Leadership
The Rev. Charles G. Martin
Chaplain
The Rev. Charles Martin joined the St. Paul’s staff as Associate Rector and Chaplain to St. Martin’s University Center in August 2025. In this role, he participates fully in the life of St. Paul’s Parish, regularly serving as preacher and presider and engaging in formation and pastoral care. He also serves as the chaplain to St. Martin’s, the Episcopal campus ministry at the University of Arkansas.
Fr. Charles is a native of Wisconsin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Lawrence University in Appleton. He then earned a Master of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder and spent a few years teaching community college while discerning his call to the priesthood. He prepared for ordination at the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee), earning the Master of Divinity optime merens and also serving as student body president. He then earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree in liturgical studies at Yale Divinity School (New Haven, Connecticut) along with a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. His thesis centered around the baptismal theology of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. In Connecticut, Charles served as an assistant priest at St. Luke’s Parish in Darien, as well as regularly serving at the altar at Berkeley Divinity School and Christ Church, New Haven.
Charles is an avid amateur musician with a particular passion for renaissance choral music. In 2022, he participated in the Sewanee Schola Cantorum pilgrimage to the United Kingdom with residencies at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh and Westminster Abbey. He also enjoys exploring parks and trails and is looking forward to getting to know the Northwest Arkansas region!
Fr. Charles is a council member of Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission, and a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians and the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church.
Gus McLellan ‘26
President
Hello my name is Gus McLellan and I am the President of the St. Martins RSO. I am a Senior in college and am majoring in Communications and minoring in Religious Studies. I have been an Episcopalian all my life and absolutely love St. Martins! You can find me at the weekly dinners or at St. Pauls on Sundays at the 11 am service. I pray you can find community here at St. Martins and can’t wait to meet you!
Michael Lynch ‘28
Treasurer
I’m Michael Lynch, the Treasurer for St. Martin’s! I’m a sophomore at UARK, studying Psychology and History with a minor in Biology. I grew up here in Fayetteville and have attended St. Paul’s Episcopal Church since I was a wee lad! Once I graduated out of the youth group at St. Paul’s, I was really happy to join the group at St. Martin’s. It’s been an awesome place to continue my spiritual journey and maintain a connection to the Episcopal Church. I am both grateful and excited to further my involvement with St. Martin’s by helping out in the Treasurer role. Hope to see you all around!
The Rev. Dr. Lora Walsh
Faculty Advisor
In addition to serving as Assistant Professor of English at the University of Arkansas, Lora is also an associate priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the faculty advisor to St. Martin’s.
Lora is passionate about nurturing the spirituality of contemplatives-in-action, building inclusive institutions, and encouraging life-long learning and relentless inquiry. She couldn’t make it through the day without the Prayer of Self-Dedication each morning (BCP p. 832) and the Ignatian Examen each night.
The Rev. Evan D. Garner
Rector, St. Paul’s Church
As the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Evan oversees the ministry of St. Martin’s. Evan has served as the Rector of St. Paul's since July 2018. Before that, he served in two parishes in the Diocese of Alabama, where he was ordained in 2006. He trained for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, England, and at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia.
As a follower of Jesus, Evan believes that God's love has no limits and that unconditional love has the power to transform this world. As Rector of St. Paul's, he works with the staff, Vestry, other lay leaders, and volunteers to share that love with this congregation, this community, and the whole world.
