Collaboration & Competition in Suburban Small Church Ministry

Small Churches Big Impact Podcast

Host: the Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles

Guests: the Revs. Leigh Ellen Hall and Robert Hartmans

St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, New Hamburg, NY

St. Thaddaeus’ Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, TN

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Hixon, TN

ChattEY - Chattanooga Episcopal Youth

The Agile Church by Dwight J. Zscheile

The Rev. Robert Hartmans serves as the Priest-in-Charge of two small churches in the Diocese of East Tennessee— St Thaddaeus Episcopal Church in Hixon and St Albans Episcopal Church in Chattanooga. Robert grew up in Knoxville TN and was raised in both the Pentecostal and Episcopal traditions which he feels brings a richness to his faith journey. In seminary, Robert served a small parish in Georgetown D.C. where he developed a passion for smaller congregations.In 2020 he married the love of his life, Casey Miller, and in 2021 they welcomed a son ‘Lannie,’ Robert’s three legged pitbull goes everywhere with him.

The Rev. Leigh Hall has served as the rector of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in New Hamburg, New York since 2017. Prior to that, she lived and worked in the Diocese of Georgia for eight years, both in diocesan and parish ministry. At St. Nick’s, Leigh found a home in small church ministry and began to grow and cultivate the deep relationships that have become the hallmark of her vocation. She especially enjoys working with children; teaching others about the faith and The Episcopal Church; the liturgy, including singing the service from time to time; and hearing people's stories as she walks alongside them in pastoral ministry. Leigh is married to Edmund Roberts, and together they are raising a newborn son named Solomon, their Boston Terrier, Boo Radley; a Boxer rescue called Scout; and the eldest of the menagerie, a black and white shorthair named Bianca.

Music: I Love to Tell the Story, Benjamin Grove, keyboard

Podcast produced by Polymnia