Leadership

The Rev. Laura E. Everett serves at the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches. A graduate of Brown University, Laura received her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Ordained by the United Church of Christ, Laura is formed by many parts of the Church. She is happiest exploring somewhere new, preferably by bike. A dedicated urbanist and bicycle evangelist, Rev. Laura is the author of “Holy Spokes: The Search for Urban Spirituality on Two Wheels.” Committed to the renewal and thriving of vibrant Christian institutions, she serves as an advisor with Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School. Laura is also the co-host of the podcast “Can These Bones” with Bill Lamar, from Faith & Leadership at Duke Divinity School. Laura aims for attraction not persuasion. A moderately competent seamstress, Laura loves working with her hands.

Rev. Kenneth Young earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology from American Baptist College, graduating with honors, in 2010. While in Nashville, he served as Overseer of Christian Education for the College Ministry of over 2,500 students at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Bishop Joseph Walker III, pastor. He also worked as a manager at Kroger where he was nominated for the Division’s President’s Award.

He has completed a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master’s Degree in Church History graduating with honors at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He is a: Michael Haynes Scholar, Byington Scholar, member of the Theta Alpha Epsilon Honor Society, and served as president of the Black Student Association. He is honored to serve as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA.

Rev. Young believes that ministry needs to take root in desolate areas. He hopes to carry his ministry to impoverished regions helping in the areas of education and employment. Rev. Young is a native of Sylvester, GA. He is the middle of three children to Robert and Sue Young. Rev. Young is married to the love of his life, Adrianne D. Gladden-Young.

Horizon S. is the administrator for MCC. Her work centers uplifting, advocating, and exploring the unique, beautiful, and complex cultures and social identities across the globe.

The Rev. Cristina Rathbone has spent most of the last 15 years birthing new faith communities. As Canon Missioner of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, she founded MANNA (Many Angels Needed Now and Always) which remains a thriving and multi-faceted ministry with unhoused people from the Boston area. The daughter of Cuban refugees on her mother’s side, Cristina went on to develop The Bridge Chaplaincy for the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, helping them find plausible, pastoral and incarnate ways to serve migrants and asylum seekers along the international border with Mexico. Following the onset of COVID, she partnered with Episcopal Migration Ministries to launch Neighbor to Neighbor, a national network designed to connect, support and train congregations who work with newly arrived asylum seekers in their local U.S contexts. Between August 2021 and November 2024, she served as Rector of Grace Church: An Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires, a parish which sold their building in order to focus more deeply on God’s mission in the world.

Cristina recently completed her third book, The Asylum Seekers: A Chronicle of Life, Death and Community at the Border, which will be published by Broadleaf Books in March 2025. She currently leads an ecumenical workshop for chaplains through Brandeis University’s Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, and is the author of two earlier, award-winning non-fiction books: A World Apart: Women, Prisons and Life Behind Bars. (Random House 2005) and On the Outside Looking In: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City High School (Grove/Atlantic Press, 1998).

Cristina is the mother of two grown sons and lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Rev. Catharine Cummings is a proud daughter, sister, martial arts enthusiast, friend, and cat lover. Raised in Memphis, TN, she worshipped with her family at St. Anne Catholic Church. There she was encouraged to live a life that is pleasing to God. Catharine earned her Masters of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School in 2011. Upon graduation, Rev. Cummings became ordained at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). That fall Rev. Cummings took a leap of faith from nonprofit work to become a Pastoral Resident in the Transition into Ministry Program at Union United Methodist Church in Boston. Within two months, Rev. Cummings was appointed on February 1, 2011, to serve as senior pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church (Springfield). Pastor Catharine is thankful for God’s abiding grace in her life and in Wesley UMC where she is affectionally called “Rev.” She has served in various ministry settings including at Christ United Methodist Church (Northampton), the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center (Chicopee), and now as a chaplain in the Office of Spiritual Life at Springfield College. Rev. Catharine Cummings is the immediate past president of the Pastors' Council of Greater Springfield. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Womanist Preaching at Memphis Theological.

Thatcher has worked in banking and nonprofit finance for over 20 years. He advises nonprofit organizations on matters of finance, with a focus on short term debt, liquidity management and conduit bond financing. Through that work he has provided guidance and financing solutions to nonprofit organizations in various sectors for a variety of projects.

Thatcher is currently an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and has served the church in local and regional leadership positions.

