The Rev. Robert P. Goolsby (Bob) was born and raised in the Ft. Lauderdale area of South Florida. He is married to Karla who is a native Texan and a Communications and Public Relations specialist. Karla’s son is an officer serving the U.S. Navy, and her daughter is an educational technology specialist in Virginia - making Bob a proud step-dad.

Growing up in the Diocese of Southeast Florida, Bob served in youth ministry leadership at Holy Sacrament Church in Pembroke Pines and later as High School Youth Director at St. Mary Magdalene in Coral Springs. In 2002, he earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando while serving at St. Richard’s in Winter Park.

In 2005, Bob graduated from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, earning a Master of Divinity. During seminary, Bob served at St. Mark’s in San Marcos, Texas in many leadership capacities while preparing youth for Confirmation. He was ordained as a Deacon by Bishop Leo Frade at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, Florida on April 17, 2005, and ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Don Wimberly at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Kingwood, Texas on November 2, 2005 where he served as the Assistant to the Rector. In 2008, Bob became the seventh rector at St. Christopher’s in Houston, Texas. Bob has had successful ministry to families with children, and young adults, providing pastoral care, Christian education and formation, and ministry in two large Episcopal day schools. Bob’s specialties in ministry include parish administration and leadership, and spiritual growth. 

Bob came to St. Thomas, Palm Coast as our fifth Rector on September 1, 2018. Bob’s passion in ministry involves bringing people into the presence of God through worship and liturgy, Christian education, Christian service and evangelism. His faith in God and firm commitment to Jesus Christ is rooted in prayer, scripture, and the rich heritage and tradition of The Episcopal Church.

Click here to reach the Rector via e-mail.

The Rev. Andy Zeman has been an Episcopal priest for fifty years, serving several parishes in Connecticut and Virginia before moving to Florida. Andy is married to Joyce, and they have three children and three grandchildren. Andy and Joyce found St. Thomas when they moved to St. Augustine to be near their daughter and her family. In his spare time, Andy enjoys reading, especially history.

He and Joyce say they are very happy to be parishioners at St. Thomas. We are happy they're here!

We agreed. It was her choice to move to Palm Coast. After all she had accompanied me as I served parishes from Vermont to Long Island to Maui to Martha’s Vineyard and back to Northern Vermont. Claire Stefanik, a retired psychotherapist, charted our move here in June, 2014. We had previously relocated from Long Island to the Green Mountains to raise eight children on our homestead in Cambridge in 1969. That was our successful effort to live off the land tending two gardens, ducks, geese, hogs and three hundred chickens. Claire and I were received into the Episcopal Church from Rome in 1975. Bishop Robert S. Kerr recognized my ordination in the Roman Catholic Church and licensed me as priest in 1977. At that time I served as a non-stipended (worker) priest at an experimental mission in Johnson. My salaried work continued as a social worker in child abuse/neglect and as an instructor in English at Johnson State College and the Community College of Vermont until 1983.

In 1983 Bishop Kerr appointed me as campus minister at the University of Vermont. The Lutheran Bishop (ELCA) appointed me as Pastor to the Lutheran Students at UVM. In 1988 Trinity Parish, Shelburne, VT called me to be their rector. Specifically, my strongest talent was helping parishes transform their dysfunctional systems into healthy relationships. I have a strong affection for the healing ministry of Jesus. My preaching squares Scripture with what’s happening now and vice versa. I like the words of the Prophets and Jesus; especially when they confront injustice. Praying the Prayer Book daily complements my love to be in silence – that’s where Elijah found God.

From the Green Mountains back to the Atlantic.  Will I surf again? I began surfing in 1948 on Long Island. Surf fishing? A better bet than surfing. My brother and I were very good at beaching striped bass. Then there is the trombone. I might just join the local band here. Practicing expands the lungs. Books? Just finished a bio about my unconventional grandmother – American Compassion from an Immigrant: We All Got Bellybuttons. Two more books (novels) are in progress. Because I love Claire’s company at the local eateries, weightlifting in my garage keeps my body weight in check. So does walking with my Tibetan Terrier, Zbigniew; he meditates too.