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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SAINTS ANDREW & MATTHEW SsAM VESTRY NOMINEES, 2014 LESLIE CLOUSER “I started out as a child.” Bill Cosby I am a “cradle” Episcopalian, baptized at the Cathedral Church of St. John in Wilmington, DE. I am a native Delawarean. I am happily married, and have four children, five exchange students, three grandchildren, and two giant dogs. My focus is on family, both my own, and my church. I have always been drawn to urban churches, because they reflect their communities, supporting them in good times and hard. I joined the parish of the Cathedral Church of St. John as a young mother, and encouraged my husband and children to become part of that community, which they did. I came to SsAM at the invitation of Anita Young, who realized that I was again searching for an urban church with the commitment to family that St. John’s had enjoyed, and it was love at first sight. I immediately felt welcomed and included. I am a member of the Pastoral Care Committee which is responsible for reaching out to the members of the parish who are in need, whether for health reasons, or other personal struggles. This exemplifies the family-oriented spirit of SsAM, and is the ministry to which I will dedicate my efforts. In my professional life, I have worked for a large retail corporation as a manager, trainer, and human resources professional. I have always dedicated my efforts to coaching prospective employees, helping them realize their potential by making them aware of opportunities and personal abilities. These skills and this focus apply equally well to the outreach ministries of SsAM. Andres Gutierrez de Cos, Esq. I was raised at the Cathedral Church of St. John, where my mother and grandparents had also been members, where I sang in the choir from age 6 to 16 (1987-1997). I studied to become a teacher at the University of Delaware, and after a short time teaching middle school, enrolled in law school, and have been a practicing attorney in Delaware since 2007. After working with a firm, I started my own practice, which is now a busy office with 4 assistants, and as such I handle accounting, administration, human resources, etc., in addition to my work as an attorney. In 2009 I began attending SsAM where I sang in the choir at first and then sat in the congregation at the 10:30 service with my wife and daughter. I am happy to serve on the vestry and dedicate whatever talents I can to help with church leadership and administration. William (Bill) Kauffman My name is Bill Kauffman, and I am honored to be a candidate for the vestry. I am one of the former Cathedral Church of St. John members who found a new, welcoming, spiritual home at SsAM. I share SsAM’s commitment to building an inclusive and diverse congregation and support its strong outreach ministries. I am currently a lector and Eucharistic Minister at the 8:00 service, a member of the finance committee as well as Treasurer. I am retired after many years in various accounting and finance positions. I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with our three grandchildren. DEBORAH LAYTON My name is Deborah Layton; I transferred from St. John’s to SsAM following the closing of the Cathedral. I usually attend the 10:30 service but occasionally attend 8:00 when our team serves breakfast to the homeless. At the Cathedral I served on the Vestry, as lay Eucharistic minister, licensed lay reader and lector, and as a member of the Cathedral Choir for more than 35 years. For the Diocese, I served as treasurer for four years, as a member of Diocesan Council, Constitution and Canons, and a deputy to the General Convention. For several years I served as chair of the Camp Arrowhead Committee and raised the funds to build the Carmine Environmental Center. When the Cathedral was closing, the St. John’s Vestry was deeply appreciative of the personal invitation from SsAM’s Vestry to join your congregation. As a result of that invitation and the recommendation by St. John’s Vestry, many parishioners, including my husband and me, transferred to SsAM. Coming to SsAM was not entirely new as St. John’s has had a homeless breakfast team at SsAM for more than 25 years; that ministry continues to be very important to me. I am now a lector and offering counter at SsAM and recently gave a presentation on “Things Every Family Should Know” related to estate planning. I am a member of the Delaware and Pennsylvania bars and retired from the University of Pennsylvania as director of estates and trusts. I have two children and five grandchildren. Currently I serve my condo association as president. My spare time is spent studying French and Spanish at the Osher Academy, reading, writing for Super Lawyers or watching the Phillies. It was very difficult to leave the church I had attended for 66 years but, upon arriving at SsAM, I was impressed by the welcome, warmth and spirituality here. And I deeply appreciate the sympathy and support for me when my husband died shortly after we arrived at SsAM. It is my goal to support SsAM’s many outreach programs in place and to insure the long-term financial stability of the church. SsAM is now my church home, and it is an honor to have been invited to run for Vestry. SHARON A. LEYHOW I am an Associate General Counsel and Chief Counsel International Trade and Chief Counsel Product Compliance in Legal for the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Previously, I was responsible for a group of lawyers and legal assistants throughout Asia Pacific and advised Human Resources on benefit matters. I was honored to be a recipient of the DuPont Marketing Excellence Award in 2000 and have served on several non-profit boards, including: Delaware Hospice (former Board Chair), Founding Board member and later Board Chair for Delaware Futures, Inc. (started by St. Matthew and Trinity Churches), Trustee for the Loomis Chaffee School, and Board member World Affairs Council of Wilmington DENNIS PORTER My name is Dennis Porter and I am a native Delawarean. I have been married to my wife, Lenore, for thirty one years. I am employed by the Ingleside Retirement Homes. When I first came to SsAM, I received a warm welcome and shortly afterwards was baptized in March of 2013. I was rejoicing when I received a call from Fr. David to be a nominee for the Vestry. I now serve on the Usher Ministry at the 8:00 service and have been a part of the workdays at SsAM. Here at SsAM, I feel I am being supplied with the spiritual vitamins I need and would very much like to pass them on to others. SsAM is a vital source in my life. Dr. Phyllise J. Wilkins-Church Dr. Phyllise J. Wilkins-Church, a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, and resident of Newark, Delaware, is the mother of Nicole and “Yah Yah” (aka, grandmother) of Maddie and Alexis Haas. Dr. Wilkins-Church received a Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from NOVA Southeastern University and has over 35 years of administrative and teaching experience throughout Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Dr. Wilkins-Church is the co-founder and CEO of Education Plus, LLC, an educational consulting firm located in Newark, DE. Dr. Wilkins-Church, a cradle Episcopalian, participated in numerous parish activities, including being a member of the church choir and usher from the age of twelve until adulthood. She moved to Delaware in 1982 and after becoming a member of St. Matthews, Dr. Wilkins-Church became an usher, a Coffee Hour facilitator and helper, and a vestry member. At SsAM she has continued to provide support for Coffee Hour; and helped found “The Sisters Boutique,” which donates a portion of its proceeds to SsAM. Presently, Dr. Wilkins-Church has concentrated her boundless energies on Youth and Young Families (YYF). to help youth and young adults continue to grow and mature through faith, service and fun at SsAM. .

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