Clergy, Staff & Leadership

The Rev. AJ Heine joined Trinity as Rector in 2021. AJ is a 1986 graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. In 2003, he graduated from Seabury Western Seminary in Evanston, IL. He has two adult children. He comes to us from St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Metairie, LA, where he served as rector since 2006. He leads his resume with this statement: “Growing community, crossing borders, building bridges, and connecting people to the love of God in Jesús Christ is the source of my greatest joy and the best way I know to unleash the power of God’s love to heal the world.” 

The Rev. Cara Ellen Modisett joined Trinity as curate in June 2022 after finishing her M.Div. at Virginia Theological Seminary. She was ordained as a priest on January 7, 2023. A native of Harrisonburg, she has degrees in music and English from James Madison University and an M.F.A. in creative nonfiction from Goucher College. In her pre-seminary life she worked as editor of Blue Ridge Country magazine, producer/reporter for WVTF public radio, English instructor at Ferrum College, communications advisor for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, music director at St. Elizabeth’s, Roanoke; minister of communications at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis; communications director at St. John’s Episcopal, Roanoke and staff collaborative pianist at Radford University. She is listening for how her secular callings will shape priesthood. 

Muffie Newell joined the staff in mid-July 2017. She has been a member of Trinity church since 1989. Through the years she has been very involved with the Christian Education committee serving as co-chair, youth leader, and Sunday school teacher. Currently she is coordinator of a pastoral ministry called Trinity Cares.  She is married to Ross and has two wonderful daughters Liza and Emma.