Candidates for vestry 2015This year, there are eight candidates for four available vestry positions. Please read their biographies carefully before the February 15 Annual Meeting.

Please also keep in mind that our 12-member vestry should be representative of the parish -- both Sunday services, all ages, newer and long-

term members, women and men, and racial and cultural diversity. Current vestry members are Mike Boyd, Phyllis Bruce, Chris Collins, Judy Kirch, Bob Reese, Peter Schaeffer, Karen Speakman, and Bob Wall.

You will vote for four different candidates.

Tom Hench Since retiring in 2012 from community college teaching in Pennsylvania, my wife Janice Baldwin-Hench and I have been living Kitts Hummock, Delaware, just south of the Airbase. Together, we are the parents of six children and six grandchildren with another on the way in May!

I was born and raised in the Lutheran church (I’m a York County Pennsylvania German) and as an adult served on the church council and committees, sang in the choir, taught church school, and regularly participated in church events. Janice and I have been attending Christ Church for about 2 years now and decided to make it our home church last year.

I believe that the church, in general, plays an important role in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and caring for the sick. Through its diverse and caring

members, Christ Church actively does these things, a fact that played a major role in my decision to become part of this family. In addition, having been raised in a strong musical environment, I found the commitment of Christ Church to making music as another important reason in my decision to call this my home church.

By serving on the Vestry, I feel that I can contribute to the church’s aforementioned ongoing missions and, in doing so, serve both the church and my community.

Jacquelyne W. Gorum I have three primary reasons for wanting to serve on the Vestry:

First, I would like to give back to Christ Church and its parishioners some of the love and support the church has given to us as I cope with Guy’s many health-related issues.

Second, using my previous church-related, administrative, and professorial experiences I would like to help in the implementation of the programmatic thrusts and mission of Christ Church.

And lastly, as my bio reflects my life and career (and thus my service and leadership), I would

like to continue to provide both the service and leadership to Christ Church.

Transferred membership from the Canterbury Episcopal Church, Dix Hills (Long Island), NY. Elected to the Diocesan Council (Wilmington, DE). Served on the Parish Life and Health Committee. Served on the Vestry (twice). Participated in Women’s Bible Study Group, Book Studies, and Classes offered by Rev. Celeste Cox.

Serve currently as co-chair of the Delaware Healthy Mothers and Infants Consortium. Served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Chile in the first U.S. group formed.

Married to Dr. Wendell J. Gorum. Children: Dr. W. Joseph, Guy, and Marc I. Grandchildren: Marc II, Victoria, Olivia, and Joseph.

Educational background• B. S. in Social Welfare, Ohio

State University, Columbus • M.S.W, University of Denver,

Colorado • D.S.W., Howard University,

Washington, DC

Employment

Dean, School of Professional Studies, Delaware State University (Dover). Served as dean, director of admissions and professor at other institutions including Dartmouth, State University of New York (Stony Brook), Penn State and Howard University.

Also worked as a social and child welfare worker in Denver and San Jose, California.

David LamottaI have been going to Christ Church since I moved here about 9 years ago from Pennsylvania. I was in my car riding down State Street and I saw Christ Church and said to myself, I should go there on Sunday to see how the service is and how the members are like.

I found out this is the best church I ever been to. The Vestry and the members open your hearts to me and my family. I always like doing things for Christ Church, God and his son Jesus and more for the love that the members and Vestry have given me during the 9 years and continuing.

I was baptized at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Norwood, Pa in 1971. This is the church that I went to when I was growing up. I was on Vestry at St. Stephen’s for awhile.

Church to me is God’s house where we pray,help others, spread the word of the Lord, and get saved.

Whenever something needs to be fixed, I can fix it - even if it hurts me, I will try to fix it. The Lord fixes my house, my soul. He has us to fix his houses here on Earth, Amen.

I am running for Vestry to pass the love others gave me here at Christ Church to others, to keep up with repairs, and pass the word of the Lord Jesus when new members come to Christ Church.

Kevin McCarthyTracy and I moved to Dover in August of 2011 with Caitlin and Alicia. I was raised Roman Catholic, and we had been attending a Catholic Church in Syracuse, NY, so we joined a local parish.

It became evident to us that our spiritual and emotional needs were not being met, so we embarked on a church search. Our journey began and ended the first Sunday

we attended Christ Church. The outpouring of hospitality and welcome we received that first Sunday told us we were home. We have been attending faithfully since that day in January of 2012.

Tracy and I are glad to be part of the Christ Church family. This fall my daughter Caitlin and I were received and my wife was confirmed. We feel blessed by God to have found this church. As good stewards of that blessing we are committed to regular worship, pledging our financial support and being actively involved in church ministries.

Since joining the church we have been involved in a number of ministries. I was on the search

committee for our new Rector, teach 6-8 grade youth on Sunday mornings, participated in VBS, have helped serve meals at the Men’s Shelter and participated in our volunteer day a for Habitat for Humanity the last 2 years.

Tracy and I have been married for 29½ years. In addition to Caitlin and Alicia we have two grown children, Jennifer and Sean. I am a project manager for Standard Register where I have been employed in various capacities for 30 years.

