Nominees are asked to provide a brief bio that includes two questions:
- Please describe your participation in the life of your congregation, the diocese, and the larger community
- Why do you feel God is calling you to serve in this position?
Nominees
Clergy
Elect one (1) for a three-year term (Class of 2027)
I believe God is at work in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. I have witnessed God at work through serving on the Diocesan Council, the Nominating Committee for the Bishop Search, and as a Chaplain at our summer camp at Procter. God is also at work in and through St. Patrick’s, where I have been blessed to serve for the last three years.
I believe the Holy Spirit is up to something. The Spirit is reshaping, rebuilding, and renewing the theology of money in this dioceses. Money is a spiritual force, and how we use it testifies to our values and beliefs. Serving on the diocesan council this last year, we began a transparent conversation regarding diocesan finances. I feel called to help cultivate this forthright culture and build a budget that supports local ministry and increases opportunity for every parish.
Clergy
Elect two (2) for a three-year term (Class of ’27)
I am the associate rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington, where I look after our children’s & youth ministries, and assist the rector (the Rev. Gia Hayes-Martin) with preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. I have helped coordinate youth ministry among Episcopal churches in the wider Columbus area, and I am active in the Worthington Faith Leaders Association and the Columbus deanery clericus. I also volunteer at the Ohio Railway Museum, and perform occasionally at the Nest Theatre.
I love that Episcopal worshipping communities get to live in community with one another and support each other as mutual members of the Body of Christ, and so I feel tug to help build trust between parishes and diocese-wide bodies, and to help ensure that parishes in our diocese have the resources they need to do ministry on the ground – by serving on Diocesan Council.
I currently serve as the Rector of St. Anne Episcopal Church in West Chester, OH; I’ve had the privilege of being with this vibrant community since August 0f 2023. In addition, I currently serve on the Mission Implementation Team convened by Bishop White to build on the good work done at Diocesan listening sessions and the Mission Development Summit in 2024. Beyond the Diocese of Southern Ohio, I contribute to several Episcopal projects including Sermons that Work, the Prophetic Voices preaching podcast, and as a board member of the Center for Deep Green Faith.
In previous dioceses, I have served on other leadership bodies including Standing Committee (Diocese of N. Indiana) and various ministry councils. At the suggestion of some trusted colleagues, I have prayerfully considered this role on our Diocesan Council and am ready to offer myself in service. Our Diocese is at a pivotal moment in which there is a feeling of energy, possibility, and high hope for increased relationship and synergy across parishes and other ministry groups; I believe that this is the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, and I pray that my own background in nonprofit work and church leadership equips me to support our shared mission through participation as a member of Council. It’s important to me that our Diocesan governance structures work to support parishes (and other local bodies) where the transformative work of the Church is primarily enacted. Jesus was and is with people, wherever they were at; our Church must be the same.
Elect one (1) for one-year unexpired term (Class of ’25)
Lay
Elect three (3) for a three-year term (Class of ’27)
I have been a member of St. Mark’s for about six years, and a confirmed Episcopalian for about 25 years. During my time at St. Mark’s I have been an active member of the congregation, serving on the vestry, leading a contemplative prayer group, initiating and coordinating two prayer retreats (held at Cincinnati Transfiguration Center and Procter Center) and am in the process of beginning a pet ministry at St. Mark’s. I have also served as a counselor at the Procter Center for “Camp Launch.” In my previous congregations (Church of the Good Shepherd in Athens, OH, and the tiny mission church of St. Hugh’s of Idyllwild, CA), I served on the vestry and was in the choir.
I find myself increasingly drawn to the church as a source of hope in a troubled world. I find the congregations to be thoughtful, open and full of ideas that I would not normally have associated with Christians – in a good way! I would like to offer my talents (such as they are) in leadership to the church. I feel that I could contribute the dialogue that is occuring there, and perhaps aid in shaping the church on a state and national level. I am a retired professor (most recently, Ohio University) of political theory and women’s studies who has served as department chair of women’s studies and the department of Political Science, as well as having run several Centers at both OU and my former institution, USC in Los Angeles.
