Rev. Neal Halvorson-Taylor

Neal has over 30 years of experience in parish ministry in both inner city and rural churches. He is committed to the development of diverse communities, eco-justice efforts, and eco-spirituality practices. He loves to read, hike, cross-country ski, and eat homemade granola. Neal and his wife, Martien, live in Charlottesville. They have two dogs and three children who are making their way in the world.

Contact: neal@gracechurchredhill.org

Kathleen Knaus

Senior Warden

Kathleen, a resident of Charlottesville for most of her adult life, is a one-time communication professional who later answered a vocational call to earn a Master of Divinity degree and train to become a board-certified hospital chaplain. She served patients at the University of Virginia Hospital before moving out of state to work as a staff chaplain at the Vail Health System in Colorado (2019-2022), and as a palliative care chaplain at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Southern California (2022-2024). After retiring in 2024, she returned to Charlottesville with her husband Bill Knaus. Their family includes five adult children and their spouses, two grandchildren, one dog and one cat. When not in Charlottesville, Kathleen and Bill are likely to be in the mountains of Colorado or visiting their children who live in New York City, Denver, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. She welcomes the opportunity to serve GC|RH on its vestry as its next senior warden. 

Contact: seniorwarden@gracechurchredhill.org

Cathy AND Jim Loman, junior wardens

Jim and Cathy collaborate with Neal and the Senior Warden to oversee the maintenance of Grace Church and Good Shepherd buildings.

They moved to the Charlottesville area in 2008, after having lived in the Boston area for over 25 years.  They are both architects, and met at the Harvard Grad Student Christian Fellowship while students at the School of Design.  Their favorite shared activities include spending time with their three adult children, hiking in the woods with their dog Teddy, and finding ways to design and build something in their home.  They also enjoy singing together with Songtuary.

Cathy was inspired by her grandfather, a Methodist minister who also designed and built churches in Kentucky and Tennessee, where she grew up.  The opportunities she’s had to work on church buildings have been particularly rewarding. She’s been self employed since becoming a mother, and dedicates most of her time to residential architecture.

Jim is fascinated with how the world is put together.  He’s worked as a carpenter, estimator, designer, and project manager, now working as a project manager at UVA’s hospital. 

They look forward to serving Grace Church as Junior Wardens, and with the vestry.

Contact: juniorwarden@gracechurchredhill.org

Hannah Twaddell

Music Director

Hannah delights in creating a wide range of “joyful noise” with Grace Church’s enthusiastic congregation and its many talented musicians. She is also a transportation consultant, policy analyst, and educator. Hannah lives with her husband, Gordon, daughter, Marion, and a few furry friends in an Albermarle County farmhouse built by Gordon’s grandfather.

Contact: hannah@walnutside.org

Kate lichti RN, M.Div.

Director of children’s ministry

Kate grew up Mennonite in rural Nebraska, where her church family was an extension of her biological family and a home through young adulthood. She and her husband, Caleb, found Grace Church Red Hill in 2016 as she was completing her chaplaincy residency at UVa hospital and discerning going back to school in nursing. They moved to Minnesota in 2020 and returned to Charlottesville in 2022, where they were delighted to find an abundance of families with children joining GC/RH. She is immensely grateful for this church, and loves thinking creatively about how to build a faith community that joyfully and deeply welcomes people of all ages. Leading children and family ministry has been a delightful coalescence of her various experiences in chaplaincy, outdoor education, CSA farming, and parenting. She holds an M Div from Yale Divinity School and uses her RN part-time at the Charlottesville Free Clinic.

Contact: youthchildren@gracechurchredhill.org

Meredith Keppel

Children’s Church Helper

Meredith Keppel's start in education began as the second youngest of ten kids-- there was quite a lot those big kids needed to know! As the auntie to 6 vivacious, tenacious, and precocious (now teenage) nieces and nephews, Meredith realized a love of working with little humans early on. Her work as a YMCA and Nature Camp counselor launched a lifelong love for developing curriculum and side-by-side learning. Meredith now works at UVA in the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation, though her background in environmental education and outreach has continued to inform how she mediates natural resource and climate conflict for big humans (i.e. adults).

Annie Wisz

Children’s Church Helper

Annie has three years of experience in youth ministry, in both rural and urban contexts. In her New York congregation she led middle school-age children in Bible study and faith formation using the Journey 2 Adulthood curriculum. In her Wyoming church, she co-mentored a group of middle schoolers as a member of the Episcopal Service Corps, as well as chaperoned the group on their trip to the Taizé monastery in France. She has a deep commitment to explorative faith pedagogy, and believes first and foremost in a youth ministry space that helps children form their own commitments and beliefs. Participating in youth ministry has been an important piece of her own belonging to faith communities in the past, and she's excited to help out at Grace Church.