THE REVEREND CANON TODD D. SMELSER, PRIEST ASSOCIATE

The Reverend Canon Todd Smelser is a native of Liberty Indiana.  A graduate of Earlham College with an A.B. in music, and a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Todd was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1974. His first call was as Curate of Trinity Church in Fort Wayne Indiana, and then  Vicar and first Rector of St. Alban’s Church in Fort Wayne. After a brief stint as Youth and Young Adult Coordinator in the Diocese of New York, he returned to parish ministry, for nine years at St. John’s Church in Minneapolis and then for over seven years as Dean of St. James’ Cathedral in Chicago.  After two years as Interim Rector of St. George’s Church, Maplewood New Jersey, he moved to Atlanta where he served at the Cathedral of St. Philip for sixteen years, first as Canon for Worship and Pastoral Care, and then as Associate for Pastoral Care. He retired fully the first of March 2017. Todd was a long-time Trustee of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary (now Bexley-Seabury) and, in Atlanta, was Chair of the Board of the Cathedral Book Store and of the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia.

After enjoying Savannah’s hospitality and the Savannah Music Festival for several years, Todd and his spouse of 30 years, Dr. James Gerhart moved here in December of 2018, and quickly made Christ Church their spiritual home.  Jim recently retired as Director of Drug Safety and Disposition Group for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and is now a consultant. They enjoy many classes at the Learning Center.