I am a member of Saint Philip Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio where I am a youth leader, co-acolyte director, youth Sunday school leader, Chair of the Widows Mite, member of the buildings and ground committee, on the vestry, leader of the weekly youth and family Bible study group, and publisher of the weekly newsletter. In the diocese I am a member of the Bishop Herbert Thompson chapter of UBE, and on diocesan council. I work with the larger community through my church by helping with the Friends of the Homeless feeding program and the Community Youth Outreach Committee. In the summer I assist with our Youth Community Outreach’s summer reading programs and soon will have a life skills program in the summer for high school students. My future goal will be to have a peace camp during the summer to include religious relations, race relations, and appropriate civic engagement.
I feel that God is calling me to continue the work that was started during my first term on diocesan council. Especially in the areas of growth, transparency, relationship building, and responsiveness to the vision God is giving younger members in our diocese.
A cradle Episcopalian raised in St Louis, I have been a member of St Mark’s Dayton since 2008. My combined Catholic/Anglican family quickly became involved at all levels of parish life, which intensified when I took the position of Parish Administrator in 2010. For the next 12 years, in addition to the many varied duties that come with that job, I have been a Sunday School teacher for ‘tweens and teens, a member of the Altar Guild, Stewardship Committee, Buildings & Grounds Team, and Tech/Communications Team. I have served as a Deanery Rep, three terms on the Vestry, three terms as Junior Warden, and Convention Delegate for more than ten years. When my job was eliminated in 2022 due to the pandemic, I continued my volunteer work teaching, serving the Altar Guild, supplying livestream commentary for Sunday services, and working with B&G.
In 2021 I was elected to my first term on Diocesan Council, and have been involved with the Systemic Review and Dispatch of Business Committees; Congregation Contacts Project, which has matched Council members with all 71 parishes to improve communications and canonical compliance; and have held the office of Second Vice President for two years.
I have been a vocal supporter and ally of all things PRIDE related, co-chairing the DSO booth during Dayton PRIDE events, and I have marched with other Daytonians in support of Science, Reproductive Rights, and to Keep Families Together. In April I joined the staff of Christ Church – Dayton as Parish Administrator, and am again working with area and regional churches on various projects to benefit the Diocese and local community.
Three years ago, we started the Congregation Contacts Project, designed to help five parishes struggling with various canonical deadlines, so that all would have seat, voice, and vote at Convention. This was so well received that it has expanded to a communications/deadlines program involving all elected and appointed members of Diocesan Council and all 71 churches, improving the relationship between both parties. With Bp White’s election and the exciting, positive changes in the DSO leadership structure and culture, I feel called to continue the work with the Council members and churches.
Elect one (1) for a two-year unexpired term (Class of ’26)
I have been worshipping at Christ Church Glendale for over 20 years. I have been in leadership roles as Chair of the Education Commission 2005 – 2010, Vestry/Warden 2010 – 2013, chairperson of Music Profile Committee 2019, and Vestry/Warden 2023 – present. I was the Acolyte Mentor for 12 years and a member of the choir for many years.
I have participated in diocesan workshops to identify mission and goals, and have been involved with the convention many times including the two occasions we were searching for a Bishop.
I have volunteered at several organizations over the years and a board member on a few including Habitat for Humanity, volunteer and board member, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, volunteer in same day surgery for children, Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center, volunteer, SnacPac4L, a suicide awareness non-profit, board member, and Tikkun Farm, Inc. volunteer and board member.
For several years I have felt the diocese has been very distant from parish life. There were the obligatory visits by the Bishop, however, they were getting further apart and offered little opportunity for connection. Becoming more involved in the life of the diocese may be a way to understand that distance and diminish it. Now that Bishop Kristin Uffleman White is present with us, it seems like a good time to learn. In full disclosure this is my attempt to gain more connection with the larger church because I don’t believe God wants me to feel disconnected.
Clergy
Elect one (1) for a three-year term (Class of ’27)
Elect one (1) for a two-year, unexpired term (Class of ’26)
The Reverend Allison English has been rector of Calvary Episcopal Church for six years. During this time, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to worship leadership and the development of both youth and adult formation in the parish, including the establishment of two Education for Ministry in-person cohort groups.
