CENTRAL ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CONFERENCE MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE

David “Bo” Bocock (New Jersey) Cresskill Congregational , Cresskill, NJ Rev. David Bocock is the pastor of the Cresskill where he has served for the past 12 years. He is also the founder and co-leader of the Rainbow Café, NJ's largest LGBTQ support group for gay and trans teenagers. "Bo" is the founder and co-leader of PastorLab, the NJ Association's clergy support group through the Church Vitality Working Group. He is the current President of the NJ Association Council. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma, his Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in , and his Doctor of Ministry from Drew University's Theological School. Bo resides in Cresskill, NJ with his dog Maggie. He enjoys hiking, Facebooking, listening to music, and feeding his intellectual curiosities.

Judy Bowman (Catoctin) Christ Reformed Church, UCC, Hagerstown, MD I have lived in Maryland all my life. I have been married almost 50 years. I have 2 Daughters, and 3 Grandchildren. I am an Income Tax Consultant and Enrolled Agent for 45 years. I managed 4 Tax offices for 18 years, responsible for hiring, scheduling, teaching courses and updates, and dismissing people if necessary. I have been in business for 27 years consulting with clients, preparing, and filing tax documents. I have also been a substitute teacher for 7 years in the off season. My hobbies include cooking, reading, and walking. I have served on the Reach Board, helping to organize the Homeless Shelter in Hagerstown, MD. I have served on my Local Church Consistory in many capacities, including two terms as President. I have served in the Catoctin Association as Chair of Church and Ministry, Vice-President and President of the Council. I also went on ten Mission Trips to Honduras for the Catoctin Honduras Partnership, building houses and supporting students there with Scholarships. I have served on the Central Atlantic Conference Board of Directors for quite a few years, as Chair of Budget and Finance, Associate Treasurer and Treasurer. I also was a delegate for two terms to .

Bill Cooper (Potomac) Plymouth Congregational UCC, Washington, DC Bill Cooper is a life-long member of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Washington DC. During his tenure at the church he has served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Church Usher, Co-Op Trustee, and Church Moderator. Bill has been active within the leadership of the larger church for several decades serving as Moderator of the Potomac Association, and Central Atlantic Conference; and most recently as Chair of the Potomac Association Committee on Church & Ministry. Professionally, Bill is a technology business developer focused on complex integration of IT and communications systems in the Federal Government market.

Holly R. Jackson (Potomac) UCC of Seneca Valley, Germantown, MD The Reverend Holly R. Jackson became pastor at the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley in August 2016. Previously, she served for 11 years as the Minister of Christian Education at Hope UCC in Alexandria, Virginia. As someone who is passionate about children and families, Holly has also worked as a Stay-at-Home Parent and a School Social Worker. Holly has a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, 2012, and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University, 1997. Holly will tell you that she is a beloved messy child of God on a mission to make people believe in love, goodness, grace, redemption, and the inherent worth of all beings. She deeply believes that God is still speaking and active in this world and works to help create a church that reflects that reality. She sees spiritual disciplines and faith, based justice work as two halves of the whole of what works to propel us on our spiritual path. Her church is an environmentally conscious congregation with a focus on welcome and inclusion that engages with the Spirit through art and music. Holly is married to her college sweetheart and has two teenage children. They live in the Gaithersburg, Maryland area along with their menagerie of animals. When not focusing on church or family you will often find her singing, crocheting, reading, camping, or playing board games.

Dorothy King (Chesapeake) Heritage UCC, Baltimore, MD Dorothy King has a diverse career that reflects her professional career accomplishments and personal interest. Her career spans many years. In 1971, Dorothy joined the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland as the 2nd Vice President, and later went on to establish the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Black Caucus to foster relationships and increase membership in the African American Community.

In her current positions, Mrs. King serves as the Treasurer for Heritage UCC, Treasurer for the Chesapeake Association, is the Chair for Eliza Lindsay’s Place Adult Service Ministry and sits on the Selective Service Board. Previously, she served as the Registration Coordinator for the Career Academy under the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. She was the Chair of the Maryland Chapter of SkillsUSA, a 300,000-member youth leadership and professional development organization implemented to ensure that America has a skilled workforce. As a member of this prestigious organization, she has served for the last four years as the Chair for the Entrepreneur Competition. This competition requires youth to develop a business plan which is judged for visionary leadership.

Dorothy’s spiritual life was established at a young age, at the Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church; she is presently a member of Heritage United Church of Christ, where she was elected to serve as the Chair of the Pastors Parish Relations Committee serving as a liaison between the Pastor and the congregants. In 2011, she was appointed to Chair the Church Audit Committee. Dorothy serves as the Treasurer.

