2011CandidateStateme.. - St. Columba`s Episcopal Church

St. Columba’s n Candidate Statements 2011
Annual Parish Meeting and Election: Feb. 6
Who is qualified to vote?
You are qualified to vote if you are at
least 15 years old, baptized and entered
on the parish rolls, and are a member
of a contributing household to the
parish. Contributions are defined as
recorded pledges, identifiable offerings
or services rendered.
Meeting but wish to vote you can fill out
a ballot at the Welcome table on Jan. 30
or in Room 240 the following week.
Ballots must be completed immediately.
January 30 Adult Forum
Nominees are introduced and candidates for warden and vestry speak.
Ballots and Absentee Ballots
What is the vestry?
Ballots are available in Joshua Hutcheson’s
office (Room 240) the week preceding
the Annual Meeting (Feb. 6). On that
day, the polls will be open from 7:45 am
to 12:30 pm and from 4:45 to 6:15 pm.
If you are unable to attend the Annual
The vestry is “. . . the agent and legal
representative of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate property
and the relations of the Parish to its
clergy and is the Board of Directors and
administrative body of the Parish. . . .
It shall consist of the Rector, as its Chair,
the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden
and 12 members as described below . . .
The Vestry shall be chosen from among
the members of the Parish who are at
least 18 years of age, who are communicants in good standing for a period of at
least one year and who are contributors
of record.” (Bylaws of St. Columba’s Parish, Article 6, Sections 1 and 2).
How are candidates chosen?
Candidates are chosen by a Nominating
Committee, which is headed by two
vestry members (see page 6 for this
year’s committee).
CANDIDATES FOR WARDEN Elect two to serve one-year terms
JOHN NOLAN (Senior Warden)
Jennifer Turner (Junior Warden)
Occupation Corporate senior advisor;
member of two corporate and four
nonprofit boards; semi-retired
Occupation Homemaker/teacher
Spouse / family Joyce Nolan / Grown
son and daughter, their spouses and
two grandsons
Church experience I moved to D.C. and joined St. Columba’s
in mid 2001. My initial foray into parish life was as co-chair of
Decoration Sunday. I currently serve or have served as an usher,
chalice bearer, Night of Columba and Discernment Committee member. I’ve been a J2A leader and North Dakota mission
trip leader, and I filled in as acting parish administrator for five
months in 2007-8. I have served as Senior Warden this past year
and Junior Warden the prior year.
Beyond a doubt, the most critical issue facing the vestry is the
financial condition of the parish and the actions needed to
achieve a balanced budget. Over the past two years the vestry
has worked hard (and successfully) to develop a framework and
culture to deal with difficult issues in a manner that encourages
differing thoughts and that seeks to build on the talents and
experience of its members to reach sound decisions. That
foundation will serve us well as we deal with difficult financial
decisions should pledging fall short of the necessary level.
Parish communications will be important through this process.
Spouse / family Woody Turner /
Maddy (15), Harry (10)
Church experience Member since
1981. Currently serving on the vestry.
STEP/I Have a Dream, Anchor Group
leader, Pastoral Care Review Team, Vestry Nominating Committee, Chair of Outreach Steering Committee, Great Hall
Team, Mothers’ Group, Sunday School teacher, Co-Chair of
Welcome Task Force, Welcome Ministry Team, Haven meals,
St. Columba’s representative to Friendship Place.
It has been an honor to serve on the vestry during the past
year. I agreed to stand for Junior Warden for the simple reason
that I deeply love this parish. We have our challenges for sure,
particularly regarding the budget. However, we are, at our core,
a community blessed with joyful and open hearts, creative
minds and generous spirits. We are called to celebrate our
rich history, to rise to the present challenges and to embrace
a future filled with God’s grace.
St. Columba’s n 4201 Albemarle St. NW n Washington, D.C. 20016
Candidate statements continue on page 2.
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St. Columba’s n Candidate Statements 2011
CANDIDATES FOR VESTRY Elect four to serve three-year terms
INGA BLUST
Gardell gefke
Occupation Retired Spanish Teacher
Occupation Self-employed systems
engineer—hybrid power systems and
vehicles
Spouse / family Widowed / three adult
daughters
Church experience I first came to
St. Columba’s in the ’60s when the
ordination of women was the big issue.
At a parish meeting, an elderly and wise parishioner, Helen
Pettitt, stood up and said, “Of course St. Columba’s should
accept a woman priest!” and I thought, “This is the church
for me!” Since then, I have found fellowship and fulfillment in
many activities, such as Sunday School teaching, STEP, Altar
Guild, serving on the Vestry and as a warden, chairing the
Columba Fund, playing in the orchestra and acting in Peel/
Pickard musicals. I have been the Volunteer Coordinator for
the Haven since 2000 and am now a Stephen Ministry Leader.
I hope that St. Columba’s will continue to be welcoming and
supportive to people of all ages; will take on a new project
that involves us in the city as deeply as STEP; and challenge us
to give of our time and talent where needed.
Spouse / family Elizabeth Pyke /
Madeleine (12) and Anna (10) Gefke
Church experience Member for eight
years. Worship at the 9 am; daughters in the Girl and Chapel
Choirs. Vestry member and nursery school liaison for three years.
Vestry Finance Committee for past year. Five years as member
of St. Columba’s Nursery School Board. Sunday School teacher,
usher team, formerly vice-chair and secretary of the Outreach
Steering Committee. Active in the St. C’s Adoption Network;
playground build volunteer; former member of the Great Hall
team. Attend Wednesday dinners and adult education classes.
St. Columba’s grabbed my heart with the warm welcome of
the Great Hall and continues my formation with opportunities
for connection with God and openness with each other. I am
committed to supporting clergy, staff and lay ministries as we
move forward on the many things that make St. C’s wonderful.
Margaret Drake
KATIE McGERVEY
Occupation Attorney, Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation
Occupation Stay-at-homeschooling mom
Spouse / family Joe / Max (8), Oscar(4)
Spouse / family Single
Church experience I am a cradle Episcopalian and found St. Columba’s while
serving as a law clerk. When I moved
to the area following law school, I joined St. Columba’s and
have been a member for approximately 7 1/2 years. During
that time, I have served as a Sunday School teacher (3-yearolds, kindergarten, 5th and 6th grades and J2A), a SCAP leader
(two trips), a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a Diocesan Delegate
(Alternate) and a member of the Outreach Steering Committee.
I believe the greatest challenge facing the vestry is how to do
more with less. While St. Columba’s needs to be fiscally
responsible, it is also critical that we continue its vital youth
programs, educational opportunities and outreach efforts for
the least of those among us. I hope to work with the vestry to
develop creative ways to address these challenges, allowing all
of us to continue to grow in Christ’s love.
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Church experience Joined in 1994.
Married and baptized my kids here.
Active with STEP/IHAD; coordinated
the Saturday enrichment program for
three years. From 2001-3, served with Joe as volunteers for
mission in southern Africa, supported by a Columba Fund grant.
Formed the South Africa Mission group. Served as an usher,
Sunday School teacher, Diocesan delegate and on the Diocesan
Southern Africa Partnership Committee. Coordinate the Mothers’
Group steering committee; participated in and hosted anchor
groups. I’m an avid congregational choir member. Max and Oscar
attended the nursery school; I’m currently the Parent Group chair.
Our biggest challenge is to bring more parishioners into active
service in the mission, ministries and life of the parish. I also
hope to help our parish return to a feeling of abundance and
to move forward with what we have today. Finally, we have to
continue to reach out in radical welcome to newcomers.
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
St. Columba’s n Candidate Statements 2011
CANDIDATES FOR VESTRY Continued
LAURELLE Sheedy Mccready
ron wisor
Occupation Director, Finance and
Administration, National Presbyterian
School
Occupation Attorney, Hogan Lovells
Spouse / family Ron McCready /
Liliana (28), Bronwyn (26), Kane (22)
Church experience Prior to coming to
St. C’s I served on the Vestry of our church in Connecticut. Our
family served as lay missionaries in Africa. Daughter Kane and I
found St. Columba’s when we moved here in 2002. I dove into
STEP and taught Sunday School while Kane served as an acolyte and sacristan, sang in the Gallery Choir and participated
in youth outreach trips. After Ron and I were married in 2008
Ron was baptized at St. C’s and confirmed. We continue our
Christian journey as I serve as a member and Treasurer of the
Nursery School Board; Ron and I usher; and we actively attend
Wednesday’s at St. C’s and forums.
While my heart is in outreach I see crumbling infrastructure as
an equally critical imperative. I hope we will stretch our educational programs for adults and develop more opportunities
such as the Stephen Ministry, where we more fully involve the
laity in God’s work.
Spouse / family Keri Piester / Will (12),
Hope (10) and Tess (9)
Church experience Current vestry
member and 15-year St. Columba’s
member. Throughout that time, I’ve
been an active STEP volunteer, including six years as Chair
of the STEP Steering Committee. I’ve also chaired the
Nominating Committee, taught Sunday School and served
as a Gap Kids and SCAP leader.
My first vestry term focused largely on helping build solid
foundations for our church’s future—physical foundations,
operational foundations and financial foundations. It was not
always flashy work, but it was vitally important. I’m especially
proud of my service on two Nominating Committees that
helped produce a vestry of unmatched talent and commitment. We now are on solid ground, looking with excitement
and anticipation towards the future God has for this most
special church. I believe the time has come for us to again look
beyond ourselves for bold ways reenergize our tradition of
being active in service and make our world a better place.
CANDIDATES FOR DIOCESAN DELEGATE Elect two to serve one-year terms
PAUL BARRINGER
JOHN WICKHAM
Occupation Attorney, United Healthcare
Occupation Environmental Policy
Consultant, recently with World Bank
Spouse / family Marcea / Hugh (8),
Hope (5)
Partner Jeanne McCann
Church experience Member since
2004. Great Hall piano player, Sunday
School teacher, Great Hall usher, prison ministry volunteer.
Church experience Member since
2005. Co-Chair, Environment Committee; Building and Grounds Committee;
Nights of Columba; Coffee Hour Helpers; Outreach Steering
Committee; Nominating Committee; have volunteered as a
Sunday School teacher and with Rebuilding Together.
Candidate statements continue on page 4.
St. Columba’s n 4201 Albemarle St. NW n Washington, D.C. 20016
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St. Columba’s n Candidate Statements 2011
CANDIDATES FOR Alternate DELEGATE Elect two to serve one-year terms
DEBORAH KENNEDY COSTER
ANN HUME LOIKOW
Occupation Director of Development,
Center for Applied Linguistics
Occupation Retired Federal attorney
with the FDIC
Spouse / family Single
Family John D. Loikow; (adult) daughter Betsy Loikow
Church experience Member since
1987. St. Columba Singers and
St. Columba Ensemble, music theory
teacher, Altar Guild, Nights of Columba, Nominating
Committee, St. Columba’s Task Force on Senior Ministries,
Shortbread Bakers, coordinator of Arts Hour and Concert
Series, St. Columba’s representative on Friendship Terrace
Coordinating Council.
Church experience Cradle Episcopalian; member of St. Columba’s since
1996 (I think); lay lector/intercessor; active in outreach activities as a member of the Honduras Mission Group, the South
African Mission Group, the Katrina Response Mission Group,
the Environment Committee and the Peace Fellowship. I have
also worked as a volunteer at recent Diocesan Conventions
and regional assemblies.
Hearty thanks go to Nominating Committee co-chairs Elizabeth Taylor and Schroeder Stribling; members Ken DeCell,
Tish Gardner, Alia Goodyear, Margaret Griffin, Larry Harris, Brian Kettler, Casey Lowe, Joan Miranowski, Betsy Oster,
Chris Schumann and Dennis Tosh; and to Wayne C. Fowler for photographs of the candidates.
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St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org