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Clergy & Staff
The very Reverend Michael Spencer
rector
Michael has served as rector of St. Thomas since October, 2024. In the time he has been with us, he has enjoyed getting to know the Battle Creek community and the people and ministries of St. Thomas!
Prior to service at St. Thomas, Michael was Canon for Transitions and Congregational Ministry in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, Assisting Clergy at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Grand Blanc, and Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan, which is where he was ordained.
Michael received the Master of Divinity degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific and has a B.A. from Michigan State University, where he later worked in the Human Resources department before ordination.
Michael has served the Episcopal Church as a member of the Board for Transition Ministry, a four-time deputy to the General Convention, a member of the Commission on Ministry, a diocesan youth ministry leader, and served a year in the Episcopal Service Corps. He is currently serving as dean of our mission region, providing pastoral support for the clergy of nine other congregations in our area.
Alexis Stark
Director of Music
Alexis grew up in Albion, MI and attended Western Michigan University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Choral Education and has been singing and teaching ever since. She joined the St. Thomas Choir in September 2009 as the Alto Choral Scholar. She has sung in, led rehearsals for, and conducted choirs at St. Thomas, the Battle Creek Community Chorus, and the Battle Creek Master Singers. She also teaches private voice lessons and is a Music Director for What A Do Theatre.
Alexis is also a prolific vocalist in southwest and south-central Michigan. She is currently a lead singer for the classic rock cover band, Lucid Vibe. She has also been the lead singer for the Charlotte band Frendz, which performs music from the Great American Songbook and big band era through the pop-rock tunes of the 1980s.
Alexis currently lives in Albion with her partner Joerg and their two cats. She enjoys traveling, watching Star Trek, and assisting Joerg in the kitchen.
Keith Eiser
Assistant Music director/Organist
Keith (he/him) is the Principal Organist and Assistant Music Director at St. Thomas. Most recently he was the Principal Organist at St. Michaels Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan. With over 30 years of experience as both a pianist and organist, Keith has served churches of a wide variety of denominations as well as synagogues across Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
While Keith's passion is music, he has a BA in Computer Engineering from Elizabethtown College and works as a handyman and woodworker. Keith lives with his wife, numerous cats and a dog in Kalamazoo. They moved to Kalamazoo in 2018 and have quickly adapted to life as Michiganders. Keith's three kids live on the West Coast and visit whenever possible.
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