Fr. Ashton lives in Lilburn, GA, with his wife of nearly 20 years, The Rev. Jennifer Goodwin Roberts, Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta; their son, Zion, and their 18-month-old mini Bernedoodle - Gus.
Originally from northeast Tennessee, Fr. Ashton grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist tradition. In college, while then part of a non-denominational organization, he felt a call toward parish ministry and began to search for a denominational home, which landed him in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2005. Married in 2006 and a father in 2007, it would take some time to get to seminary, which Fr. Ashton finally entered along with his wife in 2016. After completing seminary, he was ordained in the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA in 2021. Following his ordination in September of 2021, Fr. Ashton served as Pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Lilburn until Easter Sunday 2026.
Fr. Ashton is a self-described ‘religious nerd’ who loves to read on the topics of theology, spirituality, psychology, politics, and history, as well as the intersection of them all. Teaching Bible study is one of his favorite parts of the job. Additionally, he loves coffee, bourbon, cigars, and hearing what is going on in your life—especially while sharing coffee, bourbon, or a cigar.
Clergy & Staff
Dawn-Marie James, Choir Director
Heather Cutting, Parish Administrator
admin@stmichaelstonemountain.org
Charlene Smith, Finance Clerk
finance@stmichaelstonemountain.org