Vestry Nominees for the Class of 2028

The Nominating Committee of St. Paul’s Vestry is pleased to announce the four candidates on this year’s slate: Jacob Denning, Shane Hatchett, Ann Hinson and Drew Tharp. Get to know the nominees below.

Voting for Vestry, Diocesan Delegates and to approve the 2024 Annual Meeting minutes will open on Thursday, January 30.

• Why do you want to serve on St. Paul’s Vestry?

  JACOB DENNING The community at St Paul’s has provided so much to my life that I would love an opportunity to give back. I truly feel a calling to move in this direction.

  SHANE HATCHETT For the last three years, I've been active on the Vestry and in church life. As we move into this next chapter of St. Paul's story, I believe my continued involvement with the Vestry provides stability and continuity where it's important. That said, I do not subscribe to keeping things as they are because it's easiest - I will challenge us to the difficult task of living out the promises of our Baptismal Covenant while reminding us that the work we do is not simply to steward a nonprofit corporation, but a much higher calling.

  ANN HINSON Having been a part of many discussions through the last five years that led to the current statement of identity and core values of St Paul's, I am inspired and motivated by where God is leading us, who we wish to be, and what we want to do as a community. I would like to play a role at the Vestry level in living into this vision for St. Paul's.

  DREW THARP I have been a member of St. Paul's for over a decade and I feel it is time for me to give back to the Parish and community in a larger capacity. My leadership experience in both nonprofits and corporate environments gives me a deep insight into strategic planning, risk analysis, and clear decision-making that I hope to bring to St. Paul's.

• Describe your participation in a St. Paul’s ministry and/or in the community at large that you believe will be beneficial to your Vestry service.

  JACOB DENNING I started the Connections Small Group, a ministry for millennials at St. Paul’s who find themselves in a similar phase of life. Some are newcomers and others have been attending St Paul’s for years, but we are all looking for community and an opportunity to share our faith journeys. I think that I could help represent this growing demographic at St Paul’s.

  SHANE HATCHETT I have been head acolyte for the 9 a.m. service for the last year and a server/lector far longer than that. I view these roles as helping to remind me that this work is in service of others — parishioners from our pews today and also those who have come before and are yet to come. I find immense pleasure and value in making connections of our faith life with the life outside of the walls of St. Paul's. It's my hope that the acolytes and others who volunteer with me also feel that support and development. Our formation must be authentic and intentional; it's through this lens that I have structured my time at St. Paul's.

  ANN HINSON St. Paul's Choir (choir member, choral librarian), Intercessor, Awakening Stewardship Committee, Reimagining Team, Strategic Planning Team, Vestry, School #43 Tutoring, St. Paul's Music Committee, Board Member and Officer of three arts organizations in Indianapolis over the last 20 years, and currently serving on my homeowners assocation board in the role of Secretary.

  I believe that the experience and knowledge I've gained in various ministries at St. Paul's and on the boards of other mission-driven organizations will contribute to my effectiveness as a Vestry member.

  DREW THARP While attending St. Paul's, I have been a part of both the Capital Campaign Steering Committee and the Reimagining Team. In addition, I have served as a Lector, Inter-Generational Committee member, and Youth Group Leader/Instructor. All of these experiences have given a glimpse across the entire organization and have prepared me well to represent many different groups while serving on the Vestry.

• Briefly share your education/work experience, highlighting any skills you feel would be especially beneficial to the Vestry.

  JACOB DENNING I graduated Indiana University with a Bachelor’s of Arts. While in attendance I was a founding father of Sigma Phi Beta, a fraternity that welcomed queer identifying men. Budgeting, community organizing, and volunteer work were my main responsibilities. In my last job as Donor Liaison for the Anatomical Education Program at IUPUI, I was responsible for communicating with many different people from all walks of life, coordinating events, secretarial tasks, and working with people facing end-of-life planning.

  SHANE HATCHETT I am in the process of concluding my doctorate in public health (DrPH), which is all-but-dissertation. I've a master's degree from Purdue University (Indianapolis) in technology (focusing on project management and organization leadership). My bachelor's degree is in public affairs (public administration) from IU O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Indianapolis), concentrating in management (with distinction). I've recenly left civil service to pursue independent consulting while discerning what's next for me.

  ANN HINSON BA in Biology (Queens University of Charlotte, '72); nine years in basic biological research before joining Eli Lilly in 1981; Eli Lilly and Company: nine years in research; two years in Human Resources; 16 years in various management positions before retiring at the end of 2008.
  I believe my strengths lie in analysis, organization, attention to detail, and communication.

  DREW THARP I attended Indiana University Bloomington for both my Bachelor's of Science in Business and my Juris Doctor degrees. After law school, I worked for Roche Diagnostics for 10 years as a Contract Manager and in Agile Leadership Development. I currently work at Telix Pharmaceuticals as Commercial Counsel. In addition to my professional career, I have also served as the Treasurer and a Board Member for the Indianapolis Fencing Club, helping to move the club from a small group of 25 members in a church gym, to a club with over 150 members in a dedicated facility. My experience as a leader and attorney helps me to view issues from many different angles and provide insights into the opportunities and risks of any given choice.

• What are your hopes and goals for St. Paul’s and/or the Vestry in the coming three years?

  JACOB DENNING I hope that St Paul’s can continue to be a welcoming and affirming home for the LGBTQ+ community, that we can grow in diversity, and that we can provide assistance and outreach to at-risk communities in need. I also have a strong conviction to show those who, like me, may have been ostracized or harmed by previous churches that they can find a healthy, welcoming home at St Paul’s and that they don’t have to give up on Christ just because other Christians gave up on them.

  SHANE HATCHETT I hope that we continue to be a thriving congregation that invites everyone in, learn from the experience, and become the church that this community needs. The unraveling of social fabric across communities is palpable. We have the opportunity and the resources to make lasting change if we approach the future with the right mindset. My hope is that we remain steadfast in our commitment to justice and having the tough conversations needed – even if we don’t agree at the end. I find beauty in our intellectually diverse perspectives and believe it’s essential to our sustainability as a parish.

  ANN HINSON My hope for St. Paul's is that we will live fully and visibly into where God is calling us. I hope that we will identify ways to inspire and motivate all St. Paul's members to participate in the work to be done to exemplify our stated identity and core values. My personal goal is to be an effective collaborator with the St. Paul’s Vestry.

  DREW THARP St. Paul's is a vibrant community that so many diverse people call home. My sincerest hope is that St. Paul's continues to be welcoming to all and supportive of every person who needs a place to deepen their relationship with God. We have the ability and resources to help our community and ways which are both transformative and inclusive. Clearly the coming years will provide both challenges and opportunities as we celebrate Father John's leadership, choose and welcome a new rector, and build upon our strong foundations. It is my goal to help St. Paul's navigate these changes with resilience and the knowledge of what we can accomplish together.