Eastern Shore Episcopalian - Pre-Convention 2020

Introducing our
Convention Nominees...
Nominees were also asked to answer the following question:
Diocesan Council
Diocesan Council At-Large, Lay -
David Mitchell
The question posed
is my vision of the
church: It can only
be meaningful to the
world when it practices
the principle that all
are welcome and equal
at the table of God.
Superficial differences
have no bearing when
we worship. Our efforts are invalid if it is
otherwise.
I’m a 74 year old retired man who
cherishes his wife and family. My time is
devoted to my church community at St.
Alban’s in the Southern Convocation, my
family of three children and five grands,
my community at large, and to myself as I
seek to remain healthy in spirit, mind and
muscle.
Diocesan Council At-Large, Clergy -
Rob Laws
Min in Christian Spirituality. His D. Min
thesis focused on the Spirituality of St.
Claire of Assisi, and her prayer of gazing.
In addition to spirituality, he is interested
in liturgy, music and arts (especially icons),
eco-theology, and social justice issues.
When not at church, you can often find
him in the gym, an art gallery or planning
his family’s next travel adventure.
Diocesan Council, Northern
Convocation Rep, Clergy -
Darcy Williams:
The Rev. Dr. Darcy
Williams, Emmanuel
Chestertown
I have been at
Emmanuel since
graduating from
seminary and being
ordained in 2013. I
have served as curate,
associate rector, priestin-charge
and rector over these almost 7
years. On the diocesan level, I served on
Diocesan Council (2013-16), on Standing
Committee (2016-2019), on Constitution
and Canons Committee (2015-2019), and
on Finance Committee (2016-present).
Before attending seminary, I was an active
member of St, Mary Anne’s, North East
for more than 25 years, where I served on
vestry, as senior warden, as chair of the
Finance Committee, and as a Eucharistic
Minister and Visitor. I am honored
to be asked to serve as the Northern
Convocation clergy representative to
Diocesan Council for the next three years.
“What is your vision for the church?”
Diocesan Council, Middle Convocation
Rep, Lay - Mary “Meezi”’Goodwin:
Mary “Meezi”
Goodwin is the Senior
Warden at All Faith
Chapel in Tunis Mills.
Before being the Senior
Warden, she served
as Junior Warden for
two years. She was
confirmed by bishop
Henry Parsley about
4 years ago. She is a nurse, specializing
in the operating room, particularly in
orthopedics, who loves to travel when she
gets the opportunity.
My vision of the Church includes three
things: 1. I would like to see us increase
our membership. 2. I want to see us
engage more with our local communities.
3. The Church has been there for me
during the good times and through the
bad times of my life – I want the Church to
be the place where everyone can find God.
Diocesan Council, Southern
Convocation Rep, Lay - John Phillips
half abroad I taught school for two years
in Portsmouth, VA. Then returned to
Salisbury where I had a career for 43 years
in real estate sales. Currently I am semiretired
and manage a few rentals.
Upon returning to St. Peters and
immersing myself in parish life my
faith and christian walk were nurtured,
grew, and continue to grow through the
many roles in which I serve and enjoy
and through my diocesan work. I have
headed the youth groups, been involved
with our former boy scout troop, taught
confirmation classes, ushered, served on
Standing Committee
Standing Committee, Lay – Tom
Schuster
Tom Shuster has been
a member of St. Paul’s
by-the-Sea Episcopal
Church in Ocean City
since 1998. Tom has
been an active member
at St. Paul’s having
previously completed
two terms on the
Vestry and served as
Senior Warden for two years. Tom has
also served the parish as Chairman of the
Finance Committee. He is also a licensed
Eucharistic Minister.
Tom became an active member of the
Demolition and Reconstruction Team
(DART) that oversaw the repairs to
the damaged parts of the church and
construction to replace portions of the
church campus that were lost in the fire
of November 2014. The new building
was completed and dedicated by Bishop
Marray in April 2018.
the vestry and was the registrar. I am a
devoted member of our choir, a licensed
eucharistic minister, lay reader, and
eucharistic visitor. I’ve started a small
interdenominational bible study group
and serve on the Green Hill Church
preservation\restoration committee. I am
currently a delegate to the convention
from my parish (having served in that
capacity and as an alternate variety of
times). I have been on the diocesan council
previously both as a southern convocation
and at-large representative.