In addition to her work at the congregational level, English has engaged actively with the wider diocese by serving on the Commission on Ministry for the past five years. She formerly served on the Episcopal Community Ministries (ECM) grant-giving committee. Through these activities, English has exemplified the spirit of collaboration and commitment to the broader Episcopal community.
English is not only committed to her congregation and diocese, but also actively participates in the larger community by partnering with area congregations to advance a response to homelessness and affordable housing in the Cincinnati area and by assisting with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
“I believe that God is calling me to serve on the Standing Committee at this pivotal moment in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. As we welcome our new bishop, The Right Reverend Kristin Uffelman White, I see a unique opportunity to support her in establishing her ministry among us.
This is an exciting time for our diocese, filled with potential for growth and transformation. I feel called to offer my support and encouragement to Bishop White as she navigates this important period of diocesan development. My spiritual gift of discernment enables me to listen deeply and assess our collective needs, ensuring that our response to God’s call is thoughtful and aligned with God’s purpose and our new mission.
I am eager to collaborate with fellow committee members and Bishop White to foster unity and vision within the diocese. By participating in this process, I aim to contribute to the spiritual and administrative foundation that will support our church’s ongoing growth. I seek to be part of the body that serves in an advisory capacity to the bishop, offering my encouragement as she leads us through this vital transition.”
I’ve been the rector at St. Peter’s Church in Delaware for six years. I’ve served the Faith in Life committee as the recording secretary, on ECSF – now ECM – as a board member and president, for years as a member of the National & World Mission Commission, five different parishes, and my family and I have been members of the diocese for over 30 years. As we gear up for a renewed Sustainable Development Goals grant cycle, I serve as the Chair of the diocesan SDG Grant Awards Committee, and have led or supported successful diocesan resolutions for the Millennium Development Goals and the SDGs. I also serve on the Andrews House Community Center board, and for the last three years on the St. Vincent de Paul New Beginnings men’s shelter board, both in Delaware County.
After much deliberation, I’ve discerned a call to continue serving on the Standing Committee because of my 39 years of experience in leadership in the Episcopal Church in Nebraska, and the Dioceses of Ohio and Southern Ohio. Leadership for me is the development of relationships and resources to further our mission for God’s kingdom.
The Standing Committee has come a long way over the last three years. I’ve served as Secretary, Vice President and now President. I know, I can’t seem to keep a job. And these responsibilities have challenged me in many ways but also brought me to a better understanding of how the work of the diocesan office and the support of the parishes may be led by our new Bishop toward a revitalization of our ministries in this place, and in the greater church. I would like to continue in that ministry in whatever ways God calls me to serve.
Lay
Elect one (1) for a three-year term (Class of ’27)
I am a cradle Episcopalian who has tasted other forms of worship and always returned to the Episcopal Church. I had a 36 year career in the United States Navy, so I have resided in multiple dioceses. Each of these have given me insights on the mission and worship of our church and I have used that experience to be active in each of them. After retirement from active service, I moved to Ohio to be the Director of Masters’ Programs for the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University and I am now a Full Professor (Emerita). Since coming to the Diocese of Southern Ohio, I have served my parish on the Vestry, the rector search committee (co-chair) the choir, Stephen Ministry, Parish Nurse and Wellness Consultant, EFM mentor, Lay Euchristic Visitor, and Lay Reader. I have been a Deputy and Alternate Deputy to General Convention. I currently serve the Diocese as 1st Vice President of the Board of Advisors for Procter Camp and Conference Center and asVice President of the Standing Committee. During the time of my first term, the Diocese was in the process of searching for a new Bishop as well as working with the Interim Bishop Diocesean to prayerfully and actively look towards moving this Diocese further on the path of being what Jesus would have us be as a Beloved Community. Along with my colleagues on the Standing Committee, our efforts were blessed by the Holy Spirit and we elected a dynamic new Bishop Diocesan.