Mrs. King values family as a top priority in her life along with her husband, two daughters, three grandsons, and four great-grandchildren. Outside of professional interest, she has traveled extensively throughout the world, enjoys reading, and jazz music.

Katie Low (Shenandoah) Mary Baldwin College, Fredericksburg, VA Dr. Katherine (Katie) Low is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Chaplain at Mary Baldwin University. She grew up in a tiny rural town in Nebraska where she attended First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (UCC). She still has her perfect attendance Sunday School pins! As a first-generation college student, she studied at Doane College, a UCC affiliated liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska. Dr. Low received an MDiv and PhD from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was ordained as a UCC minister in 2004 under her role as Associate Campus Minister at TCU's Wesley Foundation. Research interests in Christian history, cultural and gender studies, and reception history led to her book, The Bible, Gender, and Reception History: The Case of Job’s Wife (Bloomsbury, 2015). Dr. Low enjoys teaching introductory courses on the Bible and introducing students to the complexities of her field. As Chaplain, she maintains standing in the Shenandoah Association of the United Church of Christ, holds the philosophy of supporting the spiritual growth of all students, and directs the Quest interfaith program. Therefore, one may often spy Dr. Low at Food Lion buying cream puffs for Quest meetings and snacks for the chaplain’s lounge!

Brian Murray (Chesapeake) New Covenant Community UCC, Baltimore, MD The Rev. Brian Edward Murray is a native of Queens, New York. He is a graduate of Stuyvesant H.S.; a science and mathematics magnet in New York City. A graduate of Morgan State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University and spent over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry. Licensed and ordained at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Baltimore, much of his more than two decades of clergy experience has focused on social justice, community activism, and Christian education. Rev. Murray also served as adjunct professor at the United Baptist College and Seminary, focusing on New Testament Studies and Urban Ministry. In 2012, Rev. Murray organized New Covenant Community United Church of Christ, a “new church plant” in the Owings Mills/Pikesville area of Baltimore County, now located in Southwest Baltimore City. New Covenant is the first African American led UCC church launched in the Baltimore Metropolitan area since the 1960’s. Rev. Murray is a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center; member of the Professional Advisory Board for Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital System; the Steering Committee of the Family Informed Trauma Treatment Center, sponsored by University of Maryland’s School of Social Work and Kennedy Krieger Family Center; is a graduate of the 2012-2013 class of Leadership Baltimore County; currently a member of the 2018 class of the Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Program; guest faculty member for the Breakthrough Series Collaborative, a University of Maryland project training nonprofit and private agencies about the trauma of institutional racism as they serve the African American community in Baltimore; and most recently became Co-Chair of BRIDGE Maryland, a Gamaliel trained, statewide network of churches focusing on congregation-based community organizing in the service of social justice.

Derek Ritenour (Shenandoah) St. Paul’s UCC, Woodstock, VA Rev. Derek Ritenour is a member of the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Woodstock, Virginia. Although not currently serving a congregation, Derek served as pastor at Mt. Calvary UCC in Woodstock, and has served the Central Atlantic Conference as a board member from 2011 to 2017. Derek serves as a General Synod Delegate, and chairperson of the Church and Ministry Commission for the Shenandoah Association. Derek is employed as the Assistant Principal at Strasburg High School in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Along with his wife Julie, Derek has two children, Anna (8) and Lucas (4).

