St. George's Vestry -- 2011
Vestry members' nominee statements
Brian Bonnett
I was born in Washington DC and baptized as an infant at Grace Episcopal in Alexandria. I grew up in Northern Virginia and attended two different local Episcopal churches as a child. After graduating from The Citadel, I came back to the DC area as a Naval Officer. I attended Grace for most of my adult life where I served as a Vestry member, the senior high youth group leader, and an acolyte warden. After leaving the Navy, I worked as a US Senate Committee Professional Staff Member before entering my current vocational field. For the past twelve years I have run a successful local mortgage banking company.
My wife, Sonia, and I were married at Shrine Mont. Our 15 year old daughter, Vicky, and 9 year old son, Tony, both go to summer camp at Shrine Mont and attend school in Arlington. We expect our 3 year old Christopher will follow suit.
In our relatively brief time at St. Georges, I have served on the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Search Committee. I see the great potential for the St. Georges community to be a beacon of God's love and Christ's message in Arlington. I know it has been for many who have been part of the parish up to this point and I know it can be for many who have yet to walk through our doors.
St. Georges is embarking on a new chapter in its history. If elected to the vestry, I look forward to working with our new Rector in serving God, spreading the message of Jesus Christ and strengthening our community.
John and I came to St. George’s in January 1977, shortly after we moved to Arlington for my job at the Department of Transportation. I remember that our first visit was the service Lessons and Carols and we were impressed with the broad representation of lay people reading the lessons. We had expected to church shop longer, but recognized that we had stumbled into a lively warm community with strong liturgical worship and rich music, much like the smaller Episcopal parish we had enjoyed as newlyweds in California, and had never quite found during out intermediate sojourn in several Lutheran congregations in Rockford, Illinois. I was raised in the Lutheran church in Ohio, where my father was the equivalent of a suffragan bishop, but my maternal roots were in the Episcopal Church, and I was received into the Episcopal Church while at St. George’s.
Our three children, born between 1982 and 1989, were baptized and confirmed at St. George’s and all served as acolytes as well as being active in EYC (youth) groups and church school, lay reading, Shrine Mont camps, and in David’s case, the first teenage Eucharistic Minister. I have sung in the choir under three music directors at St. George’s and occasionally served as substitute organist. For several years I have managed the acolytes, and I recently joined the discernment process. I served on the vestry twice previously (early 1980s and mid 1990s), including one term as senior warden. John also served one term on the Vestry, and is currently active in several groups and worship ministries. John usually attends at 7:45 or 9:00, while I sing in the choir at 11:00 AM.
I have agreed to stand for the Vestry again at this time because I believe St. George’s is at a critical crossroads where my institutional memory and leadership abilities may make a difference. We face enormous challenges but I believe we can recapture our energy and move forward in faith with confidence.
When I came to the USA from England three years ago, and before my wife Valerie joined me, I briefly lived in the apartments opposite St George’s. One Sunday, I looked up the service times and came over. On that initial visit three things struck me – impressions that have been continually reinforced since that day. First, the music; as the opening hymn rolled down the church I was hooked - and by the next week I had joined the choir. Next, the preaching; here I found a more challenging, sometimes more difficult exposition of faith than we’d enjoyed in our previous, country parish. I believe that coming to St. George’s has deepened my understanding and taken me further along the path. Finally, I felt welcomed – and this welcome and support has been invaluable to all my family in the transition to living in a new country. We have made many friends here. The Discernment group spoke of “nourishment” and since my very first visit my family and I have been nourished by our membership at St. George’s. We love it!
Professionally, I work for an international firm of management consultants. I have management skills and experience in business and financial analysis – indeed I drafted the financial plan for our last church. During tough times and times of transition, I think the key is transparency – helping everyone to understand what they can do to help. Prioritization is also always difficult – but in my view it is the outreach work, such as the Food Pantry, that nourishes the community that should be our highest priority. I hope I can have the opportunity to serve on Vestry.
I came to Saint George’s in 2004. The liturgy and music of the Episcopal Church were all new to me — and I was intrigued enough to “lurk” in the pews without filling out the visitor card for almost a year. Eventually I filled out the visitor card, Don Lundquist delivered a loaf of bread, and I was a part of the Saint George’s family. I serve on the Worship Committee (since 2005), sing with the Saint Cecilia Choir (since 2006), and volunteer for the Food Pantry (since 2007). I went through the Inquirer’s Class twice and peppered Ron and Susannah with questions before feeling ready to be confirmed as a member of the Episcopal Church in April 2007. Last spring and summer I was a member of the Discernment Group, and found the discernment process both challenging and rewarding.
