Studies and Psychology departments. In 2010 Richard received his PhD and is a specialist in Christian Origins (Specifically Q Studies and how Christianity came into being). In his spare time Richard enjoys cooking, reading, and keeping fit with his wife Mina Dulcan, MD.

John Dally was hired by former COS rector Wilson Reed to assist him in 1987, when John had moved to Chicago from California to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago.  He met his husband, Todd Young, the following year when they served together at Food for Friends, then called Saturday Lunch.  He completed his doctorate in Religion and Literature in 1994 and joined the faculty of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. John taught preaching at Seabury for fifteen years and held the appointment of Professor of Theology and Culture before retiring in 2019.  In recent years he has become keenly interested in the way images and music help individuals and communities express deeply-held theological convictions and insights into the riches of an ancient faith.  Many COS'ers got a taste of his work in the parish retreats he has led for us since 2012.  He and Todd have written and directed the COS Christmas pageant for more than a decade.

Br Will has been on staff at Church of Our Saviour since 2017 and brings over 15 years of experience in administration and property management work. His leadership at Church of Our Saviour includes the areas of administration and finance, property, communications, and relations with the diocese and the larger Church. His own ministries both here at COS and at his primary parish of the Church of the Atonement in Edgewater include preaching, altar guild and flowers, adult formation and small groups, Education for Ministry (EfM), liturgical coordination. He has served on Vestry's and Diocesan Council previously. 

Br. Will continues to hone his skills as a Spiritual Director and is a professed member of The Community of the Mother of Jesus, a vowed religious community in the monastic tradition of the Episcopal Church. He also supports the work of the National Association of Episcopal Christian Communities. He loves his work and is grateful for the opportunity to explore his vocation within the Church. He lives in Evanston and he shares his home life with his partner Johnard and their corgi Lily. 

Like many Episcopalians, Gregory Peebles (he/him; they/them) started life as a Baptist. However, unlike many others, Gregory spent the first two decades of life singing gospel and bluegrass music on the Alabama revival circuit.  

Once in undergraduate school, Gregory devoted as much time to the musical theatre as he did to the concert hall, providing musical direction to department productions, and even writing an original confessional rock-musical. After graduation, Gregory moved to Chicago and began singing with prestigious groups like the choruses of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. In 2008, Gregory completed and received a Master's degree from Roosevelt University. 
Gregory sang hundreds of concerts on three continents from 2008 - 2014 with Chanticleer, the San Francisco-based, GRAMMY-award winning ensemble, for which he was also the assistant music director from 2012 - 2014. 
 
After logging almost 500,000 miles of travel in 6 years, Gregory stopped living life on the road and came “home” to Chicago. Following so much travel, Gregory is pleased to be a “home body,” spending his time learning how to cook (finally!), and spoiling his kitty, Meowgustine. In addition to his work at COS, Gregory also supports the parish church of St Matthew's, in Evanston.

Cate and her husband Michael (who also serves on the worship team) began their careers as Episcopal musicians at Grace Episcopal in New Lenox, IL, shortly after they were married in 2001.  After moving to Chicago in 2006 they were blessed to be welcomed into the COS community.

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Cate holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Band and Choral Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and currently works in corporate development for WFMT-WTTW.  She also performs with the Chicago Chamber Choir, and serves as the alto section leader. 

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Michael holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Eastern Illinois University, respectively.  He teaches orchestra at Whitney M. Young Magnet High school in Chicago Public Schools and serves on the artistic staff for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, for which he conducts the Concert Orchestra.

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Cate and Mike have two wonderful children, Ariana and Leith, who are both extremely talented musicians in their own right both as instrumentalists and vocalists. Ariana and Leith can often been seen at COS playing and singing on Sunday when they are in town.