2026 Ballot

Faith Statement

My ministry objective is for God alone to be glorified.

Vision

I have humbly accepted the call to preach and apply the Gospel, loving God and His people. Because Christ has accomplished all and justified me, I live in gratitude for His finished work. Compelled by His command in the Gospel of Luke 14:23 to go into the highways and hedges, I proclaim the good news not only for personal salvation, but for justice, restoration, and liberation. The Gospel calls us to confront oppression, uplift the marginalized, and embody God’s righteousness in our communities. I am committed to equipping the saints, cultivating spiritual maturity, and advancing a ministry that reflects both Christ’s saving grace and His heart for justice.

Intercultural Work

I practice culturally responsive ministry marked by humility, awareness, and respect. I am committed to engaging and empowering people from diverse backgrounds through culturally sensitive outreach, inclusive worship, housing advocacy, and trauma-informed care—serving my community with justice, dignity, and compassion.

Demographic Information

Home: Lebanon, Pennsylvania
District: Atlantic Northeast
Congregation: Mt. Wilson
Occupation: Blended case manager; human services social work; family therapist
Language(s) Spoken: English and Jamaican Patois
Female, age 48, Black

Experience

Local: Worship and praise leader; Sunday school teacher; licensed minister
District: Strategic planning way forward committee; district conference, worship and praise facilitator; peace and justice committee
Denomination: Annual Conference; Intercultural Ministry Advisory Committee; On Earth Peace; Standing with People of Color, Racial Justice Advocate; Bethany Theological Seminary, M. Div. student
Other: NAACP of Lebanon, PA; Lebanon County Commission for Women; Compeer, board

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I bring organizational and program leadership with expertise in strategic planning, event management, and effective execution—demonstrating strong, results-driven leadership.

Faith Statement

Jesus shows us the way of compassion and justice—the sometimes frightening, sometimes soothing, Way to God’s heart.

Vision

That the church stretch past its frontier of comfort, knowing it can lie, panting, if need be, in the arms of Jesus to grab its next Breath. My priority is to remind the Beloved Community that we have the vision of faith, peace, reconciliation, and justice provided by Jesus; now we courageously live it.

Intercultural Work

I have had a variety of travel and living experiences outside the US, living cheek-to-jowl with 4-5 men from various cultural backgrounds on BVS assignment, providing spiritual accompaniment with Native Services at Oregon State Hospital, growing up in a multi-ethnic family, honing listening and observation skills over 18 years of professional work with people with mental and physical health challenges.

Demographic Information

Home: Cottage Grove, Oregon
District: Pacific Northwest
Congregation: Springfield
Occupation: Pacific Northwest District executive team
Language(s) Spoken: English, Swedish, Spanish, German, some Hawaiian
Female, age 67, European-American

Experience

Local: Moderator; board, chair; commissions; teams; Earth and Social Justice commission; youth Sunday school teacher; worship leadership team; pulpit supply; music leadership; Parish Associate (local Presbyterian)
District: District Executive Team; board; ministry commission; Camp Myrtlewood, board; interdistrict youth cabinet
Denomination: Standing Committee; Nominating Committee; Implementation Committee; Envisioning Committee; Brethren Press projects; Femailings editorial board; National Older Adult Conference, worship and Bible studies leadership; Hymnal: A Worship Book, leadership; Generation Why Bible studies, coordinator
Other: York Center Community Cooperative, board president; Oregon State Hospital, psychology and spiritual care departments

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

From boards, church youth, and professional experiences, I have learned to find ways to have fun, listen actively, stay open to outcome, lead as a servant and by example, sing plenty, and keep in mind that “everyone I meet is fighting a great battle” (Philo of Alexandria).

Faith Statement

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is the only way to a relationship with God. I stand on God’s word and believe every word was written for my benefit and to guide me in my relationship with Him and others.

Vision

My vision and priority for serving in this role are basically one in the same. I would strive to help move the church forward by standing on the word of God and upholding the policies of the Church of the Brethren.

Intercultural Work

I have been a public school teacher for over 32 years. Over the years I have learned to accept all nationalities of students and adapt to their needs.

