News Detail

September 28, 2009, New York, NY – The Episcopal Church Foundation’s (ECF) board of directors voted today to elect three new directors:  John E. Harris, Jr., of Cincinnati, OH; Leonard W. Johnson, of Oakland, CA; and Ernest Q. Petrey, Jr. of Shaker Heights, OH.

“ECF’s directors are blessed to welcome these new members and their incredible talents and commitment to the future of the Episcopal Church to our board,” remarked H.M. McFarling, III, M.D., ECF’s chairperson.  “They bring with them the expertise, experience, and passion that will help guide ECF as it works to bring about an increasing number of revitalized congregations whose mission it is to live out the Gospel in their communities and the world as they are being called by God to do.”

• John E. Harris, Jr. is a financial advisor formerly with Lincoln Financial Advisors for more than 25 years and now serving as Managing Partner of Ecumenical Management Solutions, an interdisciplinary organization dedicated to serving the needs of the 21^st century church.  A member of St. Simon of Cyrene in Cincinnati, John has a long history of service to the Church including:  Treasurer, Diocese of Southern Ohio, CREDO faculty, Lay Employees Pension Feasibility Study Group, and Union of Black Episcopalians.  John’s personal mission is to be a servant leader who inspires, organizes, and affirms a life of significance for those in the communities he serves.

• Leonard W. Johnson is a professor of French language and literature, recently retired from the University of California, Berkeley.  He is an active member of St. Mark’s, Berkeley, having served multiple terms as Senior Warden, as well as Congregational Vocations Committee Chair, and Capital Campaign Chair.  Other church involvement includes Deanery delegate, Diocesan Standing Committee member and former President, Episcopal Charities Appeal Trustee, School for Deacons board member, and Diocesan Executive Council member.  Some of Len’s core strengths, competencies, and skills include networking with congregations, dioceses and the wider Church, and his broad knowledge of the Church and the world.

• Ernest Q. Petrey, Jr. spent his career in the chemical and chemical processing field, serving as CEO of North East Chemical Corporation, and ultimately forming Ardleigh Minerals, Inc.  As a long time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, OH, he has served as vestry member and treasurer, as well as holding various committee memberships, notably the finance, long range planning, and planned giving committees.  Within the Diocese of Ohio, Ernie has been a member of numerous boards and commissions, and an active delegate to 13 diocesan conventions.  He has been an active member of the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, is currently Chair of the Member Services Committee, and was an appointed member of the Audit Committee of the Executive Council of DFMS.  Ernie feels that strong leadership is the key to healthy, vibrant, and vital congregations.

The three new board members will attend ECF’s next board meeting in Dallas, TX, October 22-24, 2009.