Bishop Gordon Paul Scruton
Click here for Bishop Scruton's biography.
The Venerable William H. Coyne
Archdeacon for the Diocese of Western Massachusetts
A member of the Bishop's staff since 1998, Bill's primary area of responsibility is congregational development - assisting each of our congregations in being healthy and mission-focused.
His passion and call centers in developing new expressions and renewed communities of faith. Other responsibilities include oversight of Diocesan missioners, conducting mutual ministry reviews (goal setting and mission discernment) with congregations, exploring Fresh Expressions and Missional Church initiatives around the Church; and sharing with the Bishop's Executive team in providing oversight, prayer and direction for the Mission.
e-mail Bill: WCoyne[at]diocesewma[dot]org
413.737.4786 ext 19
The Reverend Sarah Shofstall, Canon to the Ordinary, assists the Bishop in the shared oversight of the Diocese in several areas.
She grew up in Nebraska where she practiced law. During her first years as a priest she was bivocational, serving small congregations in Nebraska and Western Kansas while continuing her law practice.
She served for three years in the Diocese of Iowa as chaplain at Iowa State University and vicar of Grace Church in Boone before coming to Western Massachusetts to become the rector of Grace Church in Amherst.
As Transition Officer, she assists congregations who are seeking new clergy leadership. Canon Shofstall is the Bishop's liaison to the Commission on Ministry, working with the Commission and those who feel called to Holy Orders.
She helps to keep the Church safe by providing Safe Church training, overseeing background checks and by serving as the intake officer when there are complaints of clergy misconduct. Where there is conflict within a congregation she can provide training on the healthy functioning of leadership, mediation or recommend a mediator or ombudsman.
Canon Shofstall serves the wider Church by being a Conference Leader for CREDO and by working with Church Innovations to provide professional development for judicatory staffs.
e-mail Sarah: SShofstall[at]diocesewma[dot]org
413.737.4786 ext 11
Steve Abdow is the Diocesan Administration and Finance Officer
Steve manages the financial services team at Diocesan House, and serves as Treasurer of the diocese. Steve is staff liaison to Diocesan Council for financial and human resource matters, and to the council’s Budget and Financial Planning Committee and Human Resources Committee. He is also staff liaison to the Bement board of directors.
He comes to the Diocese after many years running a local, family owned business. He enjoys sailing, skiing, and theatre, and occasionally finds the opportunity to do some stage acting. He is married to Susan, and has three children - Luke, Erik and Jessica.
Steve is pleased to assist parishes with their administrative and financial issues and challenges.
e-mail Steve: sabdow[at]diocesewma[dot]org
413.737.4786 ext 21
Cozette S. Haggerty is the Executive Assistant to Bishop Scruton
Cozette joined the staff in June 2010. She and her husband, Joe, enjoy bicycling in the summer, especially on Cape Cod, and skiing in the winter. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a good book, cooking, and when out and about, identifying birds and their calls.
Cozette's knitting “habit” lured her to a new journey as the founder and leader of a nation-wide, internet-based prayer shawl ministry titled “Prayer Shawls 4 Fallen Soldiers”, (PS4FS), encompassing more than 268 groups of knitters and crocheters from all over the country.
Since October 2007, this ministry has delivered more than 5,000 prayer shawls to comfort grieving military families from all branches. They currently work with Dover Air Base, delivering nearly 2,000 prayer shawls in the past two years!
You are welcome to visit the PS4FS website and read many of the heartwarming stories that have come out of this ministry.
e-mail Cozette: chaggerty(at)diocesewma(dot)org>
413.737.4786 ext 23
Carol LaPlante is responsible for computer Network Administration, Diocesan database management and working with parishes as they implement computerized church management systems and accounts payable as part of the Financial Services team.
She has been working for the Diocese in Financial Services since July 1982. Carol is a member of St. John's Church in Northampton, has served on the vestry and has been Parish Treasurer.
She is one of the founders of Integrity/Western Massachusetts. Carol enjoys exploring genealogy and proudly roots for the New York Yankees!
e-mail Carol: CLaPlante[at]diocesewma[dot]org
413.737.4786 ext 16
Lainey Hurlbut serves as the Receptionist and Administrative Assistant for the Diocese.