Demographic Information

Home: Fruitdale, Alabama
District: Southeastern
Congregation: Cedar Creek
Occupation: Teacher
Language(s) Spoken: English
Female, age 60, European-American

Experience

Local: Sunday school teacher (ages 3rd grade through adults); song leader; pulpit supply; board
District: Moderator; camp board, chair; board, chair; nurture commission; witness commission; stewards commission; ministry commission
Denomination: Annual Conference, delegate, table facilitator
Other: Fruitdale High School, leadership team, cheer coach; Alabama Math Science Technology Initiative, trainer

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

These leadership roles have equipped me with skills such as listening, decision making and teamwork. Mission and Ministry Board members need to be good listeners and be able to work with others. My experiences have given me many opportunities to work with others and to lead them when necessary.

Faith Statement

I believe in the Triune God, that Jesus is the revelation of God’s infinite love for us, and that by grace alone we are reconciled with God through Jesus. When we submit ourselves fully to Christ, the power of the Spirit transforms us that we might reflect God’s love into our broken world.

Vision

It is my prayer that the actions of the Mission and Ministry Board will be made after prayerful discernment and in accordance with God’s will for the church. My priority is to be a servant of Christ in all that I do that I might be useful in furthering God’s Kingdom on this earth.

Intercultural Work

As a lawyer for 25+ years before being ordained to set-apart ministry, I worked with people from many backgrounds, races, and cultures. I also served as a Christian education director at a church in a racially and ethnically diverse neighborhood for 8+ years and am now pastoring a church in a rural community.

Demographic Information

Home: Dayton, Virginia
District: Shenandoah
Congregation: Montezuma
Occupation: Pastor
Language(s) Spoken: English
Female, age 65, European-American

Experience

Local: Pastor; director of Christian education; children and youth ministry director; board; Sunday school and Bible study teacher
District: Christian Growth Institute, instructor and administrative committee; children’s cabinet
Denomination: Annual Conference, worship planning team; National Youth Conference and Workcamp/FaithX chaperone
Other: Co-founder of OASIS (women’s shelter); Shelter for Help in Emergency, board; Charlottesville Legal Aid Bureau, board

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

My experiences and training taught me to consider issues objectively and from a variety of perspectives before making decisions. Serving on community non-profit boards required me to balance needs vs. financial realities. My experiences in the church confirmed for me that the servant leadership of Jesus is the model I want to imitate.

Faith Statement

As a disciple of Christ, I am called to love God and to love others as Jesus loves us (John 13:34). I live by the truth that “God is love, and whoever dwells in love dwells in God and God in them” (1 John 4:16) and that love consists of a life of action and truth, not simply words (1 John 3:18).

Vision

The Church of the Brethren faces an opportunity today to grow our witness of Christ’s radical love. Rooted in our history of peace and service, we are well equipped to meet this moment with expanding ministries that embody agape love. Now is the time for us to be innovative, adaptable, and fearless disciples—peacefully, simply, together.

Intercultural Work

I have led a district initiative to curate resources for faith groups and individuals in discernment of LGBTQ+ related questions. Through the Ellisforde Church of the Brethren, I have organized a county-wide group that provides rapid response and ongoing support for immigrants which focuses on bridge-building between English- and Spanish-speaking communities. With five different faiths in my immediate family, I treasure interfaith connections and have led numerous interfaith programs. In my managerial work in a regional library, I have helped local branches implement system-wide strategic plans, creating flexible cohesion among demographically diverse communities.

Demographic Information

Home: Osoyoos, British Columbia (commuting internationally to Okanogan County, Washington)
District: Pacific Northwest
Congregation: Ellisforde
Occupation: Pastor; Pacific Northwest District administrative assistant
Language(s) Spoken: English, intermediate Spanish
Male, age 37, European-American

Experience

Local: Pastor
District: Administrative assistant; treasurer
Denomination: none
Other: library regional manager

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

Through my vocational callings, I have come to understand the challenges and opportunities facing our church. With my experience in organizational management, I am skilled in developing visionary goals and translating those unifying goals into specific, local contexts.