I have prayed a great deal about offering to continue my service on the Standing Committee. My discernment is that I have much to give for our future mission as a Diocese and a partner in the “Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement.” I have been blessed with energy, health, organizational and analytic skills, a sense of humor, and an unshakable trust in Jesus. I feel a strong urge to continue to serve, to listen, and to value all participants in our process of becoming. I love fresh ideas and the wisdom of experience and tradition. I have worked effectively as Vice President of the Standing Committee over the last year. I am excited about the prospect of continuing to work with our Bishop and the new administrative structure of the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
In my ministry, I emphasize wellness and the joy that comes from being a part of God’s creation.
All of these factors have combined for me to be confident that I am being called to continue to serve another term on the Standing Commitee. Thank you and Blessings for considering my application.
I have been a member and vestryperson of three congregations in the diocese: St. Luke’s Marietta, All Saints Pleasant Ridge, and St. Paul’s Chillicothe, where I currently serve as Senior Warden. I served two terms on Diocesan Council in the early 2000s. I previously served on the Evangelism, Faith In Life, and Professional Development committees. I’m a graduate of the Southern Ohio Lay Leadership Initiative (SOLLI) and served as a program coordinator for three years. I was a member of the Nominating Committee for our most recent Bishop search and I’m currently finishing a 3-year term on the Commission for Congregational Life.
I retired from a 38-year career in Human Resources management in 2022. My wife and I returned to our hometown of Chillicothe and we’re currently in the process of developing and opening a small business.
Our diocese is in a period of transition which will last several years. Should it be the convention’s pleasure to elect me, I pray that my professional experience, my prior diocesan involvement, and my experiences as a leader within the four-church collaboration (St Philip’s Circleville, St. Paul’s Logan, St. John’s Lancaster, and St. Paul’s Chillicothe) will be beneficial as a member of the Bishop’s council of advice – the Standing Committee.
Elect one (1) lay person for a five-year term (Class of ’29)
My family (wife Mary, sons Daniel and Andrew) and I became members at St. Patrick’s in Dublin when a job transfer brought us to Ohio in 1997. Over time, I’ve served with Mary as a co-coordinator of St. Pat’s Children’s Chapel ministry, as a warden, two-time vestry member and Stephen Minister. I completed the SOLLI and eFM programs and led several pledge campaigns. As Senior Warden, I shepherded St. Pat’s congregation through the Covid-19 pandemic as we simultaneously underwent rector and staff transitions with minimal disruption to our church community.
I have contributed at the diocesan level on the Stewardship Council and Commission on Ministry. Most recently, I co-led the diocesan Bishop Search Transition Committee with responsibility to welcome and introduce the bishop candidates, help plan the electing convention, the ordination of the bishop-elect, and coordinate a smooth transition for the new bishop and her family, among other tasks.
In our local community, I’ve been a member of the Dublin Schools Business Advisory Council, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and a volunteer youth soccer coach. My business focus has been wireline/wireless telecommunications and information technology, working both at start-ups and Fortune 50 companies including Pacific Bell and IBM. I recently retired from Verizon Communications which I joined as an executive director when the company was formed in 2000 and where I had a range of roles in wireless application development, infrastructure engineering and enterprise private/public cloud budget, planning, and financial governance.
My experiences on the diocesan Commission on Ministry and as senior warden during COVID and St. Pat’s rector transition deepened my awareness of the widely diverse needs of DSO’s churches and the value of nurturing strong church-to-diocese and church-to-church linkages. The Holy Spirit used this to ignite in me a passion which led to my participating as a leader in the bishop search process. That highly rewarding experience has, in turn, deepened my appreciation for DSO’s talented people, rich resources, and vast potential. I want to continue to serve and would welcome the opportunity to play an active role helping govern and shape DSO’s emerging direction, so I prayerfully submit my application to join the trustee team.
A cradle Episcopalian who loves our church! A member of All Saints New Albany since 2005, I presently serve as Junior Warden and have been busy helping our parish address evangelism. At All Saints I have been a delegate to the Diocesan Convention for over 15 years, and currently serve on Diocesan Council. I traveled throughout our diocese as part of the Bishop Nomination Committee and worked with the Transition Committee preparing for the ordination of Bishop White.
In my adult life I have attended both small and large Episcopal parishes and have been exposed to the differing dynamics and unique needs of individual parishes. As a retired Chemistry teacher and local school district Curriculum Director, I have a good understanding of how to educate, communicate, mediate, and reach consensus. My experiences on Diocesan Council have widened my knowledge of our diocese and provided me with the background make good decisions as a Trustee. At the core, I believe we need to celebrate the Episcopal Church.
