Reverend Charles C. McCoart, Jr. (or "Chuck" as he prefers) is the rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church (EEC) joining our team in June 2013. 

We really have to talk about this ancient word: rector. It’s a weird word if you come to us from outside the Episcopal tradition. Rector essentially means: pastor. To lead a church. The rector’s primary task is to articulate, preach, teach, interpret, uphold, exemplify, shape and develop the stated vision of the parish so that the vision becomes the focal point for the parish, hopefully leading us all closer to God. Chuck does this by being a cheerleader for God, encouraging people to become who God has created them to be and helping all members to find their place in shared leadership within our parish.

A native of Northern Virginia, Chuck received a Master’s of Divinity from Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD in 1990, and was received into the Episcopal Church in 2013.  Between 1990 and 2013 Chuck served in multiple capacities, from parish work to diocesan positions. Leading, loving, and serving others, Chuck worked to aid both career staff and volunteers to achieve their mission.

Mostly, Chuck just loves people. Nothing makes him happier than to hear how God is at work in another person's life. Chuck also enjoys time spent with his German shepherd, Max, gardening, and on rare occasions creating art.

Joani delights in crafting and planning Emmanuel’s Sunday worship and seasonal services. She has an abiding passion for learning and loves walking alongside folks of all ages and stages on their journey in faith. She serves on the Adult Spiritual Formation Ministry Team and is editor-in-chief of the parish blog: Emmanuel Voices. A 1994 graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, Joani has served four previous congregations in the Diocese of Virginia. A native Washingtonian and bibliophile, Joani volunteers as a docent at the Library of Congress. A mental health advocate and raconteur, Joani has performed many times  on the Story District stage in the Nation’s Capital. Mother of three rocking adults, Joani also shares a household  with two ginger cats: Cheshire & Charlie.

A native of Wilmington, DE, Jen holds a BA in English Journalism from the University of Delaware, an MSc in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and an MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary. Jen’s previous experience as a high school English teacher and Children and Family Minister has fueled her deep passion for both children/youth Christian education and sacramental ministry. When not spending time with her three amazing children and fabulous husband, Jen enjoys sports and being outdoors – especially on the beach! Her favorite book is The Chronicles of Narnia, which she reads cover-to-cover several times a year.

As Parish Administrator, Sandy directs all of Emmanuel’s administrative operations, financial activities, and communications.  In so doing, she interacts with, and supports, the clergy, other team members, the Vestry, the preschool administration and staff, parish committees and ministries, and most importantly, members of the congregation.  Sandy brings with her a Bachelors in Business, a Masters in Counseling, and over 30 years of private sector and nonprofit administration experience, with an even longer number of years as an active Episcopal Church parishioner and leader, having served as a key player across the entire continuum of Episcopal Church management from oversight, to administration, clergy/staff support, outreach, mission, and spiritual formation.  Most importantly, however, Sandy brings a desire to work collaboratively with others to improve God's kingdom here on Earth, and more specifically here in Alexandria, as a servant leader in Emmanuel's parish community. 

As Administrative Assistant, Karen works alongside the Parish Administrator on the tasks required to run the church business behind the scenes. In addition, Karen assists the Clergy with the production of worship services and maintains the parish membership database and church registry.  She is an active volunteer in the Alexandria community and enjoys outings with family and friends that revolve around nature and good food.

Ryan has been serving at Emmanuel since 2013 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Music Education and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Opera. Ryan has been active in the DC Metro area as a music educator, clinician, accompanist, conductor, and singer for over 15 years. In his free time, Ryan enjoys biking, theater, entertaining, and spending time with family, friends, and his dog Maria. 

A long-time parishioner of Emmanuel, Tim is highly qualified to now help the church in his capacity as a construction expert. Tim will manage the maintenance and repair of the building and facilities.

A long-haired German Shepherd, Max, born January 2017, is the Rector's constant companion, and a beloved member of Emmanuel's pastoral staff. Among his many duties are pastoral walks around the block, playing catch with preschoolers, and playfully herding children. Max is a 2017 graduate of service dog training at Dogs Downtown. In his freetime, Max is obsessed with his blue and orange "Chuck-It-Ball," and enjoys playing with his canine friends, as well as taking long windows-down pick-up drives in the mountains with Chuck.