Lainey joined the staff in the Fall of 2011. She is often the first contact when calling or visiting the Diocesan office. She is responsible for coordinating meeting space and hospitality needs for diocesan committee meetings and other events such as Diocesan Convention and Wardens/Vestry Day.
Lainey is the contact for licensing of Lay Readers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Lay Eucharistic Visitors as well as the liaison to the Bement/Waterfield Educational Grants committee.
Lainey and her husband Terry are members the Church of the Good Shepherd in West Springfield where she has been the secretary for 20 years. They have 2 grown children, Bryan & Liz and a new granddaughter, Sienna. Lainey enjoys spending time with her family and 2 dogs and relaxing in the warm sunshine on the beach whenever possible.
Email Lainey: lhurlbu[at]diocesewma.org
413.737.4786 ext 10
Esther Barker serves as the Diocesan Accounting Manager.
Esther joined the diocesan staff after having served in accounting manager positions in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
She is responsible for the diocesan general ledger accounting and financial reporting and works with the Financial Officer in matters relating to budgeting and the development of internal controls and financial policies and procedures.
Esther is available to provide advice to parish treasures about accounting and budget matters.
e-mail Esther: EBarker[at]diocesewma[at]org
413.737.4786 ext 15
Susan Olbon serves as Human Resources Manager for the Diocese.
Prior to joining the Diocese, she worked in the areas of pension administration and trust account/investment management. As Human Resources Manager, the major areas of responsibility are all aspects of payroll and benefits administration.
Susan can offer assistance in the areas of payroll, clergy and lay pension plans, medical, dental and life insurance. She is also a contact for questions concerning property, liability, workers compensation and boiler/machinery coverage for each parish.
e-mail Susan: SOlbon[at]diocesewma[dot]org
413.737.4786 ext 20
Karen Warren serves as Administrative Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary and to the Archdeacon.
Karen joined Diocesan Staff in 2008 and serves as Administrative Assistant to the Archdeacon and to the Canon to the Ordinary, as well as Program Assistant to the Executive Director of the Trustees. In addition to these responsibilities she is working toward the creation of an archive to preserve the history of the Diocese.
She has many years of administrative experience in a medical background and retail. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1990. She enjoys reading great literature, walking, biking, visiting art museums, and taking day trips with friends.
Karen offers support in the areas of Safe Church workshops, background checks, new clergy, Fresh Start, and processing continuing education grants, clergy children education grants, clergy study leave applications, and congregational development investment grants.
e-mail Karen: KWarren[at]diocesewma[dot]org
413.737.4786 ext 18
Missioners
Bruce A. Rockwell serves as the Bishop's Assistant for Stewardship.
He works with the congregations of the Diocese in the area of stewardship formation out of his sense that stewardship is an important pathway to a deeper spiritual relationship with God, our creator. He believes that since we are created in the image of the loving God, we are called to be generous and loving. Moreover, we are called to be loving stewards of everything God has entrusted to us.
Bruce often meets with vestries to help equip them for their responsibilities as stewardship leaders in the congregation. He often leads stewardship vestry retreats, assists parish stewardship ministry teams in the development of year-round stewardship formation programs, and serves as a trainer for parish stewardship financial commitment programs.
Working with John White, Missioner for Legacy Stewardship, he invites vestries and people of the Diocese to consider the opportunities God gives us to be stewards of accumulated assets.
e-mail Bruce: brsteward(at)comcast(dot)net
413.746.9614
E. John White is the Diocesan Missioner for Legacy Stewardship. He was appointed by Bishop Scruton at the June 2003 Diocesan Council meeting.
Working closely with Bruce Rockwell, the Assistant to the Bishop for Stewardship, John has overseen the creation of a program onLlegacy Stewardship, more commonly known as "planned giving." John says the Diocese has chosen the term of "legacy stewardship," which he thinks is a great term because people know what stewardship is; the term "legacy" helps them to differentiate their gift from other offerings.
John lives in Connecticut and is married to The Rev. Katheryn White. He is formerly an educator -- first a teacher, and then a principal for two different private elementary schools for 15 years. It was in those jobs that he worked closely with trustees on fundraising.
