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Welcome to Father Miles and Deacon Barbara!

Sunday, March 4th marked the inauguration of our partnership with St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Lincolnton, and brings Father Miles and Deacon Barbara to Epiphany as Priest in Charge and Deacon. This is a joyful beginning of a new era for our Parish. We look forward to sharing friendship and ministry with them both, while also building a community of friendship with the people of St. Luke's.

G. Miles Smith is the Priest-in-Charge of the new Partnership of Epiphany St. Luke's effective March 1. Miles was born in Charlotte and graduated from North Mecklenburg High School. He has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Divinity from Duke University. He served as a United Methodist Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference from 1981 through 1996, serving churches in Waynesville, Candler, Morganton, High Point, and Greensboro. After an epiphany at Valle Crucis in the summer of 1995, he began a long journey toward becoming an Episcopal priest and was ordained Deacon at All Souls' Cathedral in 2001. He served as a Curate at St. Mary's, Asheville in 2002. In the interim time between the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church, Miles worked as the Evaluator for Region A Partnership for Children (Smart Start) in Sylva and as the Support Services Supervisor for Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice in Clyde. He was Rector of St. Luke's, Lincolnton from 2008 until February 29, 2012, when the partnership between St. Luke's and Epiphany began. He has a 17-year-old son, Ian, who lives with his mother during the week, and often drives down here for weekends. He is an acolyte, plays soccer and has just started running track. Miles has had previous experience with amateur photography, sailing, and motorcycling, but now tends more toward good walks, yoga, fiddling around with his iPad. He enjoys discovering new music and independent films.

Deacon Barbara was born and raised in Hickory, and Baptized by Bishop George Henry and the Rev. Robert Campbell at Ascenion. She attended both Ascension and St. Alban's in Hickory, NC. She began the discernment process for Holy Orders in 2003, and was ordained to the diaconate by the Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor in 2009. After serving an internship year at St. Luke's Lincolnton, she felt called to remain and was assigned by Bishop Taylor to serve as their deacon. Barb earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from ASU. She worked for The Hickory News as a staff writer and photographer for more than 18 years, and now works for The Observer News Enterprise as editor of Outlook. Barb's ministries are pastoral care to those who suffer in body, mind or spirit; the homeless; and victims of social injustice.