Alternative Deputy to General Convention and Provincial Synod – Clergy
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THE REV. YAMILY BASS-CHOATE
4 Gateway Road, Unit, Unit 1-D, Yonkers, NY 10703
Parish: San Andres, Yonkers
Occupation: Vicar
Church Position: Trustee for General Theological Seminary; Canon for Hispanic Ministries, Diocese of Mississippi; Coordinator, Hispanic Ministries, Province IV; Former Chaplain for Integrity, Jackson, MS. PECUSA: Council of Women (national); NGO for United Nations, Antiracism Commission (former); Member, Trust Fund for Hispanic Ministries and Mujeres Unidas en Liderazgo (MUEL) (present).
Community Positions: Board Member of YMCA; Vice-president of MIRA, Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance; Board member/co-founder of Spanish Crisis Line for the State of Mississippi.
In October 2005, I became Vicar of San Andres, Yonkers. San Andres is a dynamic Spanish-speaking congregation committed to facing the challenges of professing the Gospel in Community with each other and with newcomers.
Over the years, I have learned a lot about the countless issues facing our Church. Most of my experience as a priest has been focused on multicultural, multiethnic ministry. This enables me to bring a distinct perspective to the ministry and mission of the Episcopal Church.
THE REV. SUSAN FORTUNATO
82 Ehrhardt Rd., Pearl River, NY 10965
Parish: St. Stephen’s, Pearl River
Occupation: Rector
Church Positions: Alternate Deputy General Convention; Diocesan Council, Clergy Critical Needs Committee; Congregational Support Plan Committee; Dean of Rockland Clericus; Chaplain to New York Summer Youth Conference.
Community Positions: President, Pearl River Interfaith Council; Protestant Chaplain, St. Thomas Aquinas College; Rockland County Human Rights Commission.
I believe that the Church faces a critical moment in discerning its role in a post-Christian society. General Convention addresses a wide range of issues from Christian formation to liturgy, international affairs to social justice; ultimately how these issues are addressed by the larger church effect our parochial and diocesan life. Serving in a parish in suburban New York for the past nine years has made me acutely aware of the challenges that parishes face, and the need for the national church to begin to intentionally address the changing reality of the world.
THE REV. MATTHEW MEAD
37 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs, NY 10527
Parish: Good Shepherd, Granite Springs
Occupation: Rector
Church Positions: Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd (2009-Present); Curate of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Times Square (2004-2009); Commission on Ministry for the Diocese of New York (2008-Present); Hispanic Grants Committee (2008-Present); Diocesan Council (2007-Present); Congregational Support Plan Committee (2007-Present); Episcopal-Methodist Dialogue (2009-Present).
Community Positions: Husband and Father (2004/2006 to Present); Member of the Yorktown Ecumenical Committee (2009-Present); Supporter of Keon Special Needs Center, Yorktown; Supporter of Northern Westchester Food Pantry, Katonah; Archivist for the Black Crowes rock band & Website Editor for Crowesbase.com (2004-Present); Website designer: frayed.org; saintmichaelsconference.org; phunlaw.com; goodshepherdny.org (1998-present); Notary Public (1998-2001); President of Alpha Delta Phi Literary Society Chicago Chapter (1997-1998).
I believe that my experience living and serving as a fulltime parish priest both in Manhattan and northern Westchester County, and my experience sitting on five Diocesan committees makes me a great choice for Alternate to General Convention. I understand the complexity, diversity and interests of the Diocese of New York, every church I have served at has grown significantly (attendance, membership, finances), and I am convinced that spreading the good news of the risen Lord Jesus with joy and energy in vastly different, yet growing and thriving churches is the future of both the Diocese and Episcopal Church.
THE REV. JOHN WARFEL
17 Crescent Pl., Middletown, NY 10940
Parish: Grace Church, Middletown
Occupation: Rector
Church Positions: Rector, Grace Church, Middletown; Clericus Dean (Episcopal Community of Central Orange); Associate and Interim, Christ Church, Las Vegas NV; Diocesan Council and Standing Committee, Diocese of Nevada.
Community Positions: Downtown Middletown Business Improvement District Board; Waalkill Engine Co. #6, Chaplain; Orange County Regional Medical Center, Pastoral Care Advisory Board, President; Middletown Kiwanis Board, Interfaith Council of Middletown.
Delegates and Alternates to General Convention represent the fullness of their dioceses to the wider Church. The Diocese of New York is among the most diverse dioceses in the Episcopal Church. I would like the opportunity to represent those of us in the Mid-Hudson Region.
