I am pleased to announce that following a nationwide search, I have called Christian Gillette as our new Canon for Evangelism and Discipleship. In this role, Christian will oversee our ministries of evangelism, church growth, church planting, discipleship, and Christian formation. He will serve as a member of our diocesan executive staff team, and will supervise some of our staff in the evangelism and discipleship areas. He will also serve as a consultant to congregations, helping them discover evangelism and discipleship strategies to help our diocese grow, spiritually and numerically. Christian will begin work with us on February 10.

A third generation native of San Diego, Christian is a lay member of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He holds a BA in Humanities from the University of San Diego and a Master of Divinity degree from Azusa Pacific Seminary. He lives near Balboa Park with his two Siamese cats and is looking forward to being married to his fiancee Kara in January of 2020.

Since following a call to vocational ministry in 2013, Christian has worked in diverse communities, in roles ranging from worship leader and preacher in large and small churches, to Church Planting Apprentice in a national network of church planters. During his time in seminary, Christian trained extensively and gained practical experience employing creative methods for church growth — both numerically through the development of missional communities and strategies, and in the spiritual growth of individuals through intentional discipleship.

Prior to attending seminary, Christian worked as a corporate recruiter in the high-tech industry. His work as a recruiter gave him the opportunity to realize his deep passion for helping others connect with their purpose and true calling.

Christian has found his spiritual home as a member of St. Paul’s Cathedral where he serves in several ministries including an experimental worship gathering called Doxology Life which he helped create and launch in 2018.

“My deepest joy is found in giving people a vision for God’s kingdom, said Gillette. “Helping them rethink their thinking about the gospel, evangelism, and discipleship, and in developing creative spaces in which to do it. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to bring my training, experience, and vision to the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and I am so excited to join in with what God is doing in and among us!”