Reverend Charles C. McCoart, Jr. (or "Chuck" as he prefers) is the rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church (EEC) joining our team in June 2013. 

We really have to talk about this ancient word: rector. It’s a weird word if you come to us from outside the Episcopal tradition. Rector essentially means: pastor. To lead a church. The rector’s primary task is to articulate, preach, teach, interpret, uphold, exemplify, shape and develop the stated vision of the parish so that the vision becomes the focal point for the parish, hopefully leading us all closer to God. Chuck does this by being a cheerleader for God, encouraging people to become who God has created them to be and helping all members to find their place in shared leadership within our parish.

A native of Northern Virginia, Chuck received a Master’s of Divinity from Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD in 1990, and was received into the Episcopal Church in 2013.  Between 1990 and 2013 Chuck served in multiple capacities, from parish work to diocesan positions. Leading, loving, and serving others, Chuck worked to aid both career staff and volunteers to achieve their mission.

Mostly, Chuck just loves people. Nothing makes him happier than to hear how God is at work in another person's life. Chuck also enjoys time spent with his German shepherd, Max, gardening, and on rare occasions creating art.

Joani delights in crafting and planning Emmanuel’s Sunday worship and seasonal services. She has an abiding passion for learning and loves walking alongside folks of all ages and stages on their journey in faith. She serves on the Adult Spiritual Formation Ministry Team and is editor-in-chief of the parish blog: Emmanuel Voices. A 1994 graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, Joani has served four previous congregations in the Diocese of Virginia. A native Washingtonian and bibliophile, Joani volunteers as a docent at the Library of Congress. A mental health advocate and raconteur, Joani has performed many times  on the Story District stage in the Nation’s Capital. Mother of three rocking adults, Joani also shares a household  with two ginger cats: Cheshire & Charlie.

A native of Wilmington, DE, Jen holds a BA in English Journalism from the University of Delaware, an MSc in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and an MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary. Jen’s previous experience as a high school English teacher and Children and Family Minister has fueled her deep passion for both children/youth Christian education and sacramental ministry. When not spending time with her three amazing children and fabulous husband, Jen enjoys sports and being outdoors – especially on the beach! Her favorite book is The Chronicles of Narnia, which she reads cover-to-cover several times a year.

Responsible for the overall operations of the church business, Janie creates the newsletter, handles all financial receipts and disbursements, manages building maintenance needs, and provides overall support to church leadership and ministry teams. A Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Master’s in Organizational Communication, along with many years of both volunteer and paid positions, have culminated in bringing Janie’s full range of skills and experience to this role. She loves to travel but also enjoys a day spent in the pages of a good book.

As Administrative Assistant, Karen works alongside the Parish Administrator on the tasks required to run the church business behind the scenes. In addition, Karen assists the Clergy with the production of worship services and maintains the parish membership database and church registry. Karen is a graduate of Alfred University with a degree in Marketing and Business Economics. She is an active volunteer in the Alexandria community and enjoys outings with family and friends that revolve around nature and good food.

Ryan has been serving at Emmanuel since 2013 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Music Education and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Opera. Ryan has been active in the DC Metro area as a music educator, clinician, accompanist, conductor, and singer for over 15 years. In his free time, Ryan enjoys biking, theater, entertaining, and spending time with family, friends, and his dog Maria. 

A long-haired German Shepherd, Max, born January 2017, is the Rector's constant companion, and a beloved member of Emmanuel's pastoral staff. Among his many duties are pastoral walks around the block, playing catch with preschoolers, and playfully herding children. Max is a 2017 graduate of service dog training at Dogs Downtown. In his freetime, Max is obsessed with his blue and orange "Chuck-It-Ball," and enjoys playing with his canine friends, as well as taking long windows-down pick-up drives in the mountains with Chuck.