I am a chemist and was a university professor before I came to Arlington in 2000 to work at the National Science Foundation. I enjoy living, working and worshipping in North Arlington — one of my resolutions for 2010 is to spend more time walking and less time in my car!
Saint George’s has given me many gifts — a path back to God, a community, joy in singing, and the simple satisfaction of giving food to those who are hungry. I admit to being surprised when I was asked to stand for vestry this year, but as I thought and prayed about it, my answer changed from “I don’t have the time and energy to do this” to “Yes, I can do this”. Saint George’s is moving through a period of change, and I want to contribute my time and talents to shaping this community as a member of the vestry.
I am not a cradle Episcopalian, having been born into the household of a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). However, in my college years I was drawn to the Episcopalian Church, at first in response to the music and liturgy I experienced there; later discovering that I’d grown into a deep appreciation of the atmosphere of belief and discussion that supports the continuing faith journey. I was received into the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Olympia (Western Washington State) in 1968, shortly before moving to Virginia. Prior to joining St. George’s in 1986, I was a member of St. Michael’s, Arlington, where I had charge of the Junior Choir, among other activities.
For the past two decades I have been a legal secretary in a large national firm; earlier, I worked in the Senior Adult program of Arlington County’s Recreation Department.
Over the past 25 years I have served St. George’s in many capacities. I’m a founding member of the Time Out group, of the Urban Abbey, and of the Book Group. I have been a visiting Lay Eucharistic Minister and currently serve as a Lector, as a Eucharistic Minister, as a member of the St. Cecilia Choir, and of the Bells of St. George’s. I am a member of the Worship Committee. I served for a decade in the Stephen Ministry, and led the Social Ministries committee for close to two years. I have served on the Shrine Mon retreat planning committee, in addition to having organized and led two of the retreats early in my years at St. George’s. I served on Vestry during Bob Hall’s time as rector, and again during Ron Crocker’s tenure.
I see St. George’s standing at an important crossroads, with a great many opportunities for us to make God known in our community. It is an exciting time. I would be delighted to help propel us forward into new and enlarged ministries in the community where we stand, and which surrounds us, while deepening the ministry to, and nourishing, the souls of all St. Georgians.
I am a life-long Episcopalian, joining St. George’s in the fall of 1992. For most of my life I have experienced varied Episcopal church communities ranging from a small college mission church to St. George’s. In between I have worshiped in a country parish that moved from a full-time rector to a shared clergy arrangement with four other churches, finding that parish (where Patty and I were married in 1977) always dynamic and supportive. Larger parishes include near urban parishes in Euclid, Ohio, and here in Arlington along with a larger country church in Hornell, New York. While participating in these different types of congregations, I experienced our national church instituting the “new” prayer book and hymnal, and ordaining women for the first time, along with the debates and concerns of the church and church members. As odd as it sounds I found these debates, changes, and eventual growth an invigorating example of active life in the church.
I was confirmed in 1968 using the “old” (1928) prayer book, enjoyed the changes introduced with the trial use services and the new prayer book and hymnal. My first service to the church was in high-school when I joined the Regional Youth Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester (NY). This organization provided draft counseling and Vietnam War awareness. After moving to Arlington Virginia in 1985 I served a three-year term on the Parish Youth Ministries committee of the Diocese of Virginia, and have been our parish delegate to our annual diocesan Council. Other activities at St. George’s include membership in our Urban Abbey, and past membership in the choir. I am a former Stephen Minister as well.
My life as an Episcopalian is full and dynamic: Currently, I am one of the leaders of our EYC (youth groups) and enjoy all three of our worship services. I find my home at our current 9:00 AM Sunday service, but also enjoy the other worship services and activities at St. George’s. Our variety of worship styles and approaches, as well as the experiences at my previous churches, convinces me that the Episcopal Church is wonderful and dynamic, allowing different members to worship in different ways, providing a loving home to all.
I feel St. George’s is at an important crossroads this year, and as I reflected on that I realized I felt called to serve our parish during this crucial time. We have important decisions ahead of us, the chance, and the call, to become as wonderful a community during our second century as we have been during our first century. I look forward, with both confidence and humility, to being able to serve on St. George’s vestry.
I was raised as a nominal Methodist. My father was a Foreign Service Officer and we lived all over the world, attending whatever English-speaking church service that was available. As a teenager I abandoned Christianity altogether, and became an adamant atheist.
In my early twenties I had a conversion experience at an Episcopal prayer group at St. James in Potomac and went from being an unbeliever, to a born-again Christian in one afternoon. The Book of Common Prayer and the Bible came alive for me, and I started attending a Charismatic prayer group at the University of Illinois, where I was a student. Over the intervening years I have been active in various churches, teaching Sunday school, and attending prayer groups.