THE REV. WILLIAM BLAKE RIDER
20 Carroll St., Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
Parish: Christ Church, Poughkeepsie
Occupation: Rector
Church Positions: In a lay capacity: Sr. Warden (and other leadership positions); St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas (1984-1994, 1998-2001); Chair, Parish Church Council, St. George’s Episcopal Church in Tunis, Tunisia (1994-1998). As a priest: Canon Residentiary, Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, Texas (2004-2006); Rector, Christ Episcopal Church, Poughkeepsie, New York (2006 – present); Co-Chair of the Class Stewards of Virginia Theological Seminary (maintaining cohesion among each graduating class, contact with the seminary, and stewardship development); Dean, Southern Dutchess Clericus, Diocese of New York; Program Committee Member, Mid-Hudson Region; Member, Diocese of New York LGBT Concerns Committee; Co-Convener, Diocese of New York Anglican Covenant Study Group; Co-Founder, Dutchess Collaborative Reentry Project (a ministry to those leaving prison or jail & re-entering civil society – a joint ministry of Christ Church & St. Paul’s in Poughkeepsie, initially funded by Episcopal Charities).
Community Positions: Member, Ryan White Planning Council, Houston, Texas; Co-Founder, Milam House (a residentiary community for men living with AIDS), Houston, Texas ; Co-Founder, Scottish Rite Learning Centers (providing training to children at risk for dyslexia), Houston & throughout East Texas ; President, Poughkeepsie Rotary Club.
As a candidate for Alternate Deputy to General Convention, I am aware of the responsibility placed upon those who are granted such positions: to carefully, deliberately, and prayerfully engage in the work before us; to take part in committee work as may be assigned; to listen to the presentations & debates that are before the House; and, if called upon to vote, to take the counsel of the Holy Spirit in discerning the best course of action, in order that the Episcopal Church might best accomplish ‘the work that God has given us to do.’
THE REV. NORA SMITH
15 North Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533
Parish: St. Barnabas’, Irvington
Occupation: Rector
Church Positions: Rector, The Church of Saint Barnabas, Irvington, NY; Associate Vicar, The Church of the Intercession, New York, NY; Deacon, Trinity, Wall Street, New York, NY; Deacon, Trinity Church, Southport, CT
Community Positions: Intercession Advisory Board; Northern Manhattan IPC; Member, Episcopal Urban Caucus; Founding member, Heritage Rose District in Upper Manhattan; Advisor, St. Lydia’s Dinner Church; Board of Directors, The Blessing Cup; Life Member, Two-Ten Footwear Foundation.
I would be honored to represent the diocese as an alternate deputy to the General Convention in 2012. I am eager to participate in the governance of the Church. As the rector of a community parish, which is motivated to understand itself as part of a larger Church and Communion doing God’s work in the world, I am enthusiastic about the Convention’s form and process, and I want to bring that sense of interconnectedness to the community I serve. This is valuable work that I would be excited to be a part of.
THE REV. THOMAS N. SYNAN
2 East 90th Street, New York, NY 10128
Parish: Heavenly Rest, Manhattan
Occupation: Associate Rector
Church Positions: Associate Rector, Church of the Heavenly Rest; Chair, Social Concerns Commission; Diocesan Council; Advisory Committee, Episcopal Charities of New York; Commission on Ministry for the Diocese of New York; Committee to Elect a Bishop; Diocese of New York Indaba Team; Steering Committee for the Carpenter’s Kids Program.
Community Positions: Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity New York City; Chair, Family Selection Committee for Habitat for Humanity New York City; Advisory Board, Health Advocates for Older People; Honorary Chaplain, New York City Fire Department; Clergy Liaison for the 19th Precinct, New York City Police Department; Chaplain, New York Fire-Flag.
I welcome the opportunity to serve the Diocese of New York and the Episcopal Church as an Alternate Deputy to General Convention. I believe my legal background combined with my parish ministry, my work with the Diocese of New York, and my service and dedication to the greater New York community provide me with the needed temperament for this office. While I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, I also believe in The Episcopal Church. Isn’t it wonderful to be Episcopalian? I believe in fairness, equity, reconciliation and most importantly I believe that the presence of the Holy Spirit permeates the work we are called to do in our committees, commissions, meetings, conventions, and councils of the Church, both local and national. I am proud to be a priest in the Diocese of New York, I am blessed to be an Episcopalian, and I would be honored to represent this Diocese at General Convention.