Episcopal doctrine is central to my spiritual life, and I believe I am being prayerfully called to apply for this opportunity. I deeply care for the present and future of the Episcopal Church and want our diocese to be strong and grow spiritually. I feel I have the talents to help Bishop White define diocesan leadership for spiritual growth and service. I believe my talents and background fit with the goals of the church. I have a strong desire to focus my caring nature, prayer, voice, and energy to help lead our diocese as a Trustee.
Elect one (1) lay person OR clergy for a four-year unexpired term (Class of ’28)
I serve as the Rector of Christ Church Glendale, and have done so since 2016. I feel blessed to serve a community of disciples who are faithfully seeking to follow Jesus in an often changing and always challenging world, asking ourselves how to use the gifts God has given us to be the Body of Christ to those around us, both within our faith community, and beyond. It is often a two-steps forward, one-and-a-half- step back process, and sometimes we get it completely wrong. However, as a community of faith, we believe that God asks us of us our best efforts, not perfection.
I have served in parishes, big and small, in communities of varying sizes and resources in the Dioceses of North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Milwaukee, where I served first as a parish priest, and then as a member of the bishop’s staff for seven years. I also represented the Diocese of Milwaukee as a Deputy to General Convention in 2006, 09, and 12.
In this diocese, I served as a Trustee from 2018 – 2023, and am currently filling the first year of an unexpired term on the Trustees, hoping to be elected for the remaining four years of that term. I also spent three years representing Bishop Breidenthal on the Board of Episcopal Retirement Services. In addition to serving as a Deputy to General Convention, I have served as a Reader for the General Ordination Exams in the field of church history.
The time I spent as a Trustee of the Diocese provided a fascinating introduction to the ways that the ministry of this diocese is shaped, supported, and, at times, challenged by the resources entrusted to us for carrying out God’s work and will in the world. At both the parish and diocesan level, I am well aware that resources, in this case money, can be both a bane and a blessing. I believe that it is the responsibility of the Trustees not only to oversee the prudent and gospel-shaped investment of diocesan funds, but also to work in concert with the bishop to find imaginative ways to use our financial resources that are both faithful in and of themselves, and which encourages ministry at the parochial as well as diocesan level.
Whether it is providing support for those in need of nutritious food or safe and stable housing, or helping our congregations become better stewards of God’s creation, one LED light bulb at a time, the kingdom work to which we are called requires our careful attention, generous and courageous hearts, and the steadfast belief that God is using us, individually, and as a community of communities to achieve God’s ends in ways that may surprise or challenge. I believe that my faith in God’s steadfastness, borne of many years of service to the Church, has equipped me to be small part of this sacred discernment process, which is really what the Trustees are called to do.
I am the Rector of four churches in the diocese – St. Philip’s, Circleville, St. John’s, Lancaster, St. Paul’s in Chillicothe and St. Paul’s, Logan. I oversee a staff of 13 employees and am involved in all aspects of the life of these four parishes. I have served in various positions throughout the diocese in the last 12 years. Most recently, I was the Canon for Finance and Budget of the Diocese from 2022 – 2023. In this role, I continued working within the finance office to oversee the finances of the diocese, including preparing and reviewing the diocesan budget, overseeing audits, reconciling bank accounts, property management, and assisting congregations. Additionally, I was a staff liaison to the Trustees of the Diocese, Church Foundation, Diocesan Council, Finance Committee, Budget Committee, Commission on Congregational Life, Episcopal Community Ministries, and the Procter Camp and Conference Center. Additionally, in 2023 I served as a co-interim director of the Procter Center. In my four years on diocesan staff and Canon for Finance and Budget I attended the meetings of the Diocesan Trustees and provided perspective on investments and investment accounts of the diocese. Outside of my role on Diocesan staff, I have served on COCL, Diocesan Council, Budget Committee, and the Mission Share Task Force. I founded and currently assist the Circleville Turkey Trot committee in their work to put on the 5k race on Thanksgiving Day raising money for the food pantry.