Musician, visual artist, and educator. He has worked in church settings for more than two decades as a musician, liturgist, teacher, and consultant on Worship and the Arts, and is a Licensed Minister with the American Baptist Churches of MA. Leonardo has served as an adjunct instructor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and currently works professionally in the field of Applied Linguistics. He is a violinist with the New England Philharmonic, and plays in other ensembles and orchestras in Boston.

Laura B. Purutyan is Workforce Development and Community Relations Specialist for the McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning and the MetroWest STEM Education Network, at Framingham State University. Laura’s education includes: B.A from Tufts University; M.Ed from Clark University; TESOL Certificate from the School for International Training; and Systems Thinking & Dynamic Modeling for K12 Education from the Creative Learning Exchange. Laura’s experience in education involves teaching English and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at the high school level, ESOL to adult learners, K-12 special needs tutoring, and Christian education to middle and high school students in the Armenian Orthodox Church. Laura assisted undergraduates as Associate Director of Financial Aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Prior to her current role, she was the STEM Career Specialist and Director of Youth Programs for the MassHire MSW Workforce Board. Laura serves as a Board member with Girls Inc. of Worcester, and as an advisor to the Mental Health Awareness Initiative of Armenia.

Rev. Aileen DiBenedetto serves as Rector of Rector, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Leominster MA in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. I am a native of Central Massachusetts. Although I have traveled and lived away from my hometown, Massachusetts has consistently called me back. Now I’m serving a Church in the hometown of Johnny Appleseed (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Leominster) while living in Worcester.
Although I have been ordained to the priesthood for only eight years now, it seems I have been in ministry
my whole adult life. Whether it was volunteering on a hospital pediatric floor, leading a retreat, teaching high school religion, or simply being present for friends, my life has been about serving God. I first heard the Spirit calling while leading a retreat in college. “Walk with people on their journey with God” was the clear call. As a Roman Catholic woman, I wasn’t quite sure how to live that out, yet I was determined to follow God. I entered the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, spent time in a Catholic Worker community, and attended a Jesuit seminary. In time, I no longer felt home in the church in which I had been raised and found my way to The Episcopal Church.
Within the Episcopal Church, I have directed summer camps, served as camp chaplain, led children & youth ministry, served as an assistant and rector of congregations and provided pastoral support to my colleagues as dean. I have served a broad range of church communities: affluent, thriving, struggling, multicultural, homogeneous, liberal, conservative, urban, suburban and semi-rural. I have a passion for children’s ministry yet find most of my time is well spent with elders within these congregations. In addition to looking for ways to adjust children’s formation to fit contemporary life, I have been focused on pastoral support of clergy colleagues. This inevitably leads to imagining ways to adapt clerical life and church structures to today’s society.
To know my family, is to know me even more fully. Although I first met my husband Anthony in high school, it wasn’t until 17 years later that we were married. Nicholas, now 9, was born just 7 weeks before taking my ordination exams. He was by my side as I practiced leading worship and was present at my ordination. Francesco, 6, has only known his mom as a priest. As we hunkered at home during Covid, I mentioned to Anthony how much I like big dogs. Much to our surprise, and the detriment of our furniture, he brought home a Great Dane. I would like to say that my free-time is spent in various arts and crafts projects, something I have always enjoyed; but the truth is, I’m in a season of life where most of my free time is spent in enjoyment of my family.
It was in my years with the Jesuits that I first learned to cherish good friendships with multi-faith partners, then to dive in and embrace the breadth of God’s church across the Christian spectrum. I was introduced to the work of the Massachusetts Council of Churches years before ordination. Time and again I have turned to this group for education, advocacy, and community. It would be an honor to serve the Council as a board member.

Forrer joined Gordon-Conwell from Williams & Williams, a real-estate concern, as General Manager, auctionnetwork.com, where she was responsible for hosted digital programming. Forrer joined Williams & Williams after nine years at National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. As Vice President of Video Services, Forrer developed the strategic business direction for the Video Services business unit, which secures programming and advanced television rights with the nation’s largest content providers, and supports rural broadband providers planning to offer video service. In her prior role as Senior Vice President and General Manager with the TV Guide Channel, Forrer led product vision, marketing strategy and positioning for the network. Additionally, she led a 65-member cross-functional team to develop a content distribution and management platform. Forrer’s product management background has included user over-the-top, video-on-demand and a video content management and delivery platform that leveraged artificial intelligence for which she and the team were awarded a patent.

