LeAnn Harnist has resigned as executive director of Organizational Resources and treasurer of the Church of the Brethren, effective Jan. 16, 2015. She has served on the denominational staff for more than 10 years, since March 2004.
Harnist began her work for the Church of the Brethren in the position of director of Financial Operations and assistant treasurer. From Oct. 2008 through Oct. 2011 she served as executive director of Systems and Services and assistant treasurer before being promoted to her current role.
During her tenure, she has led the departments of Finance, Brethren Historical Library and Archives, Buildings and Grounds, and Information Technology for the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Her major responsibilities have included property management and development, oversight of numerous funds, and maintenance of the financial stability and sustainability of denominational ministries. She has been a leading staff member in the work to maintain the functionality of facilities at the Brethren Service Center that were vacated when the New Windsor Conference Center closed. In a recent major project, she guided the design, staging, training, and implementation of the denomination’s new Raiser’s Edge database.
Among other additional services she has provided to the church, she has been a member of the Program Feasibility Committee of Annual Conference. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in accounting, finance, and management from McPherson (Kan.) College.