Our Team
Meet the dedicated clergy, staff, and lay leaders of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas, California. Our Rector provides spiritual guidance, while our Vestry—nine elected members who meet monthly—partners with them to steward the parish’s mission, property, and resources. Together with our staff and other lay leaders, they serve our congregation, support Good Shepherd Preschool, and strengthen our wider community with faith, compassion, and vision. Learn more about the passionate individuals who help shape the spiritual life and ministry of our welcoming Episcopal church.
Rev. Brian Cleary, Rector
Brian is passionate about connecting the Body of Christ within the church to the wider community. He believes a thriving church is built on dynamic family ministry, engaging Christian formation, transformative worship, and lively fellowship. Brian received his Master of Divinity degree from The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 2021.
Raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Brian grew up in the Episcopal Church. He earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Northeastern University in Boston, studying abroad in Madrid and working for Mercedes-Benz. He later built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry before founding his own company focused on renewable energy and green construction in 2007.
In 2011, Brian heard a clear call to ministry. He spent seven years deeply involved in family ministry, outreach, fundraising, mission work, and diocesan programs in Southwest Florida. In 2017, he entered discernment for the priesthood, and after seminary, served with the San Francisco Night Ministry before becoming Rector of All Souls Episcopal Church in late 2022.
Brian is an avid golfer and former PGA teaching professional. He enjoys carpentry, landscaping, reading, photography, music, and art. At the heart of his ministry is love—the love of God that calls us all into deeper relationship. He is excited to walk with you on your faith journey and is always available for pastoral care.
Sandy French, Preschool Director
Sandy French is an experienced early childhood educator and leader who is returning as Interim-Director of Good Shepherd Preschool after previously serving as its director for 20 years. Her deep connection to the school reflects a lasting commitment to its mission and the families it serves.
Sandy believes play is the foundation of early learning. Grounded in best practices of early childhood education, she champions a play-based approach that nurtures children’s cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical development. She is dedicated to creating a safe, loving environment where every child feels valued and inspired to explore.
Raised in a military family, Sandy brings adaptability, resilience, and a strong sense of community to her leadership. She is a proud mother of grown children and grandmother to three grandchildren, which enriches her understanding of and connection with families.
In her personal time, Sandy enjoys gardening, creating beautiful outdoor spaces, hiking, and reading. An active member of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, she finds joy and spiritual grounding in this community. After retiring five years ago, she is honored to return and provide continuity and loving guidance to the preschool.
Juneau Rowe, Music Minister (she/her)
Juneau offers her art and gifts so that people will gather and tune into the internal and God-given frequencies of love and compassion, forwarding positive change into the world. She sees her role as a musical guide and usher into a kinder and tuned-in state of being; through her music, actions, and her spirit. She believes in the healing power of singing, and of music as a whole, especially when shared in community: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
With a multi-instrumentalist background from a young age, Juneau received her Associate with Emphasis in Music from Monterey Peninsula College at age 18, and has worked professionally in nightclubs and in wedding bands since. She has been the accompanist at the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula, the Carmel Mission, as well as the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady and Saint Thérèse. She spent her mid-20s writing music and touring the United States with her original Synth-Pop duo, playing 45 US states over many extensive tours.
Juneau became acquainted Good Shepherd by her friend and previous music minister Clay Whittington, and was hired as the music minister in 2017. At any given Sunday service she has been known to play Piano, Organ, Harmonium, Mandolin, Octave Mandolin, Electric Bass, as well as sing and lead the Choir and Folk Ensembles. Always astounded by the love and community present at Good Shepherd, Juneau came out publicly as Transgender in 2023. She was led through the Episcopal liturgical rite of the Service of Renaming, and embraced with loving acceptance and support from the parish of Good Shepherd. She is honored to be continually chosen by the Diocesan Bishop to lead and organize music at Diocesan events.
Juneau is an avid dancer, performance artist, circus performer, roller skater, and multi-disciplinarian teacher. Using radical kindness as her barometer, she has spent her entire adult life as a vegan, and enjoys casually educating on the subject. Outside of church, she spends most of her creative energy as a singer-songwriter-producer, and enjoys playing many private events and concerts with various local musicians. She lives in downtown Monterey, and you can often find her socializing at coffee shops and in the LGBTQ+ community. She delights in bringing the unconditional love of Christ, inspired by Good Shepherd’s kindness, into the outside world; and conversely bringing her own unique youthful spark and uplifting energy, cultivated by her vibrant life, into church every Sunday.
Traci Bafford, Youth Minister & Preschool Chaplain
Traci Bafford serves as the Director of Youth Services and School Chaplain at Church of the Good Shepherd. She is passionate about helping children and families grow in faith through creative, engaging, and Christ-centered ministry.
Traci leads Godly Play, teaches Sunday school, and coordinates a monthly family worship service through Messy Church, creating opportunities for children and families to experience God's love through storytelling, hands-on activities, worship, and shared meals. She plans Sunday school lessons around the liturgical calendar so children explore the same Scripture themes as the adults in worship, encouraging meaningful faith conversations that continue at home throughout the week.
Whether she's visiting preschool classrooms, planning family events, or walking alongside children on their faith journey, Traci's greatest joy is helping others discover that they are deeply loved by God.
When she's not at church, you'll probably find Traci hanging out with her faithful sidekick, Poppy, trying to convince herself she's becoming a golfer (the scorecard may disagree), singing along to her favorite songs, or baking homemade cinnamon rolls that rarely last long. She believes life is sweeter when it's shared—with faith, laughter, and warm cinnamon rolls.
Our Vestry
In the Episcopal Church, the Vestry serves as the elected governing board of the parish. Working in partnership with the Rector, Vestry members help discern and support the congregation’s mission, oversee the care of church property and finances, and provide thoughtful leadership for the life and ministry of the parish. They act as stewards of both the spiritual vision and the practical resources that enable our community to thrive.
At Church of the Good Shepherd, our Vestry currently consists of nine members who bring a range of gifts and perspectives to this shared work. The Vestry meets monthly, typically on the fourth Sunday of each month. Supporting them is a dedicated Clerk who carefully records minutes and maintains all official documentation. In addition, a volunteer Treasurer—drawn from our parish membership—oversees the financial records and reporting of the church under the direction of the Vestry.
Together, these leaders help guide Good Shepherd with faithfulness, transparency, and care for the whole community.