Fr. Brent Owens came to the Church of the Good Shepherd as Rector in October 2020, from Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, KY, where he was Associate Dean since 2012. Fr. Owens served two parishes prior to his work in Lexington, and was ordained to the priesthood in October 2005. He was a trial attorney in South Florida before his ordination. Fr. Brent received a Bachelor of Science in Business Analysis from Indiana University; Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law; and Master of Divinity from Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX.

The Rev. Elyse Gustafson joined Good Shepherd as an Assisting Priest in 2021. Prior to her time at Good Shepherd, she spent seven years in full-time ministry, first at parishes in North Carolina and Virginia and then on active duty as a chaplain in the US Army. Now a bivocational priest, Elyse works full-time for a large firm as a financial advisor. She holds degrees from Duke University Divinity School, the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and Wheaton College. She also serves on the boards of JASMYN—a local non-profit supporting LGBTQ youth—and the Cathedral District Jax. 

Don joined the Good Shepherd staff in 2015 and has an extensive background in sacred music as well as in the performing arts. At Good Shepherd he directs the Chancel Choir and serves as the organist for all services. He enjoys serving at Good Shepherd for so many reasons: the wonderful staff and people of the parish, the talented and committed singers in the Chancel Choir, the opportunity to play the exquisite E. M. Skinner organ every week, and the superb acoustics of the church's heavenward-reaching neo-gothic architecture. Read his full bio.

Gina joined the Good Shepherd staff in 2020 and works in the office to serve and support our congregation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She is a member of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA).

Carter joined the Good Shepherd staff in 2020, after retiring from a long-time career in the nonprofit community, most recently with United Way of Northeast Florida. He has been around swimming pools all his life, starting at the age of six, when he won his first blue ribbon by dog-paddling for 25 yards. In his new role as Pool Director, he oversees all operations of the Good Shepherd pool, ensuring that it is a safe and enjoyable facility for all. He views the pool as an outreach ministry, providing a community fellowship atmosphere. Carter may be contacted at pool@gsjax.church

Tristen joined the Good Shepherd staff fully in May of 2019, but worked as a lifeguard for the church prior. Tristen graduated as valedictorian from Cornerstone and is now attending FSCJ for business and psychology. Tristen worked as a normal to head lifeguard for the city for 3 years then continued for an additional 2 years as a lifeguard manager. Tristen started Lifeguarding with his sister after they were both requested to work as lifeguards after being on a summer swim team. Tristen is now a certified Lifeguard Instructor, and works in the pool office and as the pool’s senior lifeguard for events.

With Rob happily retired following 31 years in the information technology (IT) industry, he and his wife Robin partnered to utilize their extensive experience improving, maintaining, and renovating homes in their "spare time" to create R&R Handyman Solutions. Initially engaged at Good Shepherd in July 2021 to help out with a few small projects and start organizing needs, their relationship with the wonderful Good Shepherd family quickly grew and they were asked to take on a more extensive property/facilities management role. Rob and Robin have three grown children and three grandsons. They attend The Well at Springfield and are engaged in various volunteer efforts to include tutoring at Andrew A. Robinson Elementary, church vision team, ARE School Advisory Committee, and Springfield Commons which is a new project aimed at becoming an incubator for relational community across socio-economic groups in the neighborhood."