The St. James’ Vestry, our elected governing body, is comprised of parishioners who represent a broad spectrum of our community and are responsible for the “temporal affairs of the parish,” for stewardship of church money and property, and program development and oversight. Their work often goes unnoticed, but each member has a passion for, investment in, and commitment to our life together in Christ. So when you come to worship, you can focus on what’s really important.
YOUR CHURCH. YOUR LEADERS. YOUR CALL.
ELECTION OVERVIEW
At the Annual Meeting on May 4, 2025, the parish will elect a Warden and three Vestry members. Richard Brown, Junior Warden, is eligible for re-election. Ying Garcia-Bory has completed one three-year term and is eligible for re-election. Dolly Bross Geary and Bob Stinson have each completed two consecutive three-year terms and are ineligible for re-election.
WHO CAN VOTE
All baptized parishioners of 18 years or older who have been in regular attendance at worship services at St. James’ and are contributors of record are encouraged to vote. Rules of eligibility will be enforced per the parish by-laws.
A NOTE ON FIXED SLATE ELECTIONS
At the Annual Meeting in May 2019, the parish approved a change to our By-laws, to move from contested elections for Vestry service to having the parish elect a fixed slate of candidates, in which the number of candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee matches the number of open positions.
The Nominating Committee consists of Anne Strassner, Chair, Missy Condo, Tristan Bultman, Norris Daniels, Susanna Guffey, Catherine Workman, Bob Stinson, Anna Pitoniak, and Tom Goss. Zack Thompson, Rector, serves ex-officio. The Committee received several nominations from the congregation, all of which were thoughtfully and prayerfully considered. In our work together, we discussed the criteria that we felt was important for the slate given the continuing and current Vestry membership, as well as the Expectations and Responsibilities of all Vestry members.
The Nominating Committee presents the following slate for the St. James’ 2025 Annual Parish Election:
Richard considers it a privilege to serve on the Vestry after having done so once before for six years during the transformative “Master Plan” years in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Professionally his career has been a mix of twenty years in private banking and more recently in residential real estate. For over three decades, in times of joy and difficulty, St. James’ has played a critical, influential and stabilizing role in Richard’s life. He has two grown children, Charlotte and Preston, who were baptized and confirmed at St. James’ and grew up participating in Sunday School, children choirs, and as acolytes. Upon their graduation, he shifted from the 9:10am service to being one of the Usher Captains for the 11:15am. It is however the Candlelight Communion service at 6:00pm, with its contemplative and centering qualities, that has become his mainstay. Richard is grateful for St. James’ participation in Renewal Works and the opportunities for spiritual growth that are available through these rich and varied offerings. It is his hope these programs, often small groups welcoming a blend of newcomers and parishioners of longstanding, will continue to grow in participation. They are sources of inspiration and connection that provide the means and pathways for each of us to strengthen our relationship to and love for God and to one another.
Name: Alexandra Bacon
Positions and activities at St. James’:
- Current: Co-Mentor, Education for Ministry; Adult Formation Committee; Lay Eucharistic Visitor; Officiant, Online Morning Prayer; Healing Prayer Minister; Altar Guild; Wednesday Bible Study; Friday Dinner Program
- Former: 2019 Holy Land Pilgrimage; Music Search Committee; Discernment Committee; Speaker & Discussion Leader for Roundtable 55+ Group (“Music & Faith”); Grants Committee; Samaritan’s Closet; Sacred Ground
Principal occupation: 35-year career in Arts Administration in New York City, including Vice President of a classical music artist management
Positions at other religious, charitable, and educational institutions:
- Currently: Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, Linwood Spiritual Center
- Within the past five years: Community of Hope International Pastoral Care Course, Episcopal Diocese of New York; Courses with Yale Divinity School (The Psalter – A Journey through 1500 Years of Music), Society of St. John the Evangelist (The Art of Discernment in Prayer), Rose Castle Foundation, England (Interfaith Dialogue/Scriptural Reasoning)
Born and raised in Shanghai, P. R. China, Ying discovered St. James’ in 2012 when she and her husband were searching for the right church for their family. Since then, St. James’ has been the “home away from home” for the Garcia Bory family, providing them with opportunities to deepen their faith. After participating in the Catechumenate program, Ying was baptized at St. James’ in 2014 and confirmed in 2015. During the past ten years, Ying has served as committee members for the Children’s and Family Ministries, Youth Group, and Grants Committee. Ying’s career as a Commercial Banker within the Real Estate Banking Industry has allowed her to develop financial, analytical, and communication skills to work with diverse groups and projects. Ying is honored to serve as a Vestry Member at St. James’ Church and looks forward to contributing to the betterment of the parish and community.
Name: Laurence W. Hunter (Larry)
Positions and activities at St. James’: Lay Reader; Rector Search, Grants, Welcome/Greeters, Music, and Usher Corps committees
Principal occupation: Wells Fargo, Senior Executive Specialist
Organizations: Member of the Ricklefs Awards Committee for The Stevenson School, Pebble Beach, CA; Board Member & Director of Membership for The University Glee Club of New York City
