Diocesan Council Biographies and Statements – Lay

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MR. DONALD BOOKAL

3044 Bruner Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469
Occupation: Parish Administrator
Parish: St. Luke’s, Bronx

Church Positions: Present: Parish Administrator; Executive Director of St. Luke’s Senior Com­munity Program; Chairperson of St. Luke’s Housing Development Fund Co., Inc.; Member of the Adjustment Board-Diocese of New York; Member of the Diocese of New York Global Mission Commission and African Network Committee; President of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, New York Assembly; Member of the East Bronx I.P.C.
Past: Chair of the East Bronx I.P.C.; Vice Chair Bronx Council; Chair of the African Network Committee of the Diocese of New York and Member of the Global Mission Commission; Member of the Administrative Commission, Property Support and Evangelism Committee. Director of the Episcopal Housing Corp. Member of the Nominating Committee (now Leadership Development Commission).

Community Positions: Present: Member of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. Member of the NAACP.

To serve with the Diocesan Bishop and Council. To assist with the implementation of changes that will be effective to the Churches in the Diocese. To review and recommend amendments to existing procedures where necessary and finally, to capitalize on my financial experience coupled with being a present member of the Assessment Board to assist in the implementation of budgetary policies to better benefit the entire Diocese.

MS. KAY GRANT

877-12 Boynton Avenue, #12-K, Bronx, NY 10473
Occupation: Business Management
Parish: St. Andrew’s, Bronx

Church Positions: St. Andrew’s, Bronx: Warden, Vestry Person, Licensed Chalice Bearer, LEM Home Visitor, Sunday School Supt/Teacher, Youth Advisor, Altar Guild, Stewardship, Building and Grounds, Children Christian Education, IPC.
Diocese: Children Advocacy, Christian Formation, Companion Diocese, Convention Planning, Deputy Alternate to General Convention.

Community Positions: Organized funds and gifts for children born with HIV/AIDS locally and globally, especially the Carpenter’s Kids, support nursing students in Madras, India.

It would be my honor to serve on the Diocesan Council. Serving on any committee is a rewarding experience. The Diocesan Council must have so many issues brought to that table that every par­ish and congregation throughout the diocese hopefully would be resolved. If elected I pledge to work diligently on the Council.

MS. MARGARET KEMPADOO

130 St. Lawrence Avenue, Bronx, NY 10472
Occupation: Senior Recruiting Coordinator
Parish: Atonement, Bronx

Church Positions: I do not currently hold a position at my church other than a member of the Entertainment Committee. I held positions as Property Warden for two years and prior to that I was the Clerk of the Vestry for two years.

Community Positions: I currently do not hold any position within the community. I am currently researching community based programs where I can participate.

My vision is a simple one: to help spread the word of God, through the Council’s various commit­tees/commissions (Christian Formation, Congregational Development, Congregational Life, Social Concerns and Leadership Development) and two committees (Budget/Finance and Congregational Support Plan).

MR. WILLIAM L. (BILL) LEWIS

73 Carpenter Road, New Hampton, NY 10958-4412
Occupation: Communications Engineer, Retired
Parish: St. Paul’s, Chester

Church Positions: Vestry Member, Warden and Lay Eucharistic Minister, Grace, Middletown; Vestry member and Warden, Treasurer, St. Paul’s, Chester. Planning Member, Orange County Pastorate; Member, Mid-Hudson Executive Committee.

Community Positions: Federal & Local Election Polling Place Officer.

It is my hope that through this committee the link that binds our churches (large and small) can be strengthened. I am convinced that we can accomplish this task through renewed focus on the mission of “Loving our God and neighbor.”