Moravian Church Eastern District Elects President and Executive Board to Serve Through 2008

The Eastern District of the Moravian Church in North America re-elected the Rev. Gary M. Straughan, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as its President during the 40th Eastern District Synod, held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on June 16-19, 2004. A synod is an assembly of church delegates, including clergy and lay people, who are called together every four years for discussion, decision, and policy-making regarding church matters. The Eastern District of the Moravian Church in North America consists of 54 recognized Moravian Congregations throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada.

The position of Eastern District President, along with an executive board of elected lay and clergy, has supervisory responsibility for the congregations and clergy of the District, works with congregations in calling pastors, addressing conflict, establishing quotas, managing finances, and determining budgets for the various ministries that congregations do together. The Board and the President are concerned with all aspects of congregational life and ministry. They represent the entire District and not geographic areas.

In order to be elected as Eastern District President, a person must be ordained clergy serving on call to the Northern Province and is elected by Synod vote without nomination. A two-thirds majority vote is required for election. On the second ballot, Straughan received 135 out of 179 legally cast votes re-electing him to the position he has served since 2002, completing the term of then Eastern District President, the Rev. David L. Wickmann, who was elected to serve as President of the Northern Province, Moravian Church in North America, following the retirement of the Rev. Burke R. Johnson. Each term is four years long. In his address to the Synod floor, Straughan stated, “I love my work. …”I love the diversity of our district. I love the variety of gifts that emerge from our congregations. I love the dedication of so many people in such varied occupations and yet all concerned about the work of the church.” Later, at a banquet for synod delegates and guests, he commented on the future of the church by saying, “At this synod, the Synod of 2004, let it be said that we are determined to step into the future ready to give our all to a faith that is to be lived. Let this Synod be the catalyst for a renewed church. Let it be a time when we assert a bold vision.”

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Straughan graduated from Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1963, and received a Master’s of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary, also in Bethlehem, in 1966. He was ordained a Deacon in 1966 and consecrated Presbyter in 1972. He has served as the pastoral leader at Freedom Moravian Church, Appleton, Wisconsin (1966-1969); Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (1969-1976); Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (1976-1987), including a co-pastorate at Rudolph Moravian Church, Rudolph, Wisconsin, (1976-1981); Downey Moravian Church, Downey, California (1987-1993); Hope Moravian Church, Hope, Indiana (1994-1998); and Lititz Moravian Church, Lititz, Pennsylvania (1998-2002). In conjunction with the time that he served as pastor of various congregations, Rev. Straughan also served on the Western District Executive Board, the Pacific Southwest Moravian Board, and the Eastern District Executive Board. As President of the Eastern District Executive Board he also serves as a Vice President of the Provincial Elders’ Conference, Northern Province, which serves in partnership with the Southern Province Provincial Elders’ Conference, constituting the Moravian Church in North America.

Rev. Straughan is married to Amelia (Amy) nee Romanchuk. He is the father/step-father of five adult children, Kevin, Georgina, Todd, Vanessa, and Alexander; and the grandfather of eight, the youngest of which was born while synod was in session. Rev. Straughan and Amy reside in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with their beloved dogs, Rainman and Thor.

Other members elected to the Executive Board included the Rev. Leslie McKoy of Bronx, New York; the Rev. Dennis Rohn of Nazareth, Pennsylvania; Alma McMahan of Macungie, Pennsylvania; Richard Winans of Palmyra, New Jersey; Susan Dreydoppel of Nazareth, Pennsylvania; Wilton Grannum of Brooklyn, New York; Jill Westbrook of New Philadelphia, Ohio; and Gary Bailey of Lititz, Pennsylvania.

The Rev. Leslie McKoy
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, McKoy received a Licentiate in Theology from United Theological College, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1971. He then attended the University of West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, where he graduated in 1980. Rev. McKoy received his Master’s in Theology from Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia, in 1987. He was ordained a Deacon of the Moravian Church in 1972 and consecrated a presbyter in 1999. Prior to serving at Tremont Terrace Moravian Church, Rev. McKoy served as pastor of Faith Moravian Church, Washington, District of Columbia (1994-1998). He has also served as Director of Moravian Studies and Moravian Chaplain at United Theological College, Kingston, Jamaica (1987-1989); Urban Ministries Director, Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, Florida (1992-1994). His current community involvement includes the Bronx Community Action Board (1999-present); the East Bronx Clergy Association (1998-present); and Advisor of Warriors For Christ International (2000-present).