In 1979 God called me to go to medical school. I subsequently completed my undergraduate degree in Biology, and then in 1983 received an MD degree from Harvard. I completed my internship in Worcester, MA and subsequently moved to the Washington area to complete my residency in Family Medicine.
After residency I worked at a community health center in Baltimore, before joining Kaiser Permanente in 1990. In 1996 I started working for Georgetown University Medical Center, initially in a primary care practice, and subsequently in student health. I retired in 2008 to care for my mother, Ruth Martindale, who died in September.
When I returned to Arlington, I began searching for a church home. In 1996 I started attending St. George’s, and was drawn in by the welcoming spirit I found here. As a result, in 1999 I was confirmed at St. George’s. During my time at St. George’s I have lived through several family crises, and have been sustained by the loving support of the clergy and all of my friends here at St. George’s. I think of St. George’s as a “Light in the darkness.”
Since my confirmation I have served on the Search Committee that selected Suzannah Rohman, on the Discernment Committee, and participated in the lively discussions at the Murky Book Club. If selected I would be honored to serve on the St. George’s vestry
As a child living in Cape Town , South Africa , I attended St. Luke’s Anglican Church. Prior to St. Luke’s, my family attended the Dutch Reformed Church, where services and Sunday School all were conducted in Afrikaans. Even though I spoke Afrikaans, my home language was English – and I was thus delighted when our neighbors invited us to try out their Sunday School. Having been welcomed into the fold at St. Luke’s, I never looked back! I attended Sunday School classes, eventually becoming one of the teachers; each Friday evening my siblings and I participated in the very active youth group at the church; I was confirmed at the church, and each time I now visit Cape Town , Sunday mornings still find me heading to St. Luke’s. What kept me anchored throughout my childhood, through years spent studying abroad (and attending services at Episcopal churches in Moscow, Russia; Middletown, Connecticut, and Everett, Washington), was that amazing sense of community that abounded at St. Luke’s – a sense I felt was unlikely to be replicated … until I found St. George’s in Arlington, VA
About six years ago, as I contemplated a move from Boston back to the Arlington area, a web search for Episcopal churches alerted me to St. George’s. Intrigued by the variety of activities, as well as the outreach message of “making God known,” I visited one Sunday. I filled out a visitor card – and within an hour of arriving back home, received a call from Ms. Lucy. She asked if she could come by with a welcoming loaf of bread. I was stunned; I’d only just filled out the card! She stopped by with the bread, and a most generous welcome to “come again.” I’d never been welcomed like that … and it’s one of the aspects of St. George’s that has resonated deeply within me ever since. How do we welcome all, and assure them that the community is an accepting one? How do we care for one another?
Over the past six years, it’s been encouraging to be able to invite family members to attend services with me, reassuring them they don’t have to dress a certain way – or even have been confirmed to participate in the service. Emphasizing for my son the acceptance of everyone into this community is equally important to me – as well as the concept that all can participate in, and contribute towards, the life of the church to the extent that they are able to, at any given time. I have been able to learn and grow from participation in the Inquirer’s Group, with Suzannah Rohman. I have attended many Shrine Mont retreats, including the annual April gatherings, and retreats organized by the Urban Abbey. My son, Matthew, and I have helped out on Chili Cook-Off nights, and about two years ago I joined the Outreach Committee, and began coordinating the volunteers for the Arlington Winter Shelter. I continue to coordinate these volunteers.
Professionally, I work for an educational non-profit, and I would like to put my research, project management, event organization, and reflection skills to use as a Vestry member. I hope to continue to emphasize the particular relevance of St. George’s as a welcoming, accepting, and vital component in the community today. I believe that, while the architecture of Arlington changes around us, and does alter somewhat the populations we serve, the reality remains that all around us our neighbors are yearning for something meaningful – and I hope to contribute to our mission as we reach out to, and feed and nurture God’s people. I would be humbled and honored to serve on the Vestry.
I am excited by the nomination to St. George’s Vestry, and welcome the call to serve at this time. St. George’s is in a critical time of transition as we seek a new rector and address our ever-changing community. I’m honored to be considered as part of St. George’s leadership team to help guide the church through these changes, yet humbled by the challenges that presents. I commit to do my best to hear the Holy Spirit as he guides our decisions.
