Nominee Biographies

Lay Nominees

Interests

Foremost is sharing time with family and friends, including my husband, three adult children and their families, especially our toddler grandson. I also spend meaningful time on St. Mary’s ministries and with the children and horses of the Brady Therapeutic Riding Program.

Hospitality is our family’s “love language.” My instinct to welcome and feed people was honed through a sabbatical year spent volunteering at a Waldensian (pre-Luther Reform church) guesthouse in Tuscany, similar but more rustic than The Bishop’s Ranch. The cook was often absent, so I learned to cook and serve three Italian meals a day for up to 100 guests. This experience makes facilitating St. Mary’s Shrove Sunday Pancake Breakfast easy.

Professional associations

After practicing law for many years, I resigned as a partner and “retired” very early to care for and balance the needs of our young children and aging parents (while family sometimes proved even more demanding than clients, they brought exponentially more joy).

During my career, I began to appreciate the value of listening. When I listened to the goals and requirements of my client and those presented by opposing counsel, we could work together and negotiate to achieve each client’s mutually desired outcome of closing a complex finance transaction. My pro bono efforts involved representing immigrants with asylum and deportation cases.

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

Current St. Mary’s activities:

• Children & Family Ministry Implementation Team lay leader: re-imagining and implementing programs for children and families
• Youth acolyte leader
• Weekly Centering Prayer facilitator
• Stephen Minister: offering trained, Christ-centered, pastoral care to people in crisis or difficulty
• Lay eucharistic minister & visitor

Previous St. Mary’s activities:

• Vestry member during rector search and transition, senior warden, and vestry clerk
• Vital + Thriving Steering Team leader

Diocesan Activities:

• Bishop Search and Transition Committee member, including the profile, meet and greet, and hospitality teams, and candidate shepherd
• Deanery representative and convention delegate currently, and previously for St. Luke’s, San Francisco, and St. Timothy’s, Danville

Major activities beyond diocese

Upon leaving the practice of law, my service focused on our children’s school communities. From preschool through middle school, I served on the parent boards of our children’s schools, including four years as president, during which I led fundraising events and facilitated community service opportunities. I also served as an admissions ambassador, offered classroom and library support, and led recognition efforts for faculty and coaches.

For six years, my daughter and I participated in National Charity League, a mother-daughter service organization. During those years, we served approximately 100 hours annually through a host of non-profits throughout San Francisco, learning about the needs of our community and how we could support their missions. I also served two terms on the board as secretary and parliamentarian.

In my opinion the major issues facing the church today are

Based on fear rather than love. In listening to people from many congregations through Vital + Thriving and six bishop search listening sessions, I understand that we share similar dreams and challenges, although they manifest in different ways. Since Bishop Austin was called, more listening has led to discernment of our common vision and purpose. The Strategic Vision Plan offers a path, albeit a challenging one. However, God has given our diocese abundant resources of gifted clergy and laity, plus financial and tangible assets. These resources can prove sufficient through sound stewardship and creative revenue approaches which may yield bountiful harvests we cannot yet imagine. God invites us to trust God and one another, and set aside fear and build trust so that we may do justice and love mercy. Then, and as the hymn proclaims, “they will know we are Christians by our love.”

Why are you running for this position?

Alongside my hope, I recognize the many challenges of our congregations, diocese, and the world are real. Countless powerful forces oppress us, especially those with the fewest resources and agency.

Throughout my life, I have been blessed through witnessing the faithful service of parents and grandparents through Episcopal and Lutheran ministries, and by nurturing clergy who empower and equip me to heed God’s call to ministry. Congregational and diocesan leadership roles have given me understanding of our Episcopal and diocesan polity, structures, and operations, and collaborative skills. My practices of centering prayer and reflection ground my deep listening to God and God’s people, and give me courage to turn share love through action. Through prayerful discernment, I offer my time and talent to the diocese. If it is God’s and the people’s desire, I shall serve joyfully.

Interests

Hiking in the Berkeley and East Bay Hills, growing my own produce and herbs, cooking to relax, photography, and travel. I especially enjoy watching the Giants, the 49ers, and the Warriors.

Professional associations

None currently

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

Relevant skills gained through my activities:
• Built relationships with diocesan leaders and institutions
• Listened to individuals discerning ordination
• Collaborated with diocesan committees, diocesan staff, and churches
• Gained an understanding of church canons and Episcopal polity
• Communicated stories about each of our institutions

Current activities:
• Standing Committee (2024 – present), Vice President and Liaison to Diocesan Institutions
• SVP Implementation Committee (2025 – present). Liaison to DioCal Communications Team.

Past activities:
• Bishop Search and Transition Committee (2022-2024). Transition subcommittee, Transition Communications Team, and consultant to Dispatch of Business.
• Executive Council (2019 – 2021)
• Alameda Deanery representative to the Committee on Nominations (2021 – 2024)
• Vestry at St. Clement’s (three terms). Outreach Chair and Junior Warden.

Major activities beyond diocese

I am involved with organizations that improve the lives of people from diverse backgrounds, including those facing poverty and homelessness, hunger and food insecurity, and substance abuse.

