Stanford serves as Acting Rector, providing spiritual and organization leadership across both of Good Shepherd’s campuses. Stanford is excited about the broad range of ministries at Good Shepherd and the depth of commitment of so many parishioners. This commitment makes possible transformative ministries.
Stanford grew up attending St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi. He claimed the church as his own while he was a college student at Princeton University, where he served as a student warden of the Episcopal campus ministry. After graduating from Princeton, Stanford came to Austin and graduated from UT School of Law. Stanford then practiced healthcare law in Nashville and counseled healthcare providers on compliance and fraud and abuse issues, managed care arrangements, and payment issues. During his time in Nashville, Stanford served on the vestry of Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, and on the cathedral chapter for the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee.
In 2009 Stanford entered seminary at Sewanee: The University of the South. Stanford served as the president of the St. Luke’s Community at the School of Theology (student body president) and on the search advisory committee for the position of dean of the School of Theology. Stanford was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood in 2012 and then served at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Following his service in Tupelo, Stanford moved to San Antonio and returned to the practice of law. Stanford was senior counsel for HCA Healthcare Inc., the nation’s largest healthcare provider.
In 2017, Stanford accepted a call to serve at Good Shepherd, first as Senior Associate, then as Vice Rector, and now as Acting Rector.
Stanford serves on the Board of Trustees of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School; on the planning committee for the Episcopal Parish Network annual conference; on the Audit Committee of the board of the Seminary of the Southwest; on the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Constitution and Canons Committee; and is a member of the Gathering of Leaders group of Episcopal clergy.
Stanford has three children, Max (20), Ellen (17), and Will (14).