Rev. McKoy has served on the Eastern District Executive Board since 2002, at which time he was elected to fulfill the term of the Rev. Gary M. Straughan, who was elected as Eastern District President of the Northern Province, Moravian Church in North America.

Upon his election, Rev. McKoy stated, “I remain committed to the work of the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This special task of the Eastern District Executive Board will require the guidance of the one who calls all of us to ‘work together with him.’ Our church now requires our all in service to Him.”

The Rev. Dennis Rohn
Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, Rohn graduated from Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1967, and received a Master’s of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1970. He was ordained a Deacon in 1970 and consecrated a Presbyter in 1977. Prior to being called to Nazareth Moravian Church his previous pastorates included Canaan/Casselton Moravian Churches, Davenport, North Dakota (1970-1975), Kellner/Saratoga Moravian Churches, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (1975-1979), Associate Pastor at Lititz Moravian Church, Lititz, Pennsylvania (1979-1981), Gnadenhutten Moravian Church, Gnadenhutten, Ohio (1981-1989), West Side Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (1989-1997), part-time Interim Chaplain of Moravian College and Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (1992-1993), and Castleton Hill Moravian Church, Staten Island, New York (1997-2002). Additional offices held in the Moravian Church include the Hope Conference and Renewal Center Board of Management (2000-present) and the Eastern District Christian Education Commission (1992-present).

Upon his election Rev. Rohn stated, “It was humbling to be elected to the Eastern District Executive Board, especially on the first ballot. I’m looking forward to working with Brother Gary Straughan and the other members of the Executive Board. I am extremely hopeful about the future ministry of the Moravian Church and am honored to be part of it.”

Alma McMahan
McMahan is a member of Calvary Moravian Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania. In addition to serving on the Eastern District Executive Board since 2000, she also serves on the Management Board of Hope Conference and Renewal Center, is Vice-president of Moravian Women at Calvary Moravian Church,and has been the local coordinator of the Avon fundraiser for Hope Conference and Renewal Center since 1999. In the past, she has served in her congregation as a member of the Board of Elders, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, President/Treasurer of the Women’s Fellowship, Youth Leader, and on the Christian Education Committee.

Richard Winans
Winans is a member of First Moravian Church, Riverside, New Jersey. Newly elected to the Eastern District Executive Board, he also serves on the Board of Trustees at his local church, is a member of the Financial Planning Committee at First Moravian, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, a Hope Center Avon Fund Raiser Coordinator, a member of the Choir at First Moravian and a member of the Unitas Chorale.

Susan Dredoppel
Dreydoppel is a member of Schoeneck Moravian Church, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In addition to serving on the Eastern District Executive Board since 2002, she also serves on the Nazareth Historic District Board, the Moravian Hall Square Retirement Community Board, is a member of the choir at Schoeneck Moravian, and also serves in the area of Ministry for Publicity and Marketing for Schoeneck Moravian Church. In addition to church offices held Ms. Dreydoppel is involved in the community as a member of the Rotary Club, a board member of Nazareth Heritage, Inc., serves as secretary for the Nazareth Area Foundation, has served on task forces and committees for the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce, and also serves as a Chapel Escort and on the Arts and Artists Committee for the Moravian Hall Square Retirement Community.

Wilton Grannum
Grannum is a member of John Hus Moravian Church in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to serving on the Eastern District Executive Board since 1996, he also serves as Chair of the Evangelism Committee of John Hus Moravian, is President of the Men’s Fellowship of his congregation, and is also a member of the Committee on Finance and Building of his congregation. In addition to his service within the church, Mr. Grannum also serves as a mentor for troubled youth through the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

Jill Westbrook
Westbrook is a member of Sharon Moravian Church, Tuscarawas, Ohio. In addition to serving on the Eastern District Executive Board since 1996, on which she currently serves as secretary, Westbrook is also a member of the Ohio Moravian Ministries Commission. In addition to her service to the church, she serves the community as a member of the Nuevo Akron High School Counselor Advisory Board, a member of the Kent State University Engineering Technology Advisory Committee, a representative for the Regional Professional Development Center, a member of the Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling, and a member of the Tuscarawas Area Counselors Association. Ms. Westbrook also served as secretary for the synod.

Gary Bailey
Bailey is a member of Lititz Moravian Church, Lititz, Pennsylvania. He serves as Vice-chair of the Board of Elders, as well as an usher, greeter, and Diener at his local congregation. Bailey also serves as a counselor for the District Senior High Retreat at Camp Hope Conference and Renewal Center. In addition to his work for the church he has taught middle-school English for the past thirty years in the public school system.