The Rev. Marshall Keith Shelly was born in Michigan and grew up in Southern Ohio. He is a life-long Episcopalian. He attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, graduating with a degree in Anthropology; and also spent a year abroad in study at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. After graduating from college, he returned to Ohio and entered discernment for the priesthood. He was ordained as a deacon in 1994 after graduating from the General Theological Seminary in New York City. During that time, he received awards for study in Biblical Greek and Extemporaneous Preaching. He also participated in mission work in South Dakota on the Rosebud Lakota Indian Reservation.
His work in the church after his ordination to the priesthood in 1995 has been varied, with extensive experience in associate ministry, interim ministry and as a settled rector. He has served parishes in Ohio, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He expresses a passion for youth ministry, pastoral care, spiritual formation, outreach and social justice and welcoming new people to the life of Christ.
He joins St. Peter’s after an interim call to our neighbor parish, Trinity Episcopal Church in Matawan. Previous to that, he was rector and head of school at Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, PA and prior to that call was interim rector and head of school for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Providence, NJ.
Father Marshall comes to us, excited to answer God’s call to serve as priest, pastor and leader in our midst. His desire is to explore with St. Peter’s how best to serve the parish as it serves Christ in Spotswood and the surrounding communities.