Faith Statement

I believe in a loving, generous God who revealed His love through Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to demonstrate this love to all we meet. In an increasingly fragmented world, we are to serve our neighbors—clothe them, feed them, accept them unconditionally, respect them, and love them.

Vision

That our church continues to find ways to create and foster safe and caring spaces for our members and our neighbors, regardless of the many ways society uses to divide us. This includes inviting young people into the ongoing ministry of the church and ensuring they are a valued part of our church family.

Intercultural Work

I traveled to Myanmar with the New Community Project; that experience has enriched my life and expanded my perspective while influencing my work within the Church. I am finding ways to make a small difference locally, like working for a library tutoring program that provides homework assistance to children from diverse backgrounds.

Demographic Information

Home: Seattle, Washington
District: Pacific Northwest
Congregation: Olympic View Community
Occupation: Retired
Language(s) Spoken: English
Female, age 76, European-American

Experience

Local: Board, chair; treasurer; deacon; finance committee; personnel nominations committee; Christian education committee, pastor search committee
District: Moderator; leadership team, chair; communications ministry team, chair; district conference, delegate; interim District Executive Ministry team
Denomination: Children’s Disaster Services; Annual Conference, delegate
Other: Senior Class Ethics Day programs, organizer

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

Through corporate and church experience, I gained excellent organizational and communication skills; organized teams to develop large technical proposals; developed and monitored schedules and budgets; and wrote/edited technical and nontechnical documents. My experience with two very different Church of the Brethren districts (Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest) gives me a valuable perspective about the ways they work with and encourage their churches.

Faith Statement

Although I come up short, I always try to emulate Jesus in my decisions, actions, and speech. I am especially committed to living my life according to the fruit of the Spirit, modeling love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in all I do.

Vision

I have served on stewardship commissions at both the local and district level. I would bring that experience and knowledge to this position.

Intercultural Work

In my job, I worked with persons of different nationalities and races. I have served six years on the district stewardship commission, Barnabas team, and Seeds of Faith team.

Demographic Information

Home: Lititz, Pennsylvania
District: Atlantic Northeast
Congregation: Lititz
Occupation: Retired
Language(s) Spoken: English
Male, age 67, European-American

Experience

Local: Leadership team, chair; stewardship action team, chair; Love Feast, coordinator; adult Sunday school teacher
District: Stewardship commission, chair
Denomination: Annual Conference, delegate
Other: Supervisor during my latter years at Johnson & Johnson; Lititz Springs Park Board

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I have good organizational skills and relate well to all persons.

Faith Statement

I firmly believe that the Church of the Brethren plays an important role in welcoming, lifting up, and caring for all people. I believe in the power of working together to solve problems, promote peace, and care for our neighbors.

Vision

The work of the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee is integral to ensuring that church leadership and dedicated employees receive the support, value, and recognition they deserve. Serving to improve the economic outlook of local leaders is important for the vitality of the denomination.

Intercultural Work

I have lived and been immersed in a wide range of cultural backgrounds between higher education, serving in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), and living in cities that vary widely in cultural values and diversity. Through these experiences, I have been able to communicate with and value diverse opinions that help strengthen our relationships.

Demographic Information

Home: Madison, Wisconsin
District: Mid-Atlantic
Congregation: Easton
Occupation: Ph.D. Student; Financial Planner
Language(s) Spoken: English
Male, age 29, European-American

Experience

Local: none
District: Bridgewater College church travel team
Denomination: BVSer in the FaithX (workcamp) office; Interdistrict Youth Cabinet, member (plans Roundtable and district events); National Youth Conference, youth worker; Annual Conference, attendee
Other: Certified Financial Planner®; Accredited Financial Counselor®; Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE), Government Relations Task Force; scholarship reviewer for CFP Board

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

As a young adult with a background in household economics and financial planning, I bring an important skillset and perspective to the committee in empowering pastoral staff in ways that benefit them financially and socially. As a current Ph.D. student, I engage in the study and research of economics and well-being of populations, so my training and expertise can assist the denomination in these important areas.