NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

In 2015, we began our experiment in a leaner governance model. The Nominating Committee named the folks who became the smaller Working Board in Feb 2016, a mix of people with past experience and new vision.

Current Composition of the Working Board:

President Mr. Anthony Barsamian, esq (Armenian Orthodox) Immediate Past President Bishop Gayle Harris (Episcopal Diocese of ) Treasurer Canon Steve Abdow (Episcopal Diocese of Western MA) Fr. Demetrios Tonias (Greek Orthodox) Mr. Leonardo Espinosa (Baptist) Rev. Jennie Barret Siegel (UCC) Rev. Jay Williams (UMC)- resigned due to move

For 2018, we propose the following:

• Elect Anthony Barsamian to a third and final one-year term as President.

• Thank Steve Abdow for his faithful work as Treasurer, and bless him as he transitions to the role of chair of the Finance/Fundraising committee.

• Fill the empty seat left by Rev. Jay Williams with Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard (bio and picture follows).

• Elect Mr. Thatcher Freeborn as Treasurer (bio and picture follows).

REV. BERNADETTE HICKMAN-MAYNARD

Rev. Bernadette has recently returned to , arriving from Bridgeport, CT to serve the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lynn. She brings to the Council passion and experience in ecumenical and interfaith social justice work, education and youth development programming. While in Boston, she developed church-based tutoring, mentoring, and youth leadership programs. She led a non-profit organization that developed non-sectarian faith-based programs for music education, mentoring, and educational advocacy, and served as a consultant to churches and non-profits in the development of faith filled youth development programs. She graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master of Education in Human Development and Psychology with a concentration in Risk and Prevention, and Harvard Divinity School with a Master of Divinity.

Rev. Chelsea, MA, and Bethel AME Church in Lynn, MA as an associate minister before serving Bethel AME Church in Bridgeport, CT as Co-Pastor. While in Bridgeport she served on the Boards of Directors for the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport and CONECT (Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut). She currently serves as the Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Lynn and an organizer with the Interfaith Organization.

MR. THATCHER FREEBORN

Thatcher L. Freeborn serves as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, Specialty Lending, for Boston Private. He brings more than 14 years of experience in the financial industry, with a strong foundation in working with nonprofit organizations, giving him a deep understanding of the unique needs of the nonprofit segment.

Previously, Thatcher held the positions of Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer - Healthcare & Not for Profit as well as Vice President, Branch Manager at Century Bank, where he served as a trusted adviser to individuals, businesses and nonprofit institutions on a wide variety of banking concerns. He also led various retail banking groups at Century Bank, where he served as a trusted adviser to individuals, businesses and nonprofit institutions on a wide variety of banking concerns.

Thatcher is a graduate of Hamilton College where he studied Economics and was an All-NESCAC athlete. He is currently a Ruling Elder at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Treasurer of The Vinton Street Hope Initiative, Inc., and Board member of the Boston Food Justice Young Adult Volunteer Program within the Presbytery of Boston. He is a Past Moderator of the Presbytery of Boston, Past Chair of the Stewardship and Budget Committee of the Presbytery of Boston, and past Trustee for the of the Presbyterian Church USA. He is married to Erin Freeborn, M.Div. JD, Executive Director of Communities for Restorative Justice. They reside in Melrose Massachusetts with their three daughters.