Forrer is a communications graduate of Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the recipient of multiple industry awards, including two CTAM Awards for Marketing Excellence, Addy Award, BDA Silver Award and Telly Award. She has participated in numerous panels and presentations at various cable and broadband association conferences and meetings.

Ms. Forrer is committed to personal ministry and most recently served as a Bible teacher and lay leader with the singles ministry at McLean Bible Church outside Washington, DC. She is originally from the Boston area, growing up in Sudbury, MA, and she attended Grace Chapel after college. She currently calls Netcast Church home.

Reverend George C. Woodruff, Jr. was born in Dallas, Texas to the Reverend & Mrs. George C. Woodruff, Sr. (both deceased). Reverend Woodruff was educated in the Indianapolis Public School System and attended the Howard University in Washington, DC. Reverend Woodruff accepted the call to the preaching ministry in October 1989 at the Jones Tabernacle AME Zion Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Reverend Woodruff began his Pastoral career at the Campbell Chapel AME Zion Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. Following the two years at Campbell Chapel, Pastor Woodruff was assigned to the St. John AME Zion Church, Bardstown, Kentucky. While serving in Bardstown, Kentucky, Pastor Woodruff was a member of the Board of Directors for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization of Nelson County. Pastor Woodruff, while at the St. John Church, had the distinction of becoming the first African–American President of the Nelson County Ministerial Association. Also, while at St. John Church, Pastor Woodruff led the congregation in an interior renovation program of the church. The membership grew numerically and new ministries were developed. In January 2001, Pastor Woodruff was assigned to the First AME Zion Church, San Francisco, California. While at First Church, Pastor Woodruff led the congregation in purchasing and fully furnishing a parsonage while others repairs were made on the church. In 2002, the First AME Zion celebrated its 150th Church Anniversary making it the oldest AME Zion Church west of the Mississippi River. While in San Francisco, Pastor Woodruff was very involved in Civic and Religious Organizations including President of the Fellowship Academy Board of Directors and the Lenten Tabernacle Ministerial Group. In 2006, Pastor Woodruff was one of the AME Zion delegates to attend the World Methodist Council in Seoul, Korea. In August 2009, Pastor Woodruff was assigned to the Durham Memorial AME Zion Church in Buffalo, New York. Durham is committed to “serving the present age” with a Daily Soup Kitchen, Day Care Facilities, a Music School and a Gymnasium all of which are housed in the Durham Memorial Outreach Center. July 2019, Pastor Woodruff was appointed to the Columbus Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Pastor Woodruff desires to “Glorify God” in ALL he does.

Hailing from Buffalo, New York, Jay despises the snow and dreams of life in Wakanda. To wit, he is pretty much obsessed with “Black Panther”—as well as the 1980s cartoon series “The Thundercats.”

Rev. Dr. Jay Williams returned to Union United Methodist Church as lead pastor on July 1, 2018, having guided this congregation September 2012 – June 2017. An ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church, Jay has served congregations in New York City, Boston, and San Francisco, including Glide Memorial.

Rev. Williams holds a Master of Divinity with highest honors from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (2009) and the Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Harvard College (2003). In May 2017, Jay received the Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from the Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Williams’s work explores the meaning of “Spirit” in black cultural discourse at the intersection of race, class, gender, and sexuality: particularly how spirit-talk has been a marginalizing language of power. The dissertation, entitled “Unholy Ghosts in the Age of Spirit: Identity, Intersectionality, and the Theological Horizons of Black Progress,” develops a constructive theology of spirit that rethinks hope, courage, and vitality, premised on insights from W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, and Howard Thurman. Through his pastoral and academic work, Jay strives to help more disinherited folk find their voices.

Rev. Kyungmoon Yoon serves as an Associate Pastor at the Korean Church of Boston (PCUSA) in Brookline, Mass. She had served as a member of the Committee on Ministry at the Presbytery of Boston. She currently serves on the Committee on Representation in Presbytery of Boston.

She was born in Seoul, South Korea and came to the US for advanced studies at Boston University. She served several years as a seminarian at the Korean Church of Boston, a Korean-American immigrant church, and she was ordained in 2007 at this church.

She holds a B. A. in Theological Studies and Th. M from Yonsei University, South Korea. Also, she holds a M. Div. degree from Boston University and was in the Ph. D. Program, concentrating on Spirituality.

Previously, she had served a board member of Korean American Presbyterian Clergy Women. For the National Korean Presbyterian Women in PCUSA, she had served as a chair of the education committee for several years.