New National Executive Council Members

From Episcopal Peace Fellowship (www.epfnational.org)

About EPF
New National Executive Council Members
By
Feb 2, 2007, 17:11

Summary Biographical Information:

Term (2008-2010)

The Rev. Will Scott (Prov. 8), is associate pastor at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, CA. Raised by a school teacher and a social worker in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, he is drawn to intentional community, the pursuit of global justice, and the church's witness for peace. While a seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary, Will co-founded a campus chapter of the EPF and served as a convener. After graduation, Will was Associate Rector for Adult Education at St. John's Episcopal Church in McLean, Virginia. He blogs occasionally at www.yearnsandgroans.blogspot.com and at the Episcopal Café.

Ms. Joy Shigaki (Prov. 2) has recently moved from Seattle to New York City. Joy has been involved extensively with local, national and international Episcopal and Anglican organizations. Among those activities she served as Sr. Warden at St. Peter’s in Seattle, was a National Church Volunteer for Mission at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, as well as a participant in the Racial and Ethnic Exposure to Mission in Panama. Joy gave the key-note address for the EPF luncheon at Urban Caucus in 2006. She has held many leadership positions with the Japanese-American Citizen’s League (JACL), both the Seattle Chapter and the Pacific Northwest District Council. The priority issues that Joy would like to focus on include: ending the war in Iraq; racism and marginalization of the poor and advocating for fair, just public policies; training and engaging new leaders to build capacity within their own communities to better affect social change.

The Rev. Robert Two Bulls (Prov. 6) moved from the Diocese of LA a year ago to Minneapolis, MN, and currently is the Director of Indian Work for the Diocese of Minnesota. Robert also serves as Vicar of All Saints Mission in Minneapolis. He is responsible for working with all native Episcopal congregations. He is a member of the National Executive Council’s Committee on Indigenous Ministries and also a member of the Evangelical Education Society, which funds seminarians’ summer work programs. Robert has completed a one year term on the NEC and is very involved in bringing nonviolence training to native peoples. Robert is also very concerned about the Middle East and says while it is very important, it is also extremely complex and that we need more educational programs that will extend the knowledge base of Episcopalians and bring them into the arena to be active in creating peace in the Middle East.

The Very Rev. Will Wauters, n/TSSF (Prov. 8), lives in Los Angeles , CA and is the parish priest at the Church of the Epiphany in Los Angeles , CA , one of LA’s poorest communities. The parish has weekly food distribution, Health Promotion, Parish Nursing, works with an interfaith Latino HIV/AIDS program and is very involved with a community organizing project called ONE-LA. They have also been very involved with issues of immigrant rights (60% of congregation is undocumented). Will is involved in all of these projects as the sole employee of the parish. He is a member of the board of Directors of the Worker Education and Resource Center and the Los Angeles Health Collaborative. In the LA diocese Will serves on the Peace and Justice Commission, the Commission on Ministry and is the Dean of his deanery. Will has an extensive history in organizing and peacemaking. He is completing a one year term on the NEC where he has worked to create a Peace Camp model and is actively working to bring nonviolence training to the Diocese of Haiti.

Mr. Tim Yeager (Prov. 5) is a member of Grace Church in Oak Park, Illinois, where he serves as assistant organist. Tim is the Chair of the Peace & Justice Committee of the Diocese of Chicago. He is the Financial Secretary/Treasurer of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local Union 2320, which represents nearly 4,000 lawyers, support staff, social workers and other employees working in legal and human services agencies across the country. Tim has served one three term on the NEC where he has been a member of the human resources committee and an EPF representative to the Consultation. He is concerned that the Church find and use its prophetic voice to advocate for a more just and peaceful socioeconomic order, and feels that there has never been a greater need for all people of good will to join together in the struggle against poverty, violence and fear.

Nominee for EPF’s National Executive Council: One Year Term

Ms. Sydney Leathers (Prov. 5) grew up in a small town in Southern Illinois which she says is a very conservative town, and her liberal views often made people look at her differently. Sydney attends St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Mt. Carmel. The decision to join this EPF was a difficult one for her because her priest advised her against it. Normally she would take his advice no questions asked, but seeing how conservative her church is, and how liberal she is, she knew she had to make the decision for herself. Sydney is incredibly excited to be involved with EPF; and says it's a wonderful opportunity that she absolutely could not pass up!

For the Term 2007-2009:

The Rev. Joyce Hardy (Prov. 7), lives in Little Rock, AR, is a deacon in ministry development, and a member of Christ Church. Assigned as a liaison from the diocese for Peace and Justice issues, Joyce has worked on issues affecting the poor, i.e. housing, hunger, all economic issues. Joyce is a member of the National Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, a member of the Standing Commission for Ministry Development for the Diocese of AK, and secretary of the North American Association for the Diaconate. She is a member of the AR Coalition for Peace and Justice, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, AK Coalition for Economic Security, Integrity, AR Hunger Coalition. Joyce is a trainer for Safeguarding God’s Children and Anti-Racism. After she attended a foreign policy class (Clinton School for Public Service), she is very interested in increasing public awareness and advocating legislatively.

Joyce is particularly interested in helping individuals become aware of how they can be peacemakers in their home, community, work and the world. She’s interested in using her experience with networking to promote EPF, with a particular interest in the deacon community. She would like to see EPF help the Episcopal Church claim poverty, war, and exclusion as issues every Episcopalian can address.

