2025 Vestry Candidates - Christ Church of Austin

January 2025

Dear Christ Church Family,

I am pleased to announce our new Vestry Candidates for 2025: Natalie Coulter, Hannah Diller, Billy Hollis, and Pete Newell.

Natalie Coulter

Read Natalie's Bio

Hi Christ Church!

My family and I have been a part of this community for almost 4 years and have found it to be a refreshing and nourishing place. We arrived at Christ Church in 2021 after a deep loss, and like many of you have experienced, received the love, care, and space we needed to heal. Through spiritual direction, healing prayer, close friends’ support, and the Fuller cohort, I made my way into participating in this community. Each step I took, I found people who loved God deeply and were earnestly pursuing life with Christ. I’m so grateful for that time of receiving. I currently serve as a Stephen Minister and Chalice Bearer, both of which are special to me!

My husband, Josh, and I met while at the University of Texas and have been married 11 years. We have 2 kids, Milo (6) and Annie (2). My days are filled as a mother, homemaker, and educator - spending time with our kids, co-teaching my kindergartener, gardening, and reading. If I have time to myself, you’ll find me walking Town Lake, thrifting, or collecting books and plants. It is a complete honor to be invited to serve on the Vestry and I look forward to seeing our shared future unfold.

Billy Hollis

Read Billy's Bio

My wife, Robin, and I have four children: Jude 17, Pearl 14, Boone 13, and Tillie 10. We live in SW Austin just outside of Dripping Springs. We joined Christ Church in the Summer of 2019 after being part of a non-denominational church, Hope in the City, for 18 years in South Austin. For two and a half of those years, I was on staff as a young adults pastor, overseeing small groups. Having deep Austin roots, we had many friends and relationships with fellow Christ Churchers over the years, so when the Lord called us away from our home church we weren’t surprised to find ourselves at Christ Church. We immediately felt welcomed and ‘at home.’ Christ church does community well and I hope that never changes. We hope that Christ Church continues to be a place of healing and refuge for people to come and rest in God’s presence and be fed with rich and beautiful liturgy. I’ve learned so much about my vocation and calling in life through the Faith and Arts ministry led by Katie and Shaun Fox. I have served on the leadership team with them and hope to continue to foster spiritual formation and craft within our body of so many talented people. I have also had the privilege to lead songwriting groups and writing workshops here at Christ Church. In this season of ‘Growing Young’ I pray that our roots grow deep in community, in relationship with Jesus, and in the beautiful mysteries of our faith traditions.

Hannah Diller

Read Hannah's Bio

My family and I began attending Christ Church in May 2021. Sometimes our family looks a bit confusing, because not all of our children attend Christ Church, and not all of the people with us are our own children! Tim and I are navigating this season of parenting young adults, specifically the delightful Ian(25), Eliza(21), and Caroline(19). We had a German "daughter" living with us last year, and several of our kids' friends enjoy coming to church with us as well! We love the worship, the beauty and participation of the liturgy, the focus on God's Word and sacraments, and the vibrant intergenerational community here. I've enjoyed serving alongside many of you through the welcome team, prayer team, small group, and a couple of focus groups. My hope and prayer is that we as a church will strengthen one another to live lives ever more fully surrendered to our King, not just opposing the false narratives of the culture around us, even in costly ways, but proposing something that is not only true but also good and beautiful. All humans long for something to worship, and a tribe to worship with -- and we've found that together in Jesus! Outside of church, but with the same vision for Christ and His kingdom, I teach seventh and ninth grade humanities at Austin Classical School. I love to read, travel, open our home, and take walks or have coffee with friends.

Pete Newell

Read Pete's Bio

Lori and I have been in Austin since 2009 with our three amazing kids, Lily, Silas and Joe, and our dog Blue. I’m a civil engineer working with Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority overseeing large water infrastructure projects. I enjoy working on house projects, vehicles and other broken things, as well as hiking, other outdoor activities and travel.

We have been attending Christ Church as a family since 2020. At that time, we were hurting and the worship and practices of the Christ Church family provided a safe place to work through our pain and heal. I have been drawn to the consistency, tradition, simplicity and beauty of Christ Church. I value the seasons of the church calendar, the authentic joy of our worship, the Eucharist celebration, the emphasis on spiritual growth and disciplines, the missional focus, and how the community holds pain, disappointment and grief well.

I have enjoyed serving as an usher and a teacher with 3^rd-5^th grade Kids Quest team. A few years ago, I got to participate in the Fuller Cohort which was significant for my personal journey in vocation and spiritual disciplines. Christ Church is an amazing community of believers and it has been rich getting to know and learn from everyone. My hope is that Christ Church continues to be a lighthouse of God’s healing, truth, beauty, and love to Austin and our parish community.

These four parishioners represent many years of dedication to Christ Church in the form of servant-leadership. Character and commitment are the trademark values of our vestry members. These candidates exemplify commitment to the church, reflected in both personal life and dedication to serving the parish and city through quiet care and service, and they are all men and women of Christ-like character. During the 11am service on Sunday, January 19th, the parish will have the opportunity to ratify the Vestry’s recommendation of these four to serve a three-year term.