dean@sgcjerusalem.org

Dean Richard Sewell is British and previously served as a priest in the Diocese of Southwark in the UK. His last post before moving to Jerusalem was as Team Rector of Barnes Team Ministry which comprises three churches in South West London.

Richard was ordained priest on the Feast of St Francis, 2003. He trained for ministry at SEITE now St Augustine’s College. He also studied Theology at the University of Birmingham for his B.A. He did further studies at Heythrop College for an M.A. in Biblical Studies.

His first encounter with the Holy Land was working as a volunteer for the Church of Scotland Hospice in Tiberias (now The Scots Hotel) in the 1980s. For three years he ran an Inter-Faith Project in East London.

Prior to ordination Richard worked for the Anglican Mission Agency, USPG, as a mission educator with additional responsibilities for USPG’s relationship with the Churches in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

JulieAnn, his wife, was a Primary School Counsellor, but in Jerusalem she is helping with work at the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre. This is a Diocesan institution which rehabilitates children with disabilities. Richard and JulieAnn’s adult children, Nathaniel and Eliana, continue to pursue their careers in the UK.

Dean Richard, in addition to his role as Dean of the College, is a Residentiary Canon of St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem and is Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral in his home diocese in the Church of England. The Diocese of Southwark is Dean Richard’s sponsoring agency in his role as Dean.

Rodney is serving his second term as Course Director, having previously served  between 2013 and 2016.

 Rodney brings long experience of leading pilgrimages to the Land of the Holy One. He has an academic focus on Jerusalem pilgrimage before the Crusades and particular interests in the spirituality of
pilgrimage and the formation of short-term community.

Rodney is American, an ordained Methodist minister and a published author of several books, most recently ‘Jerusalem Bound: How To Be A Pilgrim in the Holy Land’. He has most recently been working as an Adjunct Instructor for Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. Rodney is married to Janet, who will accompany him in Jerusalem when he moves in April. The Community of St George’s College and the Cathedral Close are delighted to welcome them both. 

He hold degrees from Southern Methodist University, Duke Divinity School, and the University of Wales, Lampeter. Along with his work in Jerusalem, he has served Christian communities in
Arkansas, Scotland, Italy, and the Navajo Nation.

Prior to his arrival in Jerusalem Rodney says: “I am grateful for the opportunity to return to St George’s College. As a pilgrim, guide, and scholar, my most transformative moments in the Holy Land have always been in the company of others, and as a place of gathering, it’s the people: the staff, pilgrims, and Living Stones, that makes St George’s College and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem special.”

Email: rana@sgcjerusalem.org

As Finance and Operations Manager, Rana is responsible for the smooth running of the College office, its financial management and also staffing. She deals with invoicing for all pilgrims and course members prior to arrival and is available during office hours to deal with financial and other issues which arise.

Email: registrar@sgcjerusalem.org

Genia is our College Registrar; she is the first person with whom pilgrims and course members are likely to engage. Genia oversees the registration process and is can be contact by email or by phone for assistance and answering queries. She seeks to ensure that booking and arrivals at the College can be planned smoothly.

On arrival at the College, Genia is available at all times in office hours to assist in making your stay at the College enjoyable and comfortable. She oversees the departure process too.

As the head of our gardening services, Samer is responsible for the maintenance and development of the grounds of the College, including the Biblical Garden. He has served the College as gardener since 1990 and is one of our longest serving staff.

As Head of Housekeeping, Azzam is responsible for the coordination and delivery of guest services, including the preparation and servicing of rooms, laundry services, and the cleaning of the interior areas of the College building. He also coordinates and supervises other staff employed on the housekeeping team and also serves some shifts on the security team.

Our security team are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide a high level of security for the College and its grounds. They monitor requests for entry to the grounds or the College building, and also assist with the arrival and departure process for guests.

Security and Team Assistant

Ihab is in charge of all maintenance issues in the College. The building was constructed to a high standard in the 1990s but there are always issues which need attention to keep the College in a good state of repair so that it is a comfortable place for guests to stay and an effective place in which all the staff can work.