One of my gifts in ministry is in the area of finance. Prior to being called as a Rector, I was a financial advisor for NBC Securities and other investment firms. I have obtained my Series 7, 31, 63 and 65 financial licenses. I also have my Life, Health and Annuities Insurance license. I have served clients in multiple states with their investment needs. I am familiar with the investment accounts of the diocese having research a good number of them. I understand what PNC Bank is talking about when they do their investment committee reports. The Trustees main purpose is to invest the funds of the diocese, and I believe I can lend a credible voice to the management and use of our diocesan assets.
In the years I served on diocesan staff, I had the opportunity to offer my contributions to the Diocesan Trustees in matters of investments and account structure. Additionally, I researched and made recommendations to the diocesan trustees on the use/restructuring of various diocesan investment accounts. I feel called to serve as a Diocesan Trustee to continue in that work for the benefit of the diocese.
It has also become clear to me that the entire Southeast side of the diocese has little to no representation on the various committees and commissions. This is especially true of the Diocesan Trustees. The current members are from the Cincinnati and Dayton area. There is an imbalance of geographical representation in this important organization. We need to correct this with a representative board of diocesan trustees. My presence on the Diocesan Trustees, as a representative of four parishes in the Southeast quadrant will go a long way to correct this imbalance.
Lay or Clergy
Elect one (1) for a five-year term (Class of ’29)
Being an Episcopalian has brought joy and clarity to my spiritual life that was missing before being received in 2018. I am currently the Junior Warden at Christ Church Cathedral, Chair the Music and Worship Committee, and lead the LGBTQ+ Alliance. I am blessed to serve our neighbors experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in our Outreach program.
At the diocesan level, I serve on the Commission on Congregational Life and work with Cinci-area parishes on LGBTQ+ ministry.
I am seeking places of service in our church that draw on my strengths and abilities. From my career, I have a professional understanding of physical plants, construction, and property management. I deeply care about our parishes, particularly those that are struggling, and would love to do what I can to assist. As an entrepreneur, I have a knowledge of finance and business. Most importantly, as a follower of Christ, I have a deep desire to act justly and to love mercy, and I strive to walk humbly with my God.
It was suggested that this might be a good role for me.
I am the Rector of four churches in the diocese – St. Philip’s, Circleville, St. John’s, Lancaster, St. Paul’s in Chillicothe and St. Paul’s, Logan. I oversee a staff of 13 employees and am involved in all aspects of the life of these four parishes. I have served in various positions throughout the diocese in the last 12 years. Most recently, I was the Canon for Finance and Budget of the Diocese from 2022 – 2023. In this role, I continued working within the finance office to oversee the finances of the diocese, including preparing and reviewing the diocesan budget, overseeing audits, reconciling bank accounts, property management, and assisting congregations. Additionally, I was a staff liaison to the Trustees of the Diocese, Church Foundation, Diocesan Council, Finance Committee, Budget Committee, Commission on Congregational Life, Episcopal Community Ministries, and the Procter Camp and Conference Center. Additionally, in 2023 I served as a co-interim director of the Procter Center. In my four years on diocesan staff and Canon for Finance and Budget I attended the meetings of the Church Foundation Trustees and provided perspective on the various grant applications presented. I also assisted a number of parishes who were requesting a diocesan grant. Outside of my role on Diocesan staff, I have served on COCL, Diocesan Council, Budget Committee, and the Mission Share Task Force. I founded and currently assist the Circleville Turkey Trot committee in their work to put on the 5k race on Thanksgiving Day raising money for the food pantry.
One of my gifts in ministry is in the area of finance and historic church preservation. In the years I served in a diocesan staff position I had the opportunity to offer my contributions to many DSO parishes who experienced serious issues with their physical plants. I feel called to serve on Church Foundation Trustees to continue in that work.
As the former Canon for Finance and Budget I am very familiar with the work of the Church Foundation Trustees and have extensive knowledge about the needs of the parishes with the diocese as well as a familiarity of resources necessary to address the issues of deferred maintenance. I was instrumental in obtaining for all parishes of the diocese the parish facility assessments when I was on diocesan staff. As a result, all parishes received professional facility assessments which included timelines for making necessary repairs based in a way that was realistic for them. It is critical that the diocese work to address deferred maintenance in our facilities and to provide financial assistance for doing so.
