Staff and Clergy

  • Ruthanne Adams Martinez

    ADMINISTRATOR & TREASURER

    Ruthanne Adams Martinez holds a B.A. in Music and B.S. in Accounting from Santa Clara University, graduating magna cum laude and winning several awards, and a M.A. in Music from San Jose State University. Over a period of 31 years, she has studied harp, piano, organ, and is an accomplished campanologist—directing, guest-conducting, and playing in several bell choirs, performing solo, and arranging music.

    She has played harp for 26 years, performing with many orchestras, including Symphony Silicon Valley, Opera San Jose, Monterey Symphony, Mission Chamber Orchestra, Peninsula Symphony, and Winchester Orchestra. Ruthanne has also performed with the Santa Clara University Concert Choir, as well as the Santa Clara Chorale, San Jose State Choraliers, Peninsula Cantaré, American Musical Theater, and Children’s Musical Theater.

    Concurrently, she acts as church administrator for the Joint Venture Churches, treasurer for multiple churches, teaches piano and harp lessons, and tutors in language arts, math, and spatial reasoning. In her free time, she likes to paint, quilt, and ballroom dance.

  • The Reverend Karen Cuffie

    NEW RECTOR

    We welcome The Rev. Karen Cuffie as our next permanent rector, beginning October 1, 2024.

    Karen was ordained to the priesthood in 2016. Prior to ordained ministry, Karen was an elementary school music teacher, served five years on active duty in the USAF, and began a long, challenging career raising five children as a stay at home mom. Her family is uniquely diverse, which has helped form her theology around beloved community.

    Karen attended Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Northern VA, and Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. She loves to sing, play piano, do jigsaw puzzles, and knit for her granddaughters.

  • Music Director

    We are currently seeking a Music Director and Organist/Pianist.
    The person selected will help ECA fulfill its vision of creating a joyful, dynamic worship experience, supported and enriched by music both congregational and choral through celebration and education. We want the Music Director to help educate and train individuals and the congregation as a whole, preparing them to participate fully in the worship of the church. Follow the link below for more details.

    https://www.churchinalmaden.org/news/churchinalmaden/job-details/music-director-search-2023

Vestry

In The Episcopal Church in Almaden, San Jose, the Vestry is a committee elected by the congregation to work with the Rector in managing the business affairs of the church and providing leadership to the parish. The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are to help define and support the mission of the congregation, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances.

From among the members of the Vestry, the Rector chooses a Senior Warden, who supports and works closely with the Rector to strategize and prioritize activities and needs. The Vestry elects the Junior Warden, who looks after the rectory, the facilities and property of the church. A slate of candidates for Vestry is voted on by all members of the congregation at the annual meeting. The term of each member is three years.

Each Vestry member is assigned as a liaison to one of the ministries of the church, such as Fellowship, Stewardship, Communication, Finance, Pastoral Care, and Outreach. There is also a Clerk of the Vestry, who takes minutes at the meetings, and a Treasurer to manage the accounting and financial systems and report to the Vestry. These two positions are not Vestry members.

Vestry Members

  • Ellen Lukanc

    Senior Warden

  • Wendy Martin & Kelli Casale

    Junior Wardens

  • Ruthanne Adams Martinez

    Treasurer

  • Elizabeth Guichard

    Clerk

  • Cecily Martino & Wendy Martin

    Chaplain’s

  • Joyce Wing

    Church of The Future

  • Mike Schmidt

    Shape Editor

  • Alain Guichard

    Rectory

  • Todd Lukanc

    Finance

  • Kelli Casale

    Outreach

  • Cecily Martino

    Stewardship

  • Susanne Moore & Alain Guichard

    Fellowship

  • Cecily Martino

    Communications / Technology

  • Marianne Schmidt

    Pastoral Care