The NAGA nominating committee — Betsy Davenport, Diane Grondin, Sarah Hill and Katrina Packard — met on several occasions to assemble a slate of officers for your consideration for the next term of office: July 2021 – July 2024, except for Treasurer whose term runs from January 2022 – December 2024. After prayerful consideration (and a little arm twisting), the following have agreed to serve, if elected (Click their names to read their biographies):
• First Vice President: David Hawley-Lowry
• Second Vice President and Membership Chair: Rev. Larry Byrne
• Nominating Chair: Jane Konency
Marcia Himes, Nominee for President
I live in Riverton, Wyoming, with my husband Rolan of 48 years. We have two children, four grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. I have my Bachelors in Business Administration, and currently work at Central Wyoming College as a Data Specialist for two different grants from the U.S. Department of Education. We work with at risk students, grades 6-12, in an effort to help them enroll in college.
In my spare time I like to sew, knit, crochet and travel. Pre-COVID I sang with the CWC/community choir, and I have been in a few of the college musicals in the past. I play a little golf and love to walk.
I am currently a member of St. James Episcopal Church, where I serve on the vestry and also am the treasurer. I am a licensed worship leader, and serve as the chair of the ministry support committee. I have been a member of the altar guild for over 30 years. I have served in many different capacities for the Diocese of Wyoming: ECW, Cursillo, convention delegate, and some special committees. I have served two terms on the National Episcopal Church Women’s Board and several leadership positions on the Province VI ECW board, currently as co-treasurer.
Current I am Province VI representative and Treasurer for NAGA, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue my service on the NAGA board.
David Hawley-Lowry, Nominee for First Vice President
I grew up in northern New Jersey at All Saints Leonia as a cradle Episcopalian. My Home church now is Grace Episcopal in Holland, Michigan. I attended Bergen County Technical Schools studying Stationary Engineering.
In 1993, I married and my wife Ruth (an RCA minister) answered a call to a church in Riverdale, Illinois, and in Wyoming, Michigan. This is how I landed in the Midwest. We have two children: Daniel born in 1996 and Margaret born in 1998.
While in Illinois, I started a home repair business and carried that to west Michigan in 2000, which is how my career in church facilities management began. During this time, I connected with a number of churches: Hope Church in Holland; St Andrew’s, St. Mark’s, Sudanese Grace Episcopal, Tabernacle Community, and Westminster Presbyterian in Grand Rapids. In 2005 we moved back to Holland township, and our family joined Grace Church. Current leadership roles in the church include: Member of Vestry, Grace Episcopal Church, Men’s Breakfast coordinator, Hope Church, Diocesan Altar Guild President, National Altar Guild Board , General convention Eucharist Chair, and Education for Ministry Mentor.
The Rev. Laurence G. Byrne (Larry), Nominee for Second Vice President and Membership Chair
Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, I was baptized, confirmed and eventually ordained to the diaconate at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, where I was involved in every possible area of parish life. After graduating from Tower Hill School and the University of Delaware, I joined the faculty of the Forman School in Litchfield, Connecticut.
In 1990, I returned to Christ Church to join the staff as Christian Education Director. The following year I entered Virginia Theological Seminary. After ordination, I served three parishes in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and in 2005 was made Priest-in-Charge at All Saints Episcopal Church in Bayside, elected Rector in 2011.
In the Diocese of Long Island, I serve on the board of Camp DeWolfe, am active in deanery work and have been Chaplain to the Diocesan Altar Guild since 2012. In that role, I have led retreats and workshops. I participated in NAGA’s Triennial meeting in Austin, Texas, in 2018.
The year 2021 will be a milestone year for me. My wife Susan and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and our son Teddy will graduate from Ithaca College. I am excited by the possibility of helping NAGA grow.
Sandy Wilson, Nominee for Secretary
I am excited about continuing as the secretary of NAGA. A cradle Episcopalian, I was born in Rhode Island, the granddaughter of an Episcopal priest (who was Franklin Roosevelt’s priest at Campobello Island). I was an Air Force brat and moved often for my education and career — I’ve lived in 14 states, one Canadian province and one Mexican state. I taught junior high, high school and college mathematics and computer courses. While I loved teaching, I left that career for one in industry with computers and statistics.
I retired in 2003 and now spend my time volunteering and seeing grandchildren. I am an adult volunteer at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and involved in several areas in the church. I am a Daughter of the King and have sung in church choirs. At different churches I served on altar guilds and vestries, even Senior Warden at one church.
I first got involved with altar guild in 1972 in Pennsylvania, where I served as Assistant Directress. When I lived in Texas, I was Assistant Directress for two years and then as Directress for another two years. In 2019 we moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be near family. I am now a member of the altar guild at St. Patrick’s Church in Dublin, Ohio. The past three years I have been honored to serve as NAGA secretary. I consider altar guild service an honor and am blessed that I am able to continue to do it.
Elizabeth Coffin, Nominee for Treasurer
I was born in San Antonio, Texas and moved with my parents at age 4 to Virginia so my father could attend Virginia Theological Seminary. For the next few years, he was called to several Texas churches before we moved permanently back to San Antonio. I graduated from St. Mary’s Hall, for middle and high school, where we attended chapel every morning.
In 1974 I married a native Austinite and we began attending Good Shepherd. Our next church was St. David’s and that was where I began my Altar Guild service in the 1980s. I was Altar Guild Director at St. David’s for three consecutive years, serving under three different rectors. We have been back at Good Shepherd since the early 2000s and I am currently a member of the Altar Guild weekday service team and the Funeral team. In the past, I served as a Regional Representative for the Diocese of Texas Altar Guild. What a privilege and a joy to be a part of Altar Guild.
Joan Konency, Nominee for Nominating Chair
I have served as Director of Texas DAG and am the Sacristan for All Saints Chapel at Camp Allen. I have served NAGA as Parliamentarian, Representative for Province VII, Vice President of Membership, and Seminary Coordinator. I retired from a career as an Operations Manager in Property/Casualty Insurance and Benefits Administration.