Mr. Brad LaMonte (Prov. 4), lives in Birmingham, AL, is self-employed as a design consultant, and a member of Grace Church, Woodlawn, AL. Brad served as Jr. and Sr. Warden of his parish from 2000 to 2003 and currently serves on the Outreach Committee and the Church food pantry team. Brad is the Vice-president for the South East Region of Integrity USA and has been an Integrity volunteer for the last two General Conventions. He is active with the Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage, the Diocesan AIDS task force, and serves as a board member for Integrity Alabama. Brad attended nonviolence training with Soul Force as well as the EPF nonviolence training. He has used the training in Montgomery confronting the oppressive decision of the Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice, as well as in his work with the AL Communities of Faith for Full Inclusion, the Alabama Faith Council, the Birmingham Diversity Coalition and Equality Alabama.

Like most progressive organizations, Brad feels that a big issue facing EPF is remaining relevant and refining our mission. A part of that will be reviewing our symbols and our program with full inclusion of young adult leaders. He would like for EPF to expand our focus into the mainstream to reach youth in parishes who may never have heard of EPF.

The Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles (Prov. 4) lives in Alexandria, VA and is canonically resident in the diocese of Alabama. She is associate rector and school chaplain at St. Patrick’s Church. She preaches on peace and justice issues in the parish and serves as an EPF liaison at the parish and the school. In 2006, Allison was a member of EPF’s Young Adult Presence at General Convention and helped to organize and plan the People of Faith procession as a part of the Declaration of Peace activities in D. C. She served as convener of the Northern Virginia EPF chapter in 2004-2005 and remains an active member as chair of the chapter’s capital punishment interest group. In 2004 she represented EPF at the Diocese of VA annual council and co-chaired EPF’s 65^th birthday party held at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Allison is deeply interested and involved in the work of Sabeel and issues concerning the Middle East, In addition to peace issues she would like for EPF to address more justice issues that our nation faces such as hunger, homelessness, medical care, legal system and the working poor population.

Ms. Madeleine Trichel, (Prov. 5) lives in Columbus, OH, is Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Peace and attends St. John Church, Worthington, OH. Madeleine has extensive experience as a nonviolent trainer and teacher. She is a member and trainer with the Diocesan Anti-Racism Task Force. She coordinates the Southern Ohio Lay Leadership Initiative. She was a member of the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace and Justice Concerns 1994-2000 (Chair 3 yrs., Sec. 3 yrs.). Madeleine authored the study guide on globalization for the Episcopal Peace and Justice Network, was a member of EPF’s NEC 1990-1996; 2001-2003, and she recently chaired the host committee for the Eyes Wide Open exhibit in Columbus during the General Convention. As director of the Peace Center, Madeleine has run their Peace School and been a consultant to the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. Most recently Madeleine traveled to North Cyprus to train Turkish Cypriot teachers in Conflict Management and Classroom management. Madeleine teaches peacemaking skills in two local prisons and is an active member of the Federation of Christian Ministries.

Madeleine is particularly interested in seeing that EPF has continued growth of membership and chapters, as well as support members in isolated areas. She would like to see more education on counter-recruitment, CO work, nonviolence training. She is especially interested in peace education for children and young people and inclusion of young adults in EPF programs and governance.

The Rev. Steve Shanks (Prov. 4), lives in Pelham, AL, is an architectural and structural consultant, and a deacon attending St. Andrew’s in Montevallo, AL and Trinity Church in Clanton, AL. Steve has engaged in leadership, training and advocacy over the last 30+ years including SANE Freeze, HIV/AIDS, and the School of the Americas Watch. He has also worked in prison and hospice chaplaincy. He has served on the Diocesan Department of Mission and Outreach and the AIDS Task Force. Steve is currently the Jubilee officer for the Diocese of AL. Steve is the convener and co-founder of the EPF Alabama chapter, as well as an EPF nonviolence trainer. He also provides nonviolence training for the School of Americas rally and vigil. Steve is instrumental in the planning and logistics for the annual Jonathan Daniels pilgrimage. He is an Associate of the Order of the Holy Cross, based in Benedictine spirituality.

Steve hopes that EPF will continue to transform nonviolence consciousness into empowerment. He would like for EPF to contribute to this nonviolent movement within the Episcopal Church by providing leadership, while standing in solidarity with the people of the church who are working for issues related to justice, peace, nonviolence and reconciliation.

Bishop Representative on the NEC, 2007-2009:

The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Lee (Prov. 3). Diocesan Bishop of Western Michigan from 1989-2002. Bishop Lee has a long history with EPF, serving as Chair of the NEC from 1970 to 1973, one of the most active and radical times in EPF history. Bishop Lee lead EPF worshipers at the Pentagon during the summer of 1970, when a total of seventy-six people were arrested for creating “A Loud and Unusual Noise” (the name of EPF’s 50 year history). It was Bishop Lee in 1971 who stood and lead the way with a smuggled in EPF symbol and EPF members following him, to read the EPF statement of concern at the consecration of the Suffragan Bishop for the Armed Forces. We are thankful for the Bishop’s return to the NEC, we need his courage, conviction and leadership in these times.