As the rector of St. Philip’s, Circleville, I have spent the past ten years engaged in historic preservation work on the facility with parish leadership to eliminate deferred maintenance. Through this work , and over many years, I have become familiar with a variety of quality contractors who can assist parishes around the diocese. Currently, I am working with the other three parishes under my charge to address their deferred maintenance needs.
I participate in the monthly Diocesan Building and Grounds Committee and regularly hear from the various parishes about their needs. These parishes need solid, dependable resources in terms of contractors and funding. With my experience and resources I will be able provide them to parishes in need of such connections and work with them as much as I am able on their projects.
The entire Southeast side of the diocese has little to no representation on the various committees and commissions of the Diocese of Southern Ohio. There exists an imbalance of geographical representation throughout the diocese on most if not all of these important organizations. My presence on Church Foundation, as a representative of four parishes in this quadrant will go a long way to correct this imbalance.
Elect one (1) for a three-year unexpired term (Class of ’27)
I have been an active member of St. Luke’s Church, Granville for 41 years. I was trained as a research scientist and I am interested in challenges, active learning, and working on lots of things. In a smaller church this works well, as one tends to accept lots of challenges and serve in many roles. My roles have included Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Finance Committee member and Chair, Investment Committee member and Chair, Long-Range Planning Committee, 12 years as Audit Chair, Facilitator (of many meetings and the Vestry), Vestry member, multi-year Ski Trip Organizer (7 years, travel bus, lots of skiers!), Stewardship Committee member and Chair, and I creatively repair things around the Church and our Parish House. I currently serve as our Treasurer (a CFO position in a small church…) and a Vestry Member. My favorite St. Luke’s projects include three “building” projects: 1) restoring our historic functioning bell with an Ohio Amish team I recruited; 2) at the request of the Rev. Harry Sherman, fabricating a life-sized realistic Advent Cave that complemented livestock in our front church yard for many annual Granville Christmas Walks; and 3) another type of building project – taking ink pens and seed funds donated by St. Luke’s to Ethiopia to successfully inspire the start of an Ethiopian school for girls in a remote region of Ethiopia, now supported by folks in Europe as well as the US.
I was recruited to central Ohio by Owens Corning following graduate school and spent 17 years at their research center working on building materials, new products development, and leading teams that supported large business unit research, product, and facilities needs (including capital projects). I proudly say I have insulated and roofed buildings, worked with asphalt and composite products, helped make the products used in installations… all of this on a path to new products innovation and launches. Among others, I am a named inventor on more than 12 patents held by Owens Corning and Battelle (my second career home for 7 years where I worked on medical products and all sorts of high-tech stuff some of which I cannot talk about,,,). Currently I work within the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine mentoring invention and leading commercialization activities for roughly 150 faculty and fostering industry collaborations. I serve on The Works Board in Newark, Ohio, and in 2022 with my co-author published a book through Oxford University Press sharing best practices for moving academic product and services discoveries to the market.
While serving as St. Luke’s Senior Warden, I led the charge for St. Luke’s to return a portion of our 3-year Procter Grant funds to the diocese to prove St. Luke’s was ready to move from Mission Status to Parish Status. At that time, we became the first Mission to regain Parish status. Others have followed in our footsteps, a very good thing for our Diocese! Most recently I have offered financial perspectives to the DOSO Finance Office on a variety of financial topics and have sought emergency funding from the Church Foundation.
I have found that over my life I have gravitated to challenges When working in community an answer has frequently emerged. Recently I was nudged by others to place my name in nomination for this role, and though this was not originally my idea, I never had any doubt that this was the right step for me to take. What I know for certain is our feet and hands are often guided, and great things come from that. At this time, I am seeking to use my skills and passion with the Church Foundation. During my discernment on this nomination, critical questions emerged. We clearly will not have enough funding to fix the many, many things each church needs (I heard the list is in the range of $18M). And many of the needs are urgent. Might we use the Church Foundation funds and platform strategically to maximize impact? Might we leverage funds offered to churches as a match for dollars from others, thereby multiplying our impact? Might we assure the estimates within proposals are appropriate? Might we coalesce resources to help each other in the options phase and decision-making steps? Can the Church Foundation become not only a funding source, but also an information source for additional funding, and a marketplace for Vendors who want to help our churches? We have the most impact when acting in community! I am eager to serve as a Trustee for our Church Foundation to find and implement creative solutions for our many building needs.