• Episcopal Impact Fund, Board of Directors (2021 – present). Programs and Advancement subcommittees. Recommend grants to organizations addressing home insecurity and to diocesan congregations for their poverty relief efforts.
• Berkeley Food Network (2024-current). Volunteer at events and food pantries. Assist the Advancement department with database management, appeals, and integrating platforms.
• Options Recovery Services, Development Board (various). Provided advice and wrote a successful capital campaign grant allowing Options to expand their facility that treats mothers with children.

In my opinion the major issues facing the church today are

Major problems our church faces:

• Church Membership and Finances. While declining church membership began years ago and was exacerbated by Covid, it continues to have a major impact on churches and their finances today.
• Real Estate. Home ownership and rental costs in the Bay Area are challenging for clergy. Another real estate issue is the lack of a plan on utilizing diocesan-owned real estate.
• Diversity. The diocese needs more people of color and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds among our membership, our clergy, and in leadership positions.
• Assessments. Our assessment formula needs to be revised into a fair and sustainable formula for churches of all sizes.

Why are you running for this position?

I want to offer the experience I’ve gained during my two-year partial term, including being Vice-President and Liaison to Diocesan Institutions, to the ongoing work of the Standing Committee. I want to ensure that the Standing Committee continues building strong relationships with our diocesan institutions. And I want to contribute to the Standing Committee as it develops in its role as council to Bishop Austin and acts on its many other canonically required duties.

Most importantly, by serving again, I can champion collaborating closely with the Executive Council, the Committee on Governance, and with the Strategic Vision Implementation Committee to make the Diocese of California better for us all.

Clergy Nominees

Interests

I am passionate about building communities of faith that cross lines of difference. Church is one of the only places where folks very unlike from one another can grow in relationship over time, and are seen as equal through the eyes of Christ.

I am also a new dad! My wife (and fellow priest) Annalise and I live in the Mission District with our daughter, Louisa, two one-eyed cats, and border collie.

Aside from church and family, I am an avid runner, cyclist, and reader.

Professional associations

Vicar of St. John the Evangelist since August 2021
Trinity Leadership Fellow 2021 – 2024
CRECHE Alumni (Charles River Co-Housing Endeavor) 2018- 2021

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

Vicar of St. John the Evangelist San Francisco since August 2021
Chaplain to the Bishop Search Committee
Member of the Assessment Task Force
Chair of Committee on Nominations

Major activities beyond diocese

Currently leading the organization of a young adult contingent to Palestine through Sabeel
Active in The Gubbio Project and advocating for humane responses to homelessness & drug use at the city & state level

In my opinion, the major issues facing the church today are

The Episcopal Church has great gifts to offer the world, and when we are bold in offering them we find ourselves flourishing. Our traditions of prayer and liturgy, orthodoxy that is not tight-fisted, our connection to the history of the church, the saints through time and space, and our emphasis on beauty as portal to God set us apart and position us well for growth.

To aid in that flourishing, I think we could be more strategic in how we allocate funds to support missions and ministries that we decide are essential, but struggling due to lack of resources or investment. It is in the interest of the church and our own theological integrity to ensure that churches in economically impoverished areas are given the opportunity to thrive.

Why are you running for this position?

I have been a priest in this diocese for five years now, and I am wanting to make more of a contribution at the diocesan level. The plans laid out in our Strategic Vision Plan are exciting: centering the gifts and needs of congregations and missions to support our health and growth, build transparency in finances at every level, and strive to look more and more like the Kingdom of God in our diversity. I want to support these plans by being a voice, in particular, for Mission congregations and congregations with low-income populations. What does thriving look like for us? What supports do we need to realize that thriving?

I am also interested in supporting our Bishop and Diocesan Staff in practically realizing the Strategic Vision. What trainings would be helpful? Where is it helpful to invest our time and energy?

Lay Nominees

Interests

Community leadership focused on building strong sustainable community support and outreach programs.

Professional associations

California Department of Real Estate.

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

Member of Christ Church, Sausalito for the past 20 months. Supporting “A Place for All” 150th Anniversary Capital Campaign to fund campus preservation and facility improvements.

Major activities beyond diocese

In my opinion the major issues facing the church today are

Interests

Church leadership and outreach
Family, communities
Travel
Walking, exercise at YMCA

Professional associations

California Real Estate Broker for strategic real estate for 32+ years.
Presidio Park Tunnel Tops Ambassador to welcome visitors to the Presidio, Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), and San Francisco.

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

In the more than 42 years I’ve been a parishioner at St. Luke’s, I’ve been a Sunday School teacher, served twice each on the Finance Committee and Vestry, and have sung in the Choir for decades.

Major activities beyond diocese

After an MBA from Stanford, at Southern Pacific I was an Assistant Market Manager, and Operations Assistant Train Master. Our team reviewed California freight shipments – and the Mission Bay Project emerged. At Catellus Development I was Project Manager and Project Director for Mission Bay. At the SFMTA I was Senior Project Manager, Senior Manager, and Section Director of Facilities and Real Estate for 115 people. Major projects included: an international team for 233 electric trolley buses; 1 Hotel San Francisco; the Central Subway Project right of way; the Potrero Yard Modernization Project — a new bus facility and affordable housing.

