The Rev. Eric Turner, Rector: December 1, 2004 to June 30, 2024
Fr. Eric Turner became rector of St. John’s December 1, 2004. During his tenure, he lived in West Melbourne with his wife, Charlene. Currently (2026) they live in Palm Bay, and have two adult children who also live locally.
Eric grew up the son of an Episcopal priest in Uniontown, a typical small town in southwestern Pennsylvania. After he was graduated from high school, Eric and his family moved to Sewickley PA. He then headed off for a year at West Virginia University, then to Allegheny College in Meadville PA where he graduated with a BS in Aquatic Environments in 1980.
Moving back to Sewickley, Eric took a position with a consulting engineering firm. It was during this time that the “hound of heaven” grabbed him by the scuff of the neck and he paid attention. Committing his life to Christ, and beginning the serious effort to follow Him in daily life, Eric began to pray over how this might effect his career path. Growing up the son of an Episcopal priest, Eric always resisted the nice church ladies who expected him to “grow up and become a priest like your Dad,” but finally he accepted that the Lord was calling him into the ordained ministry.
In the fall of 1982, he entered Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge PA. During that season, Eric met, fell in love with, and married Charlene (Sherbondy). Following their wedding on December 15, 1984, Eric took a leave of absence from seminary to serve the Episcopal Church of St. Michael and St. George in St. Louis, Missouri as Youth Minister.
Returning to Trinity, Eric received a Master of Divinity degree in 1988 and was ordained by Bishop Alden Hathaway of Pittsburgh. Eric and Charlene moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he served as Assistant Rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. During the Richmond years, their two children, Elizabeth and Woody were born.
In August of 1994, the Turners moved to Flemington, New Jersey, to begin work on a new church plant. Having established Christ Church, Three Bridges NJ, they moved in August 2002 to Shelton where Eric became Rector of St. Paul’s. In the fall of 2004, Eric accepted the call from St. John’s.
Significant Eras
2004 to 2010: Fr. Eric was called to guide St. John’s recovery from the earlier congregational split. What he helmed during these years was a thriving multi-generational congregation with babies, kids, 10-12 teens, parents and grandparents!
2011 to 2019 pre COVID: the kids grew up; many of the teens moved away to colleges; some grandparents aged into care facilities, some died. We became an older, grayer but still vibrant congregation, until …. COVID!
Early 2020 COVID: Even with only the incredible stress of his just trying to not get sick, we don’t know how he survived; we do know we survived because of him! Like many other clergy, he had to pivot from ‘normal’ church to creating whatever he could provide. That meant learning a lot of tech stuff to support live streaming (initially from an empty church); and, providing imaginative solutions such as drive-by communion and worship in the park. And then applying all the required protocols to attempt to keep members safe as we returned. And, all this while his wife and both adult children were extra at risk of exposed being healthcare professionals! It bears repeating: we don’t know how he survived; we do know we survived because of him!
2024 Post Covid: we bounced back! In the 3 years from reopening to the end of his tenure, we gained 18 new members plus some young adult children! And we actually replaced half a generation of gray hair with a generation also with gray hair, but one entire generation younger!
In addition to having served as Rector of St. John’s, Eric was and is on the Board of Directors of Solar Light for Africa, a non-profit that provides solar light for church run schools, clinics and orphanages in rural East Africa. His wife, Charlene, is the Executive Director. Charlene and Eric lead a team of American and Ugandan young adults on a mission trip installing solar for two to three weeks each summer.
Eric also was a member of the Eau Gallie Rotary Club, having served as president of the club for the 2013-14 year. And within the Diocese, he has served as Dean of the Southeast Deanery, and on the Diocesan Board and Standing Committee. For fun and relaxation, Eric enjoys time with his family, playing guitar and riding his motorcycle and Eric and Charlene have been living out their global travel bucket list.