Serving this diocese has been a privilege,
Tom is retired from employment with
the Town of Ocean City where he served
as Director of Recreation and Parks for
16 years. Tom and his wife Debbie live in
West Ocean City and have two adult sons.
“My vision for our church is to build up
modern day apostles who live into our
Christian faith here on Maryland’s Eastern
Shore. I see that we are called to love and
serve our neighbor with an open hand and
caring heart, remembering always that we
are all God’s children. I pray that we may
fulfill that vision by each of us accepting
our mission call and embracing God’s
grace in every minute of every day of our
lives.”
Standing Committee, Lay – Kaitlin
Horvath:
Kaitlin grew up in
Floyds Knobs, IN
where she entered
the world of camping
at age 7. After
graduating from
Nova Southeastern
University with a
degree in Marine
Biology she came to
Camp Wright to work as Resident Camp
counselor. She returned every summer
serving as CIT Coordinator, Assistant
Program Director, and working as a
facilitator for groups in the spring and
fall. In 2014 she became the Associate
Director and oversees the Resident Camp
Programming. She is an active member
of Christ Church Stevensville and is just
finishing a three year term on Diocesan
a tremendous learning experience, and a
faith builder. The Bishop has challenged
us to be a prayer-centered church and a
mission shaped diocese. This work has
begun and is exciting though daunting
in some ways. However, through faith,
a commitment to prayer, worship, and
outreach, we can grow and strengthen our
diocese, but we must do it together. As
children of God and with the Holy Spirit
guiding us we will be sharing Christ’s
gospel and following in Jesus’ footsteps
though let us realize it will take time and
consistency.
Standing Committee, Clergy – Henry
Sabetti
Rector of Shrewsbury
Parish, Kennedyville
and Northern
Convocation Dean
Greetings in the name
of God to the people of
the Diocese of Easton,
With great
enthusiasm and
honor, I am standing for election to the
Standing Committee. In September I
will have completed 10 years as Rector
of Shrewsbury and 6 years as Northern
Convocation Dean. My ordination was in
the Diocese of Maryland, where I served
as a Curate and later as a Rector. I also was
blessed to serve for three years in the rural
Diocese of Western Kansas as a behavioral
healthcare chaplain for adolescents in
residential treatment. My spouse Lisa
and I live in the Shrewsbury rectory with
our 2 dogs and 6 cats. For 20 years I have
been a member of the American Rabbit
Breeders Association raising and showing
English Spot Rabbits. I am an avid runner
and Head Coach of the Kent County High
School Cross Country Team. Go Trojans!
Father Rob has been
the rector of St.
Andrew’s, Princess
Anne since 2013.
He has previously
I was born in Salisbury,
MD into the St.
Peter’s family as a
Tom has been active in the Diocese
of Easton having served on the 150th
Anniversary Committee and as a member
of the Diocesan Search and Nominations
served the diocese
cradle Episcopalian
Committee for the 11th Bishop of Easton.
as a member of
where I was baptised,
He has also been a Delegate and Alternate
Continuing to have a wonderful parish
Diocesan Council and
confirmed, and
to the Diocesan Convention.
ministry at Shrewsbury has led to my
as a member of the
married. I am
participation on the Commission on
He has been a member of the Diocesan
Disaster Preparedness
the father of two
Ministry, the Department of Missions,
Council since 2017. He was elected a
Committee. He currently serves on the
adult sons and a
the Diocesan Recovery Committee,
Deputy to the 79th General Convention
Disciplinary Committee and is Vice Chair
grandfather to one
assistance with the facilitation of our
of the Episcopal Church and attended
of the Bishop’s Committee for St. Paul’s
large granddog. My formal education was
newest Mission, La Sagrada Familia de
the convention in Austin, Texas in July
Episcopal Center, Hebron.
at the McDonogh School, the University
Jesus and most recently the very fine
of 2018. Tom is currently serving on the
of Richmond and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Sacred Places Training.
In addition to an M. Div, Father Rob has
Constitution and Canons Task Force.
Returning to the states after a year and a
this bio is continued on the next page...
a Masters in Religious Education and a D.
Council.
this bio is continued on the next page...
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