Clergy and Staff

Left to Right: The Rev. Michael Way, now Priest-in-Charge, Christ Church, Red Wing, Mn; The Rev. Diana Shirley, Deacon; The Rev. Rick McCracken-Bennett, Rector.

Father Rick McCracken-Bennett - Rector

I am the founding pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church.

I began my ministry as a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Toledo in 1976 after studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology (Indiana). My undergraduate degree was in secondary music education from Findlay College Ohio). After serving several years in Sandusky, Ohio, I took a leave of absence from the priesthood and moved to Springfield, Ohio where I began work in the alcohol and drug treatment field, first as a counselor and later as the director of a hospital-based treatment center and then as the director of McKinley Hall, a county-wide treatment outpatient center for adults and children.

I returned to the ministry in 1989 as an Episcopal priest, at the Church of Our Saviour, Mechanicsburg. Ohio. Prior to founding All Saints I had a role in clustering three congregations together into what became known as the Northern Miami Valley Episcopal Cluster.

In 1997, I was asked by the Bishop of Southern Ohio to "plant" a new church in the New Albany area. Work on what was to become All Saints began on July 1st of that year. The following summer I began doctoral studies at the Seabury Institute (part of Seabury-Western Seminary in Evanston, Illinois) and earned a D. Min. in Advanced Congregational Studies in 2002.

I am married to Nancy McCracken-Bennett, (a School Guidance Counselor for Big Walnut Schools in Sunbury), for 30 years and we have two children, Gavin (28), and Ashley (26). I enjoy storytelling, sailing, bicycling, writing, going to the gym with Nancy, as well as playing and composing music for the congregation. 

Diana Shirley - Deacon

Ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Southern Ohio in May 2006, I am a cradle-Episcopalian and retired special education teacher.   My husband Fred, who is also a deacon, and I moved to Westerville 14 years ago from New Hampshire.  We are the parents of two adult children, John and Melissa, and two 4 year old Shi Tzus, Daisy and Onslow.

I am blessed to be a deacon at All Saints Episcopal Church.  Theologically a deacon, a servant of God, is to help bring the world and its concerns to the people within the church and, then, to invite the people within to step out into the world to serve the needs of others and to protect God’s people.  Therefore, I delight in serving quietly behind the scenes supporting others as they begin new ministries and as they carry out the mission of our church---“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.”  I am available and eager  to carry out whatever mission Bishop Breidenthal  or Fr. Rick asks of me.  My liturgical responsibility is to set the “table” for Eucharist and to assist the celebrant during worship service.  And, of course, I get to dismiss everyone out into the world with this special message  “Go in Peace, to love and serve the Lord!”