Clergy and Staff
CLERGY
The Reverend Erik G. Soldwedel,
Deacon in Residence
Deacon Erik is a cradle Episcopalian born and raised in the Diocese of Newark. He was ordained to the Vocational Diaconate on December 15th, 2007 by the Right Reverend Mark M. Beckwith. He has served as the Deacon of Christ Hospital, Jersey City where he was a Chaplain. He was the first Program Director of the Diocese of Newark’s Episcopal Service Corps Project NEWARK ACTS. For six years he shepherded over 50 young adults through a ten month social service internship in the urban areas of our diocese. NEWARK ACTS under his leadership was lauded as the most diverse in the Episcopal Service Corps network.
Deacon Erik is well known throughout our diocese and in the Episcopal Church for his consulting work in the areas of growth; ministry planning; mutual ministry reviews and conflict and mediation. St. Paul’s is the second congregation where he has served as the clergy in residence. He is a trained interim with the Appreciative Way Institute. Erik offers a long career in sales and marketing. He is a former Consumer Advocate for the NJ Office of Consumer Protection and the Division of Consumer Affairs. He brings all of his talents and love of people to his ministry. He is very clear to share that he was trained in Clinical Pastoral Education by the best (our Beth Glover).
Deacon Erik lives with his wife Linda of 31 years with their dog, Millie in Hawthorne. He loves to fly kites; watch old movies and have conversations about scripture and theology. Rumor has it he is a fair to decent cook. Erik considers himself a Pauline as he always shares FAITH/HOPE/LOVE!
The Reverend Beth F. Glover, DMin
Priest Associate
The Reverend Dr. Beth Faulk Glover joined St. Paul’s as a Pastoral Associate in 1998. “Reverend Beth” is the corporate director of Pastoral Care and Education (CPE) at New York-Presbyterian Hospitals. As the director of pastoral care, Dr. Glover leads a team of clergy members and staff, and CPE residents, interns and supervisory education students across the five New York-Presbyterian campuses.
Certified by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Reverend Beth has provided spiritual guidance to St Paul’s Parishioners and to several clergy in the NY Metro Region. Originally from Virginia, she attended the College of William and Mary and the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. She holds the degree of Master of Sacred Theology in Christian Spirituality (S.T.M.) from the General Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in pastoral care and pastoral supervision from the New York Theological Seminary.
Reverend Beth is a gifted preacher and has done extensive training in modern group psychoanalysis and family systems theory with Rabbi Edwin Friedman and Monica McGoldrick. She is currently enrolled in a religious education doctorate program at Fordham University, where she is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (the only all disciple honor society).
STAFF
Walker J. Jackson,
Music Minister and Choir Director
Walker J. Jackson is thrilled to lend his gifts to St. Paul’s Church. Originally trained as an operatic tenor, he began work as a professional chorister at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Cleveland Heights, OH, where he was later confirmed. He went on to sing professionally at several Episcopal Churches throughout the US, including the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, GA; Trinity Episcopal in Bloomington, IN; Christ Church Episcopal in Cincinnati, OH, and Church of the Intercession in New York City.
Upon moving to New York City in 2013, he began work at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights as both tenor section leader and a youth choral specialist, where he was soon promoted to Director of Youth Choirs. After several years at Plymouth, he transitioned into full-time music directing, serving briefly at St. Catherine of Genoa Church and St. Aloysius Church, both in Manhattan. In Summer of 2019, Walker answered the call to come to St. Paul’s in Paterson and has since settled in beautifully at home with this community and the lovely choir.
Outside of church music, Walker has performed operas and concerts throughout North America and Europe, twice soloed at Carnegie Hall, and served as Music Director for an off-Broadway show. He is a member of the Concert Chorale of New York, with whom he performs regularly aside the New York Philharmonic. He teaches voice and piano privately in NYC and Westchester, as well as teaches a weekly voice class at St. Philip’s Episcopal in Harlem. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, making music with friends, a rousing game of cards, and cooking up a feast for a large crowd!
Edward Ramos,
Bookkeeper and Parish Administrator
Ed began worshiping at Grace Church Van Vorst in his hometown of Jersey City back in 1999. Then, when he met his partner Ross, they developed a strong connection with St. John’s Church in Union City. Ross served as a Warden and Lay Minister, and Ed became their part-time bookkeeper. Thanks to these positive relationships, Ed was told of a full time job opening at St. Paul’s Church which included some bookkeeping. At the time, Ed had been working as Educational Director for an ESL and Vocational School where he had also taught accounting and office computing. He was ready for a change.
In December of 2008, St. Paul’s Church asked Ed to take on the responsibilities of 3 different positions. Ed supervised the Sexton, maintenance crew, receptionist, and managed space usage. Ed took a nearly 3-year break from St. Paul’s Church that began in 2011 when he was injured in a hit & run accident on his way home from work. It was an opportunity for Ed to begin studying Hatha yoga, one of his greatest passions at this time.
Ed has seen a lot of changes at St. Paul’s over the years and is very much enjoying the fruits of his long career with the Church and his connection to this wonderful community of dedicated, faithful, and loving individuals.
Marlene Williams,
Manager of the Just Diapers Program
Ms. Williams joined our staff in January of 2022. She comes to us with a wealth of experience serving the Paterson community. Ms. Williams previously worked for St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation in a variety of capacities, including Shelter manager and Food Pantry supervisor.
Ms. Williams combines a bright disposition with a determination to be resourceful, compassionate, organized, and helpful as she serves mothers and infants who can benefit from the items provided by the Just Diapers program.
Just Diapers provides a supply of diapers in all sizes, pull ups, and wipes. Mothers with small children are encouraged to come once per month, with their ID and proof of age, such as birth certificates, for each of their children who need diapers.
Philmore Perry,
Sexton
Philmore Perry is a native of Jamaica. He has been a carpentry contractor in the US since 1997. Mr. Perry joined St. Paul’s Church in September of 2012.
Mr. Perry, together with several trainees who work with the Urban Senior Job Program, keep all of the church properties clean and in good working condition for the use of our church members and the communities that we serve.
Philmore is known for a smile that almost fills a room as much as his laugh. Kindness, patience and an eagerness to take on any project describe our Mr. Perry!