Meet the Vestry!
Meet the members of the St. Mary's Vestry, our church's governing board.
Tom Nighswander, Early Childhood Ministries
first term, 2023-2025
This area of ministry focuses on teaching and sharing the love of God in Christ to, with, and for preschool-aged children. It has as its foundational mission statement the Children’s Charter for the Church. We work to include preschool-aged children in all aspects of parish life, worship, and ministry.
Tell us about yourself:
Hello, I am Tom Nighswander, a long-time member of St. Mary’s, who has been active in Youth Ministry at many times through the years. I have worked as a physician at Alaska Native Medical Center and more recently in efforts to support and equip medical residents.
What do you value and love at St. Mary’s?
One of the many things that I value about St. Mary’s is that “the ministers are all the people of St. Mary’s” The clergy help support and equip the ministries that we all live out each day, and this partnership is key to our success throughout the years.
Where do you believe that God is calling us as a community of faith in the years ahead?
One of the challenges ahead is the need to involve all of us in the ministries we share together in doing God’s work, and to help younger generations to reconnect after their teenage years and to find their sense of place, purpose, and belonging at St. Mary’s.
St. Mary's Vestry members
Senior Warden - Sandra DeHart-Mayor
Junior Warden - Brad Sewell
Adult Christian Formation - Eric Backman
Caring Ministries - Maggie Wilkinson
Children’s Christian Formation - Amy Gruber
Community-Building - Maggie McKay
Early Childhood Ministries - Tom Nighswander
Growth and Communications - Cole Barker
Outreach Ministries - Sara Stoops
Stewardship Development - Al Alvarez
Worship - Charlene Davis
Youth Ministries - Tracey Burke