Church of the Redeemer: After moving to Cincinnati August of 2022 we were so welcomed. Newcomers group, 9:00 service regulars, and I have been elected to be an alternate delegate, then delegate to Convention 2025.
Church of the Ascension, Clearwater, FL: We spent 20 years with Ascension, during which time I served on the flower guild and on the gardens and sacred spaces planning committees for buildings and grounds; as chair of the Legacy and Endowment Committee for 13 years; future planning committee. I also served the Diocese of Southwest Florida on a joint communications committee for outreach with the National Presbyterian Church.
St. Paul’s Church, Dayton, OH: member 1969-2002; Married here, baptized 3 boys here, buried my brother and mother and father here in the columbarium. Served on Vestry, alter guild, every member canvas and various fundraisers.
St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, VA: Served on Board of trustees, Vice-Chairman, Development, Finance, Nominating, Presidential search for this Historically Black College founded by the Epsicopal Church, Diocese of Southern Virginia, from 1982-1988.
Community-wide service includes many. boards, primarily focused on: Education, Arts, Conservation and Community (like United Way and Kids Voting, etc.). Most recent, Ohio River Basin Project with the National Wildlife Federation, Hanover College (Board), Florida Wildlife Corridor (President), Community Foundation Tampa Bay (Board)
I have broad community service that has spanned my lifetime. I felt called to share that experience as I returned “home” to Southern Ohio. Both my husband and I had parents and family who were grateful for all the church brought to their lives because of their work with the church. Now, this is my opportunity to serve Southern Ohio again and I look forward to the challenge.
Elect one clergy OR lay person for a three-year term (Class of ’27)
A cradle Episcopalian from the Diocese of Southwest Florida, I served as an acolyte and attended summer camp at Dayspring. In 198 I moved to Columbus and the DSO. I attended St. Stephen’s during college, where I sang in the choir and served as a Campus Minister. I also attended and then worked on staff for Vocare (#3, 4, 5) at the diocesan level. In my adult years, I began attending St James, Clintonville (where my husband Brian and I were married, and our children baptised). I have served as an acolyte, lector, usher, choir member, vestry member, delegate to Convention, and many other roles! I began served multiple appointed terms on Diocesan Council under Bishop Briedenthal between 2014 and 2018, and I attended General Convention 59 in Austin as a Deputy.
Our family recently began attending the Church of St. Edward in Whitehall. Together with Brian I serve as a music leader, and involve myself in any aspect of parish life that I can.
We have been regular “Procter Groupies” for years. We are long-time CSA members, and attend special events at Procter whenever possible. In 2023 we attended summer family camp for the first time, and we back again this year full of joy and excitement for Conservation camp as well as youth camps.
In my daily life, I am a full-time mom, a freelance choreographer, and a part-time school administrator. I love to be involved in the communities around me, preferring to support local initiatives and practices wherever possible. I am passionate about living into the work the Spirit gives me to do in my every day life.
Both my husband and I have discussed running for Procter Board for several years. We are both passionate about the intersection of faith and the environment, including sustainable agriculture, wholistic nature education, and the preservation of natural areas for our souls to thrive. Procter has been special to me since my first experience in 1999, and becomes ever more so each time I visit. I wish to support the existing structures, while also offering ideas and fresh perspectives to its continued growth. Through my time at camp this summer, I saw a new excitement and energy in the buildings, the farm, and most of all, the staff. By working on the Procter Board, I seek to add my own joy, love, and abilities.
From a practical perspective, I have a fair amount of organizational experience from my time in administrative positions and diocesan committees. I believe I bring a good balance of dreams and practicality that will serve Procter well in an advisory and support position.
Contact Nominations Committee chair Jon Boss at jbboss@fuse.net if you have any questions.
