Please Welcome Mark Randall James and Lesley Krauland to St. Alban’s!
We’re excited to welcome two new members to the St. Alban’s team!
The Rev’d Mark Randall James joins us as Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Families. In his own words, “It is an honor and a privilege to be joining the ministry team at St. Alban’s. I will be bringing my family with me: my wife Christina, an attorney in the Human Trafficking Unit at the Justice Department, and our two children, Ephrem (6) and Geneva (nearly 3). We currently live here in DC, but we’ve had many homes: Baku, Cambridge, Charlottesville, New York. Most recently I worked as the children’s minister at Christ Church + Washington Parish here in DC, where I discerned a call to the priesthood.
I am a former evangelical who never lost my love of scripture: its power, depth, and strangeness. I am also a student of philosophy and patristics, committed to an open and reflective orthodoxy. Having found my way to the Anglican tradition and Episcopal church later in life, I have a bit of the convert’s zeal for our tradition, particularly the language and worship of our Book of Common Prayer. I like to have fun too: I love making music, biking, baking, and playing chess!
I have always felt a call to ministry. Over the years I have served as an evangelical “worship” leader; worked as a youth pastor in Baku; hosted myriad bible studies and small groups; and practiced Scriptural Reasoning (interfaith text study). After completing an Anglican Studies Diploma at Virginia Theological Seminary, I will be ordained to the priesthood this summer at the National Cathedral. I feel like I have finally come home, and I am so excited that I get to start my life as a priest with all of you at St. Alban’s!”
The Rev’d Lesley Krauland is our new Parish Administrator. A vocational deacon ordained in 2018, Lesley has served at Epiphany (DC), St. Luke’s (Bethesda), and is currently assigned to St. Andrew’s (College Park). She has a background in social work and theology, and has long been active in diocesan life. Lesley lives near Carderock, MD, with her husband, Ed, and loves gardening, hiking, and traveling to visit their four sons.
Please join us in giving Mark and Lesley a warm St. Alban’s welcome!
