Bishop & Staff
The Rt. Rev. Phoebe A. Roaf
Bishop Roaf is a lifelong Episcopalian. She grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was rector at St. Philip’s, the oldest African-American church in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, where she she had served as Rector since 2011. Before St. Philips’s, Bishop Roaf was associate rector for three years at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans.
Bishop Roaf, who earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and clerked two years for Judge James L. Dennis, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, worked in commercial real estate before being ordained. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Harvard University and MPA at Princeton University. She attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. She is vice chair of the board of trustees at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Roaf was chosen in a balloting process in the diocese’s annual convention at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown. All clergy and elected lay delegates are allowed to vote. Under the canons of the Church, bishops are chosen by clergy and lay leader votes. They must receive a majority from each group on the same ballot in order to be elected.
The diocese, which covers all of Tennessee west of the Tennessee River, has 8,260 active members and an average Sunday attendance of more than 3,000.
Email: diocese@episwtn.org
MEET OUR STAFF
Renee Abel
Diocesan Administrator
Renee organizes Annual Convention, manages the Bishop's visitation calendar, and assist in a variety of day-to-day operations in the diocesan office. Renee has 3 children and 6 grandchildren. When she is not working she enjoys time with her family and friends, traveling, gardening and entertaining in her home.
Direct Line: 901-937-4700
diocese@episwtn.org
The Rev. Canon Sharon A. Alexander
Canon to the Ordinary
As Canon to the Ordinary, Canon Sharon serves as the chief operating officer of the Diocese, assisting Bishop Phoebe with implementing and supporting the vision of the Diocese. She has served in a variety of leadership positions in The Episcopal Church, including Chair of the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons. She is also a longtime supporter of Amistad Mission (based in Nashville) which supports an orphanage and family counseling center in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
901-937-4782
salexander@episwtn.org
Emily Austin
Minister of Communication
Emily maintains our website, social media, and the Diocese's overall marketing and communication strategy. She also serves as Minister of Communication at Church of the Holy Communion. Emily is in the Diocesan Office on Tuesday afternoons and all day each Wednesday. Emily and her husband, Ben, have one daughter, Cecille, and three bunnies, Hopper, Lucy, and George.
Carol Zinkewicz
Accounting Assistant
Among her duties, Carol pays the bills for the Diocese and sees that all the staff get paid.
Prior to her work with the Diocese, she worked for The Brooks Museum of Art. When not at work, she enjoys working in her yard. 901-937-4785
czinkewicz@episwtn.org
Contact Information
692 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38105
Phone: 901-937-4700
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm