National Executive Council

From Episcopal Peace Fellowship (www.epfnational.org)

About EPF
National Executive Council
By
Jun 7, 2006, 20:30

Membership on the EPF's National Executive Council is both a privilege and a responsibility. We strive for an NEC that represents the diversity of our church and society. Candidates are considered based on statements of peace and justice priorities and self-descriptions including age, gender, geographical location , ethnic and cultural heritage, sexual orientation, and canonical status. NEC members join with others who seek a deliberate, Christian response to violence that is in keeping with our baptismal covenant to "strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being." NEC members are elected by the EPF membership and serve three year terms.

Each NEC members pledges to:

Maintain voting membership in the EPF;
Embrace the search for peace and justice, compatible with the Fellowship’s statement of commitment;
Manifest intra-Church or Church-related activism;
Attend at least bi-annual Council meetings and pay own travel and lodging expenses for such meetings as able;
Contribute to the work of EPF by serving on NEC committees, participating in the committee meetings
during the bi-annual Council meetings, and working on committee assignments between meetings;
Implement the policies of the National Executive Council by serving as an NEC presence and as a focus for peacemaking activities in one’s own area;
Promote regional activity and act as liaison with specific members and chapters;
Promote membership-building in one’s own region;
Encourage potential new leadership within one’s region, with a view to future involvement in the NEC.

Candidates for election to the NEC may be nominated by any three EPF members or one current NEC member. Ballots are mailed to members in good standing in December of each year and returned in January.


NEC Officers 2007-2009

Rev. Gary L. Commins, Long Beach, CA (Chair)
As a 20+ year member of the EPF, Gary is excited about the current growth in EPF's capacity to start new programs, especially nonviolence training abroad, ministry with young adults, and possibilties for working at the grassroots on the millennium development goals. Locally, his parish P&J ministry has recently become a very active chapter.

Ms. Linda Gaither, Richford, NY (Vice-Chair)
On the NEC I am particularly interested in growing young adult membership, as ell as grass roots visibility of EPF. In the Diocese of New Jersey, I work at dismantling racism with our Anti-Racism Commission and Team. I have served on the Ministry Development Commission of ECUSA.

Rev. Barbara K. Armstrong, Apex, NC (Secretary)

Rev. Rex McKee, Minneapolis, MN (Treasurer)

Rev. Jacqueline G. Lynn, Chicago, IL (EPF Executive Director)

Class through April 2007

Dr. David Mycoff, Asheville, NC
David Mycoff is co-convenor of the EPF Conscientious Objection and Christian Pacifism Interest Group and a member of the Middle East Interest Group. He participated in the Summer 2004 EPF/FOR Middle East Interfaith Peacebuilders Delegation.

Class through April 2008

Rev. Rex McKee, Minneapolis, MN
I serve as Deacon at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, a community of Liberian refugees. I have over 30 years of management and consulting experience in operations, real estate, information services, and human resources. I served as the Volunteer Coordinator for Episcopal General Convention 2003 held in Minneapolis. I serve on the Affordable Housing Commission of the Diocese of Minnesota. I obtained Conscientious Objector status during the Vietnam War, and have worked in peacemaking activities for over 35 years. Most recently, I've worked as a clergy member of Isaiah, a Minnesota faith-based organization working to make change through the legislative process, with commitments in education, immigrant status, transportation, and spousal abuse.

Ms. Jane Macarthy, Oberlin, OH
My area of interest in EPF is reconciliation and diversity. I'd really like to see more diversity within the NEC, as well as the EPF in general. We (as a body) have the privilege of being a part of an extra-ordinary faith community that allows us to voice our opinions openly and without constraints. In that vein, it is important to me that everyone become involved in all aspects of the church.

Ms. Constance Trowbridge, Seatlle, WA
Constance is involved in various peace-making efforts, including chairing the Church Council of Greater Seattle's Task Force on Palestine, being a member of the (Episcopal) Bishop's Committee for Justice and Peace in Israel and Palestine. She is a long standing member of the Cultural and Racial Unity Commitee (anti-racism.) She is a member of Seattle's only down-town parish.

Mr. Tim Yeager, Oak Park, IL
Tim is a lawyer and full-time officer of United Auto Workers Local 2320, the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, which represents nearly 4,000 workers in federally-funded legal services programs, human services agencies and other organizations. He also serves as the Secretary of the Peace and Justice Commission of the Diocese of Chicago.

Mr. Richard Kerner, Dallas, TX
My passion over the years has been Christian Outreach which has lead to P&J work, especially anti-racism, the Maquiladoras and the plight of the Palestinian peoples. For 3 years I chaired the Episcopal Peace and Justice Network for Global Affairs. I am active in diocesan, provincial, and national groups, and a member of via Media.

Class through April 2008

Ms. Nancy Appleby, Salt Lake City, UT

Rev. Connie Dee Belmore, Mobile, AL

Rev. Amy Coultas, Shelbyville, KY

Rev. William Exner, Goffstown, NH

Rev. Ranjit Mathews, Sharon, MA