I’m a “cradle Episcopalian” originally from Columbia, Tennessee, and joined St. George’s in 1991 shortly after moving to Arlington. Since then, I’ve served on the vestry (about 1999 – 2002), taught Sunday School, served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, worked at the winter shelter, helped with the food pantry, served on several committees, and am the “Charter Organization Representative” for Sea Scout Ship 1942. I graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) then joined the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic where I met my wife, Charo, learned Spanish, and became an honorary dominicano. Our 15 year-old daughter Julia was baptized and confirmed at St. George’s.
After moving to Arlington in 2006, I began attending St. George’s; I was immediately drawn to the sense of community at St. George’s. I felt very welcomed and the more I got to know the clergy and people of the congregation, the more at home I felt. I am a cradle Episcopalian, and, as a clergy kid, the church community has always been central to my life. The St. George’s community is no exception, and it has come to be a very important part of my life.
Here at St. George's I am a member of the Connections Committee, and a Rite-13 teacher. I'm working with Robert Wetherington to create a more prevalent 20s and 30s ministry at St. George’s. I am also a part of the Trivium group, a group of Arlington Episcopalians in their 20s and 30s who meet bi-monthly for Bible Study and community.
I work on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant; prior to that I was a scheduler in another Congressional office and I also worked for the National Archives Foundation.
I would love the opportunity to serve on the vestry. St. George’s is at a crossroads, and I look forward to the opportunity to help lead St. George’s through the coming changes. I am also eager to serve as a voice for the 20s and 30s community within St. George’s. We are working to build our presence within the parish, and I believe that having this voice on the vestry will help build St. George’s community as it moves forward. I bring an inquisitive mind and a team spirit. I am always interested in looking at different sides of an issue and helping to find creative solutions. I am pleased to offer my name for nomination to serve on the vestry.
As a child I attended the Methodist Church in Perryville, a small town on Maryland’s upper eastern shore. When I was about 15 years old my mother decided to reconnect with the local Episcopal Church that she had attended in her youth. I accompanied her to services and became confirmed about a year later.
A friend invited me to St. George’s in the early 1990s to share in her confirmation. I was struck by the warmth and friendliness of everyone I met—from the nursery workers with whom I left my toddler to the parishioners and clergy who I met after the service. I knew immediately that St. George’s would be the spiritual home for my family.
I began teaching in the church school in 1998 working with second and third graders. After a few years I had the opportunity to work with St. George’s high school students and share in their spiritual journey. In the fall of 2006 I became part of the church school’s leadership team as coordinator of St. George’s middle and high school program. I am a member of the Committee on Children and Youth. I have also hosted coffee hours and helped with Kids Gospel Time.
I retired a year ago from the Farm Credit Administration after a 28-year career in the field of human resources, most recently serving as payroll and benefits manager.
I consider it an honor to be invited to stand for St. George’s vestry. In 2007 I served a one-year term. If re-elected I would bring an ability to explore issues, problem-solve, and work with others to help maintain St. George’s as the church we all call "home" and to invite others in our community to find God’s love and join in the fellowship that we share as St. George’s parishioners.
I first came to St. George's in 2009 after researching local parishes on the internet - having lived in Arlington since 2004 (and in DC since 2002), I had attended a number of the Catholic parishes in the larger DC area but had never found a church home. Though the Episcopal Church was new to me, St. George's impressed me immediately as the type of community I was looking for - open and welcoming, thoughtful, and with a sense of responsibility for the larger community. Much more than finding the services merely comfortable for a childhood Catholic, I found them stimulating and refreshing and was excited to meet parishioners on a personal level and to get to know people week after week. I have also loved becoming more involved with the 20s and 30s group and trying to help build that community, and to think of ways that the group can contribute to the parish as a whole.
Until arriving in the DC area I had always been involved with my church community, as a lector and Eucharistic minister and as a leader in my college's student ministry. Though my deeper involvement with St. George's came through the somewhat unconventional avenue of performing in Father Philip's "sermon dramas," I greatly appreciated the opportunity to work behind the scenes and to contribute in any way to the life of the parish. I had definitely never before seen my theater background as an opportunity for ministry. The chance to be considered for service on the vestry, and to serve the parish and my fellow parishioners in a more hands-on way, is a wonderful one to me (and one that would not have been available in the church of my childhood).
My professional background is as a lawyer for the US Senate, primarily on tax issues. Prior to that position I worked for a nonprofit organization, supporting its public policy mission and working with its Board of Directors to keep that mission running smoothly. In my spare time I volunteer on a project that maintains the school garden at the Arlington Traditional School, and with cat rescue and adoption. I hope to be able to make use of what I have learned from all of these experiences to help with St. George's missions of service and outreach to the community, and to help us all move forward into whatever is next for the parish.
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