The mission of the Legacy Stewardship initiative is twofold:
--To educate, inspire and support each congregation in funding their future ministry through the generation of planned gifts.
--To help individuals find ways to plan gifts that will enrich them spiritually, that may provide life income for them, and that will one day provide financial resources for the church.
Anyone who is interested in giving a legacy gift to the church or in starting up a legacy stewardship program in their own congregation should contact John. You can also learn more here.
e-mail John: ejohnwhite[at]charter[dot]net
860-928-3705 (home)
413.737.4786 (Diocesan Offices)
The Rev. Hannah Anderson
Adjunct Diocesan Staff: Consultant for Creative and Innovative Ministry
With more than eighteen years of parish/hospital experience, Hannah also serves as the Rector at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pittsfield, MA. where she was called in 2005. Her doctoral work at Seabury-Western focused on the development of adaptive leadership that combines current theory with creativity.
Prior to coming to the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, she was Canon for Congregational Development in the Diocese of NY. Hannah has been Rector at four parishes ranging from family to resource size: Grace Episcopal Church in Allentown, PA, All Saints' Episcopal Church in Briarcliff Manor, NY, Church of the Holy Communion in Mahopac, NY and now at St. Stephen's in Pittsfield, MA. She also served on the Diocesan staff in Bethlehem, PA. as Coordinator for Christian Formation for Children and Families during her tenure at Grace.
If you are interested in having Hannah lead a workshop/retreat for your parish (or parishes!), please check out the ten topics she has developed specifically for our Diocese at: www.uniquelyhannah.com (Click on the Workshops/Retreats tab).
You may also contact her via phone at: 413-770-2537 (cell number) or 413-448-8276 (Church Office).
The Rev. Jill Barton Williams is a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary where she earned her M.Div degree.
Jill is the Missioner for Christian Formation and Youth throughout the diocese. Jill brings experience in camping ministry, team building, Christian Formation Curricula and programing to her the position.
Jill works both with individual parishes to asses need, develop programs, and aid in providing life-long formation and with teens from all over the diocese in several retreats a year.
Contact Jill for any of your Christian Formation needs. For more on Christian Formation, click here.
Email Jill: Jwilliams[at]diocesewma.org
413 531 3263 (cell)
The Rev. Jennifer Gregg is Priest Associate at St. Stephen's in Pittsfield, the Berkshire corridor Christian Formation Missioner and the Coordinator for the Berkshire Servant Leadership Center.
Jenny has a background in working with youth and families and served in several lay leadership positions prior to ordination in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. She resides in Albany, NY with her husband and step-daughter.
For more on Christian Formation, click here.
e-mail Jenny: jgregg(at)ststephenspittsfield(dot)org
The Rev. Christopher Carlisle is the Missioner to Higher Education for the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
Following twenty-five years as Episcopal Chaplain at the University of Massachusetts, Chris is now responsible for college ministry throughout the Diocese. Having begun his priesthood in parish ministry, since moving to higher education ministry Chris has held positions of leadership in Province I and in the national church.
He received his B.A. from Columbia University, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.
Chris has authored a number of articles and poems, as well as a book, ?The Complete Idiot?s Guide to Understanding Intelligent Design?.
e-mail Chris: christopheraecarlisle(at)gmail.com
413-687-7904
Janice Beetle is the Editor of the Diocesan newsletter, Pastoral Staff.
Janice is a journalist with many years of experience as a writer and editor. She was a reporter with the Springfield Union-News and Sunday Republican, and she also worked as a writer, and then as the assistant features editor with the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Janice left her full-time job at the Gazette in 1999 to start her own writing, editing, and graphic design business, called Beetle Press. She was looking for a new challenge in her career as well as flexibility.
Along with editing Pastoral Staff, Janice works in the Public Relations and Marketing Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. She also is the editor of the Westfield State College magazine Focus.
She has a bachelor's degree in English from Westfield State College. She is an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Northampton, where she is a lay eucharistic minister. She lives in Easthampton with her husband, Ed Godleski, and her daughter Molly. She loves reading, running and spending time with family.
Janice welcomes story ideas for Pastoral Staff.
e-mail Janice: jbeetle[at]diocesewma[dot]org