I would be honored to serve the congregation as we enter this exciting era with our new Rector, Fr. Chuck.

Nancy QuinnBorn in Chicago, I was adopted at 4 months old and raised in various parts of the United States as my father followed his Army career.

I graduated from Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey in 1968. In 1972 I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a teaching certificate from Ohio Wesleyan University. For 40 years I taught middle and high

school art in Talbot and Caroline Counties in Maryland.

Married in 1976, my husband Michael Quinn and I have raised two children, Susan and Dan. We all have our roots in art and all have earned BFAs. When our children

left home I fulfilled a desire to pursue a master’s degree, graduating in 2009 from Delaware State University with a MS in Art Education. I retired from teaching in June of 2012.

As a child I attended Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran and Methodist denominations and Baptist church camp. While in high school I was the leader of a large youth group in a Methodist church.

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In Easton, MD, we attended the Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church. Before coming to Christ Church we were members of Wyoming Methodist Church.

My experience in Christ Church began in 2001 when I was looking for a new church home. I was received in November of that year.

Before retiring I had little time for any activities outside my job. Since then I have gradually become involved with the altar guild and have helped with the flower ministry. Last year my commitment increased as I became a member of the search committee.

I feel that it is my turn to “step up to the plate” and take on the responsibility of serving Christ

Church by becoming a member of the vestry.

I am a hard worker and a good organizer, and I get along with most people I meet. Serving on the search committee has drawn me deeper into the life of Christ Church, and I am ready to commit my time and energy as a member of the vestry.

Nancy Quinn, cont’d

Brad RichardsonI was born and raised in Dover; Baptized (1956) and Confirmed (1968) in Christ Church. I attended the requisite Sunday School classes and was in the Children’s Choir for a couple of years.

I matriculated through Ohio

Wesleyan University (OWU) in Delaware, Ohio where I met my wife, Ellen. We stayed in Ohio for 31 years where we raised our two sons, David and Daniel.

I majored in Geology and have worked in the Oil & Gas industry, Hydrogeology, Environmental Consulting and most recently, as a DNREC Solid & Hazardous Waste Project Officer. In 2007, after the boys “flew the coop”, Ellen and I moved back to Dover to be closer to our families.

My beloved mother, Rebecca Scull Richardson, who went to Our Lord in 2008, was a vestry

member (including Senior Warden) for many, many years, as well as Standing Committee, Alter Guild, Needlepoint Guild, etc.

My father, Alden Richardson, was born into Christ Church and has also served on the vestry, as did my Grandfather, William P. Richardson.

I am an “8-o’clocker”. I have enjoyed participating in the Transportation Ministry as a van driver. I am concerned about the economic longevity of our parish and, if elected, hope to help pilot our church towards a sustainable future.

Earl Robinson Over a year ago, when my wife, Karen, and I realized that we were being called to move to Dover, we began researching an Episcopal church home in the Dover region. We used the Internet to search for options, from Wilmington to Rehoboth.

When we explored the Christ Church, Dover, website, we were taken with the resonance we felt with the church’s five mission

areas. As one example, through Karen’s professional work with the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and our own Episcopal parish, we became intimately familiar with radical hospitality, practicing it through our many involvements in our parish, e.g., for me, vestry, co-chair of the worship committee (with Karen), finance committee, choir, Lay Eucharistic Ministry (chalice bearer/chalicer and lector).

We viewed the video of the Gospel Mass and were taken with its spirituality and inclusiveness, along with reading the Parish Profile and the many others pages on the website.

We became convinced that this

could, quite possibly, be our new church home. After we moved to Dover on May 30, 2014, we first attended Christ Church, that Sunday and immediately were made to feel welcome and at home.

I view membership on the Vestry as an opportunity to serve God, the parish, and the people of the parish.

I bring experience in several other Episcopal parishes and dioceses throughout my life and career (being in higher education, both as a professor and administrator -- we have moved 8 times), including those ministries mentioned above, but also in several other parish and

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Tina SchaefferI have been a member of Christ Church, faithfully, since 2010 and my family has been members of Christ Church for over 40 years.

My children, Abigail and Aubrey, were baptized on January 8th,

2012 and regularly attend Godly Play as well as participate in the children’s choir and VBS. I have been an active teacher/facilitator in Godly Play since September of 2012 and currently serve as co-director.

I also served as co-chair of the Christ Church Search Team from February 2014 through November 2014. In addition to active participation with Christ Church, I served on several Boards in varies roles and most recently as Treasurer and bookkeeper for Primeros

Pasos Early Learning Center (a not-for-profit organization that assists Hispanic and underserved populations in Delaware). I am knowledgeable in accounting/payroll, grants/contracts management and writing, as well as developing curricula, and conducting presentations/trainings.

I feel called to serve on the Vestry to share the gifts that God has given me and, more importantly, to help further the mission of Christ Church and all its ministries.

 

 

Earl Robinson, cont’dand Diocesan ministries.

From my experiences, I recognize the multiple commitments that come with Vestry membership, and, if I am honored by being chosen, I would

look forward, as appropriate, to share the gifts and experiences with which God has graced me.

Christ Church, Dover, is at an exciting time in its history and I would love to share in that excitement through service on the Vestry.