Eastern Shore Episcopalian - Pre-Convention 2020

General Convention Deputation
General Convention Deputation Continued
General Convention Deputation, Lay -
Tom Shuster
Tom Shuster has been
a member of St. Paul’s
by-the-Sea Episcopal
Church in Ocean City
since 1998. Tom has
been an active member
at St. Paul’s having
previously completed
two terms on the
Vestry and served as
Senior Warden for two years. Tom has
also served the parish as Chairman of the
Finance Committee. He is also a licensed
Eucharistic Minister.
Tom became an active member of the
Demolition and Reconstruction Team
(DART) that oversaw the repairs to
the damaged parts of the church and
construction to replace portions of the
church campus that were lost in the fire
of November 2014. The new building
was completed and dedicated by Bishop
Marray in April 2018.
Tom has been active in the Diocese
of Easton having served on the 150th
Anniversary Committee and as a member
of the Diocesan Search and Nominations
Committee for the 11th Bishop of Easton.
He has also been a Delegate and Alternate
to the Diocesan Convention.
He has been a member of the Diocesan
Council since 2017. He was elected a
Deputy to the 79th General Convention
of the Episcopal Church and attended
the convention in Austin, Texas in July
of 2018. Tom is currently serving on the
Constitution and Canons Task Force.
Tom is retired from employment with
the Town of Ocean City where he served
as Director of Recreation and Parks for
16 years. Tom and his wife Debbie live in
West Ocean City and have two adult sons.
General Convention Deputation, Lay -
Eddie Vance
I moved from
Baltimore to Ridgely,
Caroline County,
August, 1989. Peggy
& I were married
at Christ Church,
Denton, December,
1991. Our son, Ely
(“Eli”), was born
at Easton Hospital,
December, 1993. Ely was baptized, raised,
and confirmed at Christ Church.
And next month, I am pleased to say that
I will begin my 12th year at Queen Anne’s
County Library, Centreville, where I work
at the circulation desk.
In 28-1/2 years at Christ Church, I have
served in many capacities, on Vestry, in
the choir, as an EM, a lector, a Eucharistic
Visitor, a Worship Leader, a delegate to
Diocesan Convention, with the county
jail ministry, on the annual community
Thanksgiving dinner steering committee,
and as Senior Warden.
My diocesan service has included
Diocesan Council (VP), Commission
on Ministry, Standing Committee,
Department of Mission, Camp Agape,
Search & Nominations Committee for
Bishop XI, Province 3 Synod Rep, General
Convention Deputation (Chair), Province
3 Council, Cathedral Chapter, Integrity,
TACL, and Nominating Committee
(Chair).
I have been active on Province 3’s
Nominating Committee (Chair), on P3’s
Executive Committee, and have attended
two, Provincial Leadership Conferences.
At six General Conventions, I have served
on the Ecumenical & Interreligious
Relations Legislative Committee. And I
was appointed to served a 6-year term
on TEC’s Standing Commission on
Ecumenical & Interreligious Relations,
‘09-‘15.
inclusion, hospitality, and service, loving
as God loves, mutual accountability for
all, respectful and well-ordered debate,
a la General Convention, agreeing to
disagree without being disagreeable, and
quiet confidence in the myriad gifts of
one another, as well as in the gift both
to ourselves and to the world that is the
Episcopal Church, small but mighty, where
Christ is proclaimed by word and deed,
and all are welcome!
General Convention Deputation, Lay -
John Phillips
I was born in Salisbury,
MD into the St.
Peter’s family as a
cradle Episcopalian
where I was baptised,
confirmed, and
married. I am
the father of two
adult sons and a
grandfather to one
large granddog. My formal education was
at the McDonogh School, the University
of Richmond and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Returning to the states after a year and a
half abroad I taught school for two years
in Portsmouth, VA. Then returned to
Salisbury where I had a career for 43 years
in real estate sales. Currently I am semiretired
and manage a few rentals.
Upon returning to St. Peters and
immersing myself in parish life my
faith and christian walk were nurtured,
grew, and continue to grow through the
many roles in which I serve and enjoy
and through my diocesan work. I have
headed the youth groups, been involved
with our former boy scout troop, taught
confirmation classes, ushered, served on
the vestry and was the registrar. I am a
devoted member of our choir, a licensed
eucharistic minister, lay reader, and
eucharistic visitor. I’ve started a small
interdenominational bible study group
and serve on the Green Hill Church
preservation\restoration committee. I am
currently a delegate to the convention
from my parish (having served in that
capacity and as an alternate variety of
times). I have been on the diocesan council
previously both as a southern convocation
and at-large representative.
Serving this diocese has been a privilege,
a tremendous learning experience, and a
faith builder. The Bishop has challenged
us to be a prayer-centered church and a
mission shaped diocese. This work has
begun and is exciting though daunting
in some ways. However, through faith,
a commitment to prayer, worship, and
outreach, we can grow and strengthen our
diocese, but we must do it together. As
children of God and with the Holy Spirit
guiding us we will be sharing Christ’s
gospel and following in Jesus’ footsteps
though let us realize it will take time and
consistency.
