Russ Martin has been a member of St. Thomas’ for ten years and is a cradle Episcopalian. He graduated college with a bachelor’s in communications from Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA and a master’s in theology from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary.

Russ is a former Navy Chaplain, serving in parishes in Wisconsin, Texas, California and Florida. Russ spent the majority of his career in the advertising world, working for The Florida Times Union, AT&T, and several regional Florida magazines. And he is the former Executive Director of Oasis, the LGBT+ Center in Jacksonville.

Russ is a member of the Episcopal Church's Vergers Guild, a licensed Eucharist Minister, and a licensed Eucharistic Visitor. He is also a member of the Diocese of SW Florida's preaching cohort. 

Russ is active member of KAIROS Prison Ministry. He is the former Stewardship Committee chair and currently chairs the Outreach Committee. He has served on vestry, has been on numerous mission trips with parishioners to Honduras,  and is a member of The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, the parish’s prayer guild. Russ has two grown children, Blair (who lives in Jacksonville), and Tyson (who lives in St. Pete). 

---