The Rev. Jefferson (Jeff+) Wallace has been called as Priest-in-Residence for the Church of the Holy Spirit in Osprey. Beginning August 1, 2026, Fr. Wallace will serve as the primary and regular priest, providing sacramental ministry and pastoral support to Lay Pastor Gerry Gardner. Fr. Wallace will also remain Hospice Chaplain at Affinity Hospice.
Father Wallace was ordained an Episcopal Priest in Charleston, SC in 2007 and served his first parish as an Associate Priest at All Saints-Waccamaw Episcopal Church. This was a bivocational ministry as he was also serving Incare Hospice as chaplain. His years in South Carolina included ministry as chaplain for The South Carolina State Ports Authority and Charleston Port and Seafarers Society.
Father Wallace graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. He was initially ordained a Lutheran Pastor in 1984 and served Lutheran Churches for thirteen years.
In addition to serving hospice organizations for eighteen years, Father Wallace also serves as Executive Director for Grace-based Grief Resources for Children (GGRChelpers.org), a 501(c)3 charity he founded in 2023. GGRC serves bereaved and traumatized children and their professional helpers.
Jeff+ was married in 1978 to Stephanie Stout, and the couple is now residing in Venice, Florida, near where two of their four children are living, along with seven of their ten grandchildren.
As Jeff+ frequently says, “We have landed very well in Southwest Florida.”
As Priest-in-Residence, Fr. Jeff and his wife Stephanie will make Church of the Holy Spirit their church home and will participate in the regular life of the church. Fr. Jeff will help with faith formation classes and some pastoral care. Pastor Gerry Gardner will continue as Lay Pastor and will be working with the Vestry and Fr. Jeff to point Church of the Holy Spirit to a more specific vision, secure its ministry and leadership structure, lead Bible studies, and continue pastoral care for its members.