General Convention Deputation, Lay -
Charlotte “Peaches” Meyer
I envision a Church
that empowers and
supports its clergy
and members to see
themselves as integral
to the success of the
Jesus Movement. We
are all, collectively, the
solution to healing a
hurting world, caring
for God’s Creation, strengthening all
levels of Church formation, and attracting
and stewarding all people who seek a
loving and safe place to begin anew in an
affirming environment.
Born, raised, and christened in Trappe,
I am a confirmed member of St. Paul’s
Church, White Marsh Parish. As I
deepened my relationship with the Church
in the last 10 years, I’ve served as St. Paul’s
Senior Warden, Treasurer, and Registrar. I
also enjoy serving as Eucharistic Minister,
Reader and Usher. At the Diocesan level,
I am the Chair for the Diocesan Fund for
Church Initiatives (middle convocation
representative since 2012). I serve as your
United Thank Offering Co-Coordinator
with Mary Helen Atwood (also since
2012). I’ve been privileged to serve as
your ECW Representative at Province III
Synod gatherings, ECW Annual Meetings
and enjoyed attending the last three
Triennials at General Convention. And,
if elected, I’m looking forward to serving
as a Chapter Member at Large for Trinity
Cathedral.
My background includes more than 34
years as a fund raising professional for
Ocean Conservancy, a national nonprofit
in Washington, DC that is dedicated
to protecting our ocean for future
generations. What makes that career
meaningful to me is connecting people
to what they love and empowering them
to do more than they ever imagined
they could. I believe the pathway for
fostering those connections is grounded in
authenticity, gratitude, and a willingness to
listen and learn.
I am fascinated by and drawn to the
organizational structure and governance
of our National Episcopal Church and
have yearned for an opportunity to
participate in General Convention.
Listening to, watching, and learning
from the experiences and commitment
of previous Clergy Representatives and
Lay Deputies is moving and exciting. My
desire to participate in this governmental
process where important bodies of work
shape our church formation and spiritual
life has only deepened with time. If
elected as one of your General Convention
Deputies, I will fully engage in all aspects
of the General Convention, look for ways
to bring our Diocesan successes to others
as roadmaps for positive change, listen for
opportunities to bring home the gifts of
new ideas and solutions to the challenges
we face here at home. Thank you for your
consideration!
General Convention Deputation, Lay -
Mary Grace “MG” Brosius
I’ve been a member of
Emmanuel Church,
Chester Parish for
over a year, where I
sing in the choir. I’m a
member of the Chester
River Chorale, and
two of its sub-groups,
which keeps me very
busy, so I’ve not yet
taken on any further responsibilities at
Emmanuel. I moved from Baltimore to
the Shore, when I reconnected with – and
married – my first “boyfriend,” Jack in late
2007. We have two dogs – and a dozen
kayaks of various types, some of which I
paddle when the weather’s nice. Jack, a
member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team,
now finds himself coaching 3 Special
Olympics sports: power lifting, swimming
and, you guessed it, kayaking!
I transferred to Emmanuel from St. Paul,
Kent, which was my parish for the first 10
years following my move to Chestertown.
While at St. Paul’s, I sang in the choir and
served as Eucharistic Minister, Reader,
Acolyte(!), Vestry member, Junior Warden
– and Delegate to Diocesan Convention
four times.
Before my “big move” across the Bay, I was
a member for 25+ years at the Church of
the Messiah, Baltimore, where I served on
Vestry a total of 12 years, and as Delegate
to Diocesan Convention – as well as the
liturgical assistant positions listed above.
I have served on six Diocese of Maryland
Cursillo weekend teams (and a 7th
while living here, in 2010), as well as on
Secretariat.
Most people here know me as a recentlyretired
Dental Assistant (which position
was a God-sent 10-year opportunity to
learn totally new skills!). I still see myself,
however, as the Parish Administrator
who, for 20 years, supported and worked
with the Dean of the Cathedral of the
Incarnation as it grew from near-mission
status to a thriving parish. The Cathedral
was dedicated to spreading the Word
of God through hands-on outreach –
including welcoming and incorporating
immigrants into the life and leadership
of the community, rehabbing dilapidated
houses through Sandtown Habitat for
Humanity (West Baltimore), and creating
The Children’s Peace Center (where at-risk
city youth learned nonviolent ways to deal
with frustration and anger).
My vision for the church? I’m not sure
I have one. I see more a vision OF the
church – multicultural, multigenerational,
multilingual, all-inclusive. Each person
[he/she/they] is an integral part of the
awesome diversity of The Episcopal
Church. The more formal music which
I’ve loved for so many years exists side-byside
with Hispanic, African, and Native
American chants and harmonies, as well as
theologically-sound praise music. There
are children who feel safe and comfortable
“My vision for our church is to build up
modern day apostles that live into our
Christian faith here on Maryland’s Eastern
Shore. I see that we are called to love and I ask humbly to serve on Easton’s
serve our neighbor with an open hand and Deputation to General Convention ‘21, in
caring heart, remembering always that we Baltimore, and also to offer cheerfully my
are all God’s children. I pray that we may experience as a servant leader and as an
fulfill that vision by each of us accepting enthusiastic and willing team player.
our mission call and embracing God’s
and wanted.
My vision for the church involves radical
grace in every minute of every day of our
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and unqualified invitation, welcome,
14 lives.”
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