In my opinion the major issues facing the church today are

Aging congregations, and inspiring people to participate in churches through services, fellowship, and events.

Why are you running for this position?

I want to enable the Church to be a force for good in our communities. For this to happen, it must be healthy — spiritually, socially and financially. The Executive Council can support the Diocese and individual parishes by partnering with the clergy and lay leaders to support the growth of the Church and its outreach. My experiences with parishes across this country and in the UK, and professionally in financial risk management and corporate governance, give me the tools to help the Diocese support and enable healthy parishes.

Clergy Nominee

Interests

Spirituality, Religious Life, Church Governance & Political Life, Piano & Chamber Music, Pastoral Leadership & Care

Professional associations

The Brotherhood of Saint Gregory (Life Professed) – an Anglican/Episcopal vowed religious community
Member of the Union of Black Episcopalians

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

• Precentor, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, 2026 – present
• Rector, Church of Our Saviour, Mill Valley, 2006 – 2026
• Vicar, Christ Church – Sei Ko Kai, 2002-2006
• Secretary of the Convention, 2020 – present
• Assistant Secretary of the Convention, 2018-2019
• Standing Committee President, 2012-2013
• Standing Committee Secretary, 2010-2012
• President of the Marin Deanery, 2009
• Vicar, Christ Church – Sei Ko Kai, San Francisco, 2002-2006
• Secretary to the Marin Deanery and Asian Ministries Commission in DioCal, 2003-2008

Major activities beyond diocese

• Deputy to General Convention, 2015, 2024, & 2027
• Alternate Deputy to General Convention, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2022
• Officer (2015-present) of the House of Deputies Resolutions Review Committee
• Appointed to the Standing Commission on Governance and Structure, Constitution and Canons, 2018-2021
• Minister Provincial (Province 8/Province West) of the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory, 2015-2018
• Secretary to the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries Council, 2003-2006

In my opinion the major issues facing the church today are

1. Offering sanctuary, community, and hope in Christ during a fragmented and anxious time.
   2. Witnessing to the Gospel through acts of compassion, mercy, and justice for all people, especially in a time of profound division and attacks on human dignity.
   3. Offering prophetic words and healing presence to a world driven and undermined by greed and ecological and community degradation.
   4. Resourcing our current communities and planting new ones to forward our Spirit-led mission for the coming decades.
   5. Strengthening and sustaining the best of our Anglican and Episcopal heritage, including our democratic discernment for all our ministries and outreach.

Why are you running for this position?

As I conclude my sixth year as Secretary of the Convention, I am working with our various Convention bodies and our diocesan leadership to seek a successor for this role. It remains a joy and an honor to serve the diverse needs of this Diocese in our common deliberation and to work with our Bishop, governing bodies, and volunteer leaders in helping shape our Convention to support new and ongoing strategies for future mission and ministry in the Bay Area.

Lay Nominee

Interests

My interests outside of family, church and work have included volunteer activities (primarily oriented around food insecurity). In addition, I am particularly interested in American and European history literature and am an avid cyclist.

Professional associations

I have had professional involvement with the National Association of Corporate Directors and NYSE Governance Services, where I have had speaking opportunities. More recently, my research has been published in the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. In the past, my research has also been published in Risk & Compliance Magazine in addition to other professional publications.

Summary of activities within my congregation / diocese

For the Diocese, I completed a 3-year term on Executive Council in 2019 as Chair and I have been a member of Finance Committee since 2019 and Treasurer of the Diocese beginning in 2021. Beginning this year, I have been working on the SVP implementation committee and the assessment task force, both key initiatives shaping our collective future. I’ve also previously served on the assessment appeals committee. For St. Stephens, I have been a vestry member since 2024 and chair of our finance committee since the last 2 years giving where a large focus has been on 1 and 3-year budgeting, insurance renewals, and building and grounds maintenance/improvements. These experiences give me a keen understanding of the challenges our parishes and Diocese face. In addition, I serve as an usher and lector and chalice bearer for services.

Major activities beyond diocese

n/a

In my opinion, the major issues facing the church today are

I continue to see three issues facing all churches at this time. We continue to experience greater levels of discord and divergence (political, economic and theological) than before. The challenge for TEC is to ensure for those seeking a relationship with God that we make certain our Church welcomes all. We also need to be more present in supporting our communities and spreading the love of our church. Our outreach efforts are more needed now than ever before. Related, we see discriminatory practices evident in ordination and membership in other churches that impacts broader views of religion. To remain as vital parts of our communities, our churches need to identify area to implement God’s community through greater support of local needs. Lastly, our Diocese, congregations and retreat centers are facing more limited resources to support our ministries.

Why are you running for this position?

I want to continue deepening my involvement in the Diocese and helping support our congregations. We continue to face the challenges of growing ministries in a high-cost area. I hope I can support our Diocese by continuing our path to increased efficiency of resources provided to clergy and congregations by the Diocese, and continue to look for areas to ease the financial burden on our congregations. I believe my professional background, work with organizations on governance and financial issues, and experience on the assessment formula review and SVP implementation will assist me in accomplishing this.