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The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata

The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata was called to be the eighth Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels in 2016. Previously, Chris served as Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, as Associate Rector at St. Luke’s in Birmingham, as a seminarian at The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and St. John’s in Chevy Chase, MD.

Bi-monthly, Chris writes a column for Katy Trail Weekly. These articles cover timely topics from gratitude and love to success and the future. In these columns, he uses a real-life personal example and turns it into something to ponder. On Wednesdays, Chris leads a Bible study titled Rector’s Bible Study that is also developed into a podcast. He has been leading these weekly classes since its inception in 2017.

Chris holds degrees from Stetson University, Emory University, the Virginia Theological Seminary, and his doctorate from Duke University. He is recognized as a leader in the Episcopal Church, presenting regularly at church-wide conferences, seminars and retreats, and the Episcopal Parish Network.

Chris is a native of Florida, a classically trained musician, and an amateur cook. He and his wife, Nicole, have three children: Brayden, Layna, and Annemarie.

The Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon

The Rev. Ken Brannon became Saint Michael's Vice Rector in July 2019. Ken was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, but moved to Mandeville, Louisiana at the age of one. His life changed radically at the age of twelve when his father took a job at a teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He found himself attending Kodaikanal International School, an international boarding school in South India, where he graduated in 1986.

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, he attended Wheaton College in Illinois. Although his major was psychology, he spent many hours active in the theater. Ken discovered the Episcopal Church while at Wheaton and was grateful for the elegant liturgy, the appreciation for mystery, and the emphasis on ancient spiritual practices.

Following college, Ken spent two years living in intentional Christian community and working with the homeless in Washington, DC. He coordinated administrative activities at Christ House, a mission of Church of the Saviour, and was active in medical and social outreach to those living in the shadows of our nation’s monuments.

In 1993, Ken began drama therapy studies at New York University and graduated cum laude in 1997. His passion for psychology and theater came together in group work with children and adults at sites throughout the city, ranging from therapeutic schools, psychiatric hospitals, homeless shelters, and prisons.

Ken met Rachel at Wheaton, but they did not begin dating until six years later when they reconnected in New York City. They were married in 1995 and welcomed Lucy in 1997 and Isaac in 2001.

After they were married, Rachel and Ken worked together at Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City, co-coordinating children’s programming, and it was at Holy Trinity that Ken answered the call to ordained ministry. He attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, graduating in 2003. Ken first served as Associate Rector at The Church of St. Barnabas in Irvington, New York, just outside legendary Sleepy Hollow.

From 2007-2019, Ken served as Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sun Valley, Idaho. He provided strong leadership for over a decade and became a leader in the larger community. In the Diocese of Idaho, Ken was active in all aspects of church life, serving as Chair of the Commission on Ministry, President of the Standing Committee, and Chair of the Idaho Deputation to General Convention.

As Vice Rector at Saint Michael, Ken oversees the staff and operations of the church, while also taking a full share of the usual priestly functions. Rachel is a psychotherapist in private practice, Lucy works for Ernst and Young (EY) in Denver, and Isaac attends Western Washington University in Bellingham.

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso

The Reverend Dr. Andrew Grosso joined the Saint Michael and All Angels clergy team in March of 2021. Before coming to Dallas, Andrew was the Canon to the Dean at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Columbia, SC), where he also served as the Acting Dean during the time the cathedral sought a new Dean. Andrew has also served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Nashotah House Theological Seminary (Nashotah, WI), Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church (Atchison, KS), Dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (Topeka, KS), and Canon Residentiary at Grace Episcopal Cathedral (Topeka, KS). Andrew was raised in Michigan, and completed his undergraduate studies in Psychology at Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI). He began his graduate studies at Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL), where he completed an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies. His doctoral studies were in the areas of systematic and philosophical theology, and he received his PhD from Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI). In preparation for ordination, Andrew completed an MDiv at the School of Theology of the University of the South (Sewanee, TN). He maintains an active interest in theological and philosophical scholarship, and especially appreciates the work of Michael Polanyi, Thomas F. Torrance, John Neville Figgis, and Martin Thornton.

The Rev. Robert "Bob" Johnston III

Much of Bob’s ministry has concentrated on evangelism. He studied church planting in seminary, was ordained in 2003 in London, and served in Brompton. Most recently he helped start and lead the contemporary worship ministry, “Uptown,” at Church of the Incarnation, as well as the small group ministry, “Growth Groups,” and an outreach in local pubs known as “Theology Live.”

Bob has graduate degrees in theology, law, and business from Southern Methodist University, and maintains an intellectual property law practice. He is at Saint Michael two days a week; on Sundays, serving primarily in the 11:00 contemporary worship service, and one other day during the week. Bob has twin sons, Hugh and Ian.

The Rev. Mary Lessmann

The Rev. Mary T. Lessmann serves as Associate for Spiritual Growth at Saint Michael and All Angels. Prior to joining Saint Michael, Mary served as Vicar of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in Dallas. Previously she served for four years as Associate Rector for St. Andrew’s McKinney and, during her seminary formation, as Director of Educational Programs at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas. Mary, a CPA in her former life, was ordained in 2009. A native Texan, she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at SMU. Mary and her husband, Russ, have two young adult sons.