Newsmakers: The Witness Names Dylan Breuer Editor
Episcopal News Service. December 1, 2005 [120105-1-A]
SARAH DYLAN BREUER of Frederick, Maryland, has been named editor of The Witness, an on-line magazine that dates from 1917 as a progressive voice in the church.
The appointment was announced by the Rev. ELIZABETH KAETON, president of the board for the Episcopal Church Publishing Company (ECPC), the magazine's parent organization.
"I know that I speak on behalf of the entire board when I say that we are thrilled to be able to work with Dylan," Kaeton said. "She will continue in the rich tradition of bringing the intelligent, articulate, informed and feisty voice of The Witness to the justice concerns of the church and the world.
Breuer, who has been working as the director of Christian formation at St. Martin's-in-the-Field Church in Severna Park, Maryland, is a postulant in the Diocese of Maryland. She is also finishing a doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles. She is a Phi Beta Kappa magna cum laude graduate of UCLA with a master's degree from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and spent a year at Yale as a fellow in religious studies.
Pointing to the magazine's reputation as "a feisty and opinionated journal," Breuer said that she "plans to be feisty and opinionated enough to carry on that tradition - and I'm glad that the readers, writers and board of The Witness will be there to hold me to that ambition."
She said that "these are challenging times in our world, to be sure, but also times of great hope as more and more people stand up for peace and justice, work together to end extreme poverty in this generation, and reclaim the church's prophetic voice. The mission of The Witness has never been more important and I'm honored and energized to be a part of that mission in this historic moment."
Breuer is president of Gathering the Next Generation, the network for members of GenerationX in the Episcopal Church, and served on the New Congregations team of the church's 20/20 Task Force and its legislative strategy team at the 2003 General Convention.
She is currently a member of a Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, which is working to frame issues and prepare the church to deepen its relationships across the Anglican Communion and respond at the 2006 General Convention to issues raised by the Windsor Report.
Breuer succeeds ETHAN VESELY-FLAD who accepted a position as editor of Fellowship Magazine, a publication of the interfaith peace and justice organization, the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
In addition to appointing a new editor, the ECPC board approved a new fundraising plan to provide a better foundation for the ministry of The Witness. More about the magazine is available online at www.thewitness.org.
ABC's Deborah Roberts, NBC's Al Roker among Episcopal Charities honorees
[ENS/The Episcopal Diocese of New York] -- ABC News correspondent DEBORAH ROBERTS and NBC Today Show co-host AL ROKER were among honorees at New York's Episcopal Charities annual tribute dinner celebrating a "Commitment to Caring," held November 28 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Honorees also included MARGOT C. BOGERT, Woodland Foundation; JEREMIAH M. BOGERT, Silvercrest Asset Management; GARY W. PARR, Deputy Chairman, Lazard Freres LLC; and CHARES M. ROYCE, President, The Royce Funds. Dinner chair was ANTHONY J. WALTON, vice chairman, the American Standard Chartered Bank. Honorary chairs were New York Bishop MARK and KAREN SISK and Mr. and Mrs. C. DOUGLAS MERCER II.
More on Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of New York -- including its participation in the "Feed the Solution" initiative -- is posted online at www.episcopalcharities-newyork.org.
San Diego's Episcopal Community Services elects eight to board
[ENS/Episcopal Community Services] -- The San Diego-based Episcopal Community Services (ECS) elected eight new members -- and MARK DeMICHELE of Coronado as president -- at the agency's annual meeting on November 6.
New board members include former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and Deputy Secretary of Defense ROBERT ELLSWORTH, community volunteer ANN DICK, and former San Diego City Attorney JOHN WITT. Also joining the board is real estate developer MARIE TUTHILL, international businessman CHARLES McGILL, business owner REX DOWNING, retired Palm Springs area businessman ANDREW DUVALL, and fundraising professional VINCENT BLOCKER.
In addition to DeMichele, newly elected officers include The Rev. Dr. ALEX NAGY, secretary; RICK SCHMIDT, treasurer; JOHANNA HUNSAKER, vice-president for chaplaincy; and JAY SCHAUER, vice-president for Head Start.
San Diego Bishop JAMES MATHES continues as chairman of the board.
Founded in 1927, Episcopal Community Services serves some 3,000 clients daily. The organization has an annual budget of $20 million and more than 40 sites reaching from San Ysidro to Palm Springs. ECS provides housing, supportive services and employment to special needs homeless populations, Head Start to all of southern San Diego County, and chaplaincy and emergency assistance.
More information about Episcopal Community Services is available at www.ecscalifornia.org, or by phoning 619.228.2800.