Report of the Nominating Committee

Nominations

In 2008, the Nominating Committee made significant progress in making parishes and individuals aware of opportunities for diocesan service and identifying new leaders from across the diocese. During 2009, we sought to continue that progress by updating job descriptions and continuing to recruit new leaders. We are particularly grateful for the assistance of diocesan staff members Eva Cole, Kristin Crites, and Martha Wright, who made our work possible.

As this year’s slate of nominees demonstrates, we identified extraordinarily gifted leaders to stand for many positions. We are grateful to all who heard God’s call through the nomination process and agreed to stand for election.

However, this year’s nominations process also faced several challenges:

• Once again, we talked with talented people whose gifts would benefit the diocese but who are unable to attend meetings during the traditional workday or who are unable to bear the financial burden of regular travel to Cleveland. In addition, we became increasingly aware that the economic downturn has placed additional professional pressure on clergy and lay leaders alike, making it more difficult for them to commit volunteer time during the regular workweek.
• It has been the practice of the Nominating Committee to recruit several candidates for each open position. This effort to ensure contested elections allows delegates a wide choice when voting and has resulted in strong, active diocesan committees and bodies. However, some potential new leaders who are not elected may be reluctant to be nominated again in a subsequent year, thereby depleting the pool of new talent available to serve.
• Nominations are due on September 15 of each year, just after many vestries have taken a summer hiatus and clergy and lay leaders alike have been away on vacation. This summer’s nominations timetable was particularly complicated because several committee members and diocesan staff members were involved in the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, which required preparation in June, travel in July—and recovery in August.

Again this year, we urge diocesan bodies to consider whether their meeting days, times and places foster involvement by leaders from all walks of life and all parts of the diocese. We also urge the use of conference calls and other available technology for meetings whenever possible, as a means of both inclusion and environmental stewardship. The Nominating Committee sought to model this practice by meeting once in person at Trinity Commons and conducting the rest of our business via conference call and email.

We also urge parishes to identify and nurture diocesan leaders year-round, rather than only for a few weeks just after Labor Day. Job descriptions for diocesan positions are available at www.dohio.org, and diocesan staff and currently serving leaders are available to answer questions any time during the year.

The Nominating Committee is pleased to present to the 193rd Convention of the Diocese of Ohio these nominees for Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, ECS Development Council, and Cathedral Chapter. We commend them to you.

Faithfully submitted by the Nominating Committee:

Rebecca Wilson, Chair, Church of Our Saviour, Akron   
Elizabeth Moosbrugger, St. Paul’s Church, Cleveland Heights
Roderick Adams, Jr., St. Andrew’s Church, Cleveland   
The Rev. Daniel Longsworth Orr, St. Paul’s Church, Fremont
David Anderson, St. Peter’s Church, Lakewood   
Suzanne Palmer, St. Timothy’s Church, Macedonia
Richard Goodale, St. James Church, Painesville   
Susannah Perkinson, Church of Our Saviour, Akron
Betty Kondrich, Church of the Good Shepherd, Lyndhurst   
The Rev. Margaret Holt Sammons, St. Michael’s-in-the-Hills, Toledo
The Rev. Donna Maree, Christ Church, Warren   
The Rev. Daniel Schoonmaker, St. Hubert’s Church, Kirtland Hills
James Miller, Trinity Church, Findlay   
The Rev. Conrad Selnick, St. Christopher’s-by-the-River, Gates Mills
The Rev. Beverly Moore-Tasy, All Saints Church, Toledo   
The Rev. Alan James, Staff

Trustee of the Diocese

(Elect one person, clergy or lay, for a five-year term)

•    No nominations received at time of printing

Standing Committee

(Elect one clergy and one lay for a four-year term)

Lay

•    Sue Perkinson (Church of Our Saviour, Akron)

•    Becky Roth (Trinity Church, Toledo)

Clergy

•    The Rev. Evelyn Manzella (St. James Church, Wooster)

•    The Rev. Brian Wilbert (Christ Church, Oberlin)

Diocesan Council

(Elect two clergy and two laity for three-year terms)

Lay

•    Ernie Petrey (St. Paul’s, Cleveland Heights)

•    Linda Martin (Christ Church, Hudson)

Clergy

•    The Rev. Howard Humphrey (St. Martin’s, Chagrin Falls)

•    The Rev. Ken Pepin (St. Timothy’s, Perrysburg)

ECS Development Council

(Elect one clergy and three laity for three-year terms)

Lay

•    Lorraine Angus (Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland)

•    Cheryl Gray (St. Martin’s, Chagrin Falls)

•    Suzanne Palmer (St. Timothy’s, Macedonia)

Clergy

•    The Rev. Kelly O’Connell (St. Mark’s Church, Toledo)

Cathedral Chapter

(Elect one clergy and one lay for two-year terms)

Lay

•    Pam O’Halloran (St. Paul’s, Cleveland Heights)

Clergy

•    The Rev. Dan Schoonmaker (St. Hubert’s, Kirtland Hills)