Dwayne Royster (Potomac) Designated Pastor at Faith UCC, Washington, DC Bishop Dwayne D. Royster is the Political Director of PICO (People Improving Communities through Organizing) National Network. PICO is the nation’s largest faith-based organizing movement committed to racial and economic justice with 40+ federations in 22 States and 5 Countries. Bishop Royster was previously the Executive Director of POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower, and Rebuild) the PICO federation in , PA. In addition, Bishop Royster serves as the Pastor of the Faith United Church of Christ in Washington, DC. Bishop Royster is a voice for justice for and with those most marginalized in our society. He partners with those that have been oppressed as a result of their race, nationality, socio-economic level, gender, and faith. He not only stands with those marginalized but works to end systemic oppression and racism through the transformation of public policy and laws that govern this nation. Since we are all created in the image and likeness of God, Bishop Royster believes that it is imperative that a prophetic faith voice is heard in the halls of power calling for the equity and respect of the moral value of every human life. In addition, to his work with the PICO National Network, the Bishop has served in pastoral ministries for 25 years at the following Churches: Faith United Church of Christ (Pastor); Living Water United Church of Christ (Founder and Senior Pastor); Mid-Town Parish UMC (Pastor); Way of Life Ministries Mennonite Church (Church Planter and Pastor); Harold O. Davis Memorial Baptist Church (Staff Minister) and Camphor Memorial UMC (Associate Pastor). Bishop Royster has served the United Church of Christ in the following capacities: United Church of Christ Board (2013-2017); UCC Executive Committee (2016-2017); Penn Southeast Conference Consistory (2008-2012); Philadelphia Association Executive Committee (2008-2012); Philadelphia Association Committee on Ministry (2010-2014) and Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice Board (2010-2014). Bishop Royster is an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ as well as Higher Ground Christian Fellowship International. He was consecrated a Bishop by Higher Ground Christian Fellowship in 2007 and serves as the Assistant Presiding Bishop. In addition, Bishop Royster and clergy from across the nation have founded a new ecumenical religious order, “The Society for Faith and Justice.” The Society has a charism of social justice as spiritual discipline and spiritual practice. Bishop Royster is a former Councilman at Large for the Municipality of Norristown, PA. He hosts a weekly radio program called “Urban Insights,” on WURD radio 96.1 FM and 900 AM every Friday Evening. Bishop Royster was featured in articles in the Philadelphia Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Time Magazine, Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Magazine, New York Times, RT Today, Fox News, Religion and Ethics Weekly (PBS), ThinkProgress, Huffington Post, Fresh Air (PBS), Voice of America and many other outlets. The Bishop is a graduate of Geneva College’s Center for Urban Theological Studies with a B.S. in Urban Ministry Management. In addition, Bishop Royster has studied at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia with a Master of Arts in Religion Degree with a specialization in the African American Church. Bishop Royster is active on social media and can be found on his personal blog: www.changethedamnworld.com. As well as on twitter @ddroyster. Bishop Dwayne D. Royster is married to the lovely Suzette Royster and together they are the parents of two beautiful daughters. Dolores Watson (New Jersey) First Congregational Christian UCC, Irvington, NJ I am the spiritual leader of First Congregational Christian UCC in Irvington, New Jersey and have served in that capacity for the past 19 years. I have served on the New Jersey Association Pre- and the NJ ACM Search Committees. In the Irvington Community I serve on the Boards of the Irvington Counseling Center; the Harmony House, the Urban Citizens Advocacy Association and the Irvington Health Coalition. In addition, I partner with the Township by providing services for the homeless, the helpless and the otherwise challenged citizens in Irvington. Beyond the borders of Irvington, I am a member of an interfaith coalition known as ADAPT and also an Adjunct Professor at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia; a Masters of Divinity from Drew Theological School, and a Doctor of Arts in and Family Therapy Studies from the Campolo College of Graduate Studies at Eastern University in Philadelphia, . I enjoy listening to music; reading; walking, learning new “stuff”, spending time with family and traveling anywhere but most especially to the Caribbean.

Jill White (Catoctin) Evangelical Reformed UCC, Frederick, MD Jill White is lifelong member of the United Church of Christ, Central Atlantic Conference. She has served in numerous leadership positions in the local church, Association and Conference since the age of 15. At the local church, Jill has served as Consistory President, Sunday School Teacher, Stewardship & Mission Committee Chair, Pastoral Relations Committee Chair, and Choir member. She has served as Catoctin Association President and Vice President, Stewardship Associates Chair, Evangelism Committee member, Youth Ministry Advisor, Church Camp Counselor, and General Synod Delegate. Jill has been off and on the CAC Board since 2000, serving as CAC Board President and Vice President, two terms as Conference Moderator, Budget & Finance Working Group Chair, Stewardship Committee Chair, and most recently, as Chair of the CAC Local Arrangements Committee for General Synod 31. She has chaired 5 search committees (2 local church, 2 Associate Conference Minister and 1 new church pastor) and been a member of 3 others (ACM). Jill currently serves on the planning committee for General Synod 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has also served as a member and President of the Board of Directors for Earl’s Place (United Ministries) in Baltimore, MD. Jill is a Regional Mission Interpreter for the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund, working with churches in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Michigan Conferences on capital campaigns, stewardship, planned giving, visioning and strategic planning and implementation. Prior to joining Church Building & Loan Fund Jill worked for 23 years in the Biotech Industry in the fields of Biodefense, Industrial Microbiology and Clinical Diagnostics. Jill is a member of the Western Maryland chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has completed coursework for the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising program. She is also a member of Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals, holding Fundamental and Advanced certification. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from .