What We Believe

The Rev. Richard G. Elliott

Most folks, from children to adults, call me Richard. I was raised in another tradition, but, like many, I encountered and found a home in the Episcopal Church while I was in college.

I have been an ordained priest for over 40 years. In that time, I have served large and small churches and college chapels, all in the Southeast. When I came to St. Andrew’s I once again had that feeling of coming home; a relaxed community, committed to community service and open to intellectual challenge and exploration. This church has helped me to grow spiritually and intellectually, and I feel truly blessed to serve here.

Alongside my active ministry I have an abiding interest in the Christian Spiritual tradition. Exploring Christian Contemplation has been a passion since I was in seminary. As one of my teachers said, “God’s first language is silence, the rest is interpretation.”

I have two children, Sam and Alex (boy and girl), both of whom live in Los Angeles and work in different areas of the entertainment industry.

The Rev. Leslie E. Roraback

People call her Leslie or Mother Leslie and she adds, “Please, just call me!” Leslie is a life-long Episcopalian, was born in Okinawa, Japan, the youngest of four children in a military family. She grew up in Fayetteville, NC attending St. Paul’s in-the-Pines Episcopal Church. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) and a Master in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS, Alexandria, VA). While at VTS she completed internships at Goodwin House Senior Living and two years at Washington National Cathedral. Leslie has had previous careers in administration, development, and marketing in the non-profit sectors of healthcare, urban ministry, and the arts. She currently serves as the Secretary for the VTS Alumni Executive Council, is in process of completing a Certificate in Servant Leadership from Gonzaga University. Leslie is also a facilitator for Sacred Ground. She has three adult children Jillian, Laurel, and Benjamin who bring her great joy. She enjoys spending time with her English Springer Spaniel Bridget, and loves cooking and baking for others.