August 1, 2023
Dear People of God in the Diocese of Chicago:
In the last several months, my staff and I have been strategizing, planning and dreaming about how we can best support our congregations as you answer God’s call in these complicated times. Today I am pleased to share with you a new staff structure that we believe will help us more effectively and efficiently serve you as we serve Christ together.
This new way of our organizing our work, which you can see on this organizational chart, means that some staff will have new titles and new responsibilities, but no jobs are being eliminated. I am grateful that all of our existing staff members will continue to be part of our team. In the coming months, we plan to add two staff members—a bookkeeper and a fundraising and development officer, and in 2024, we have budgeted for a part-time youth minister. In the coming years, I hope that our budget will also permit us to add a justice officer.
On our new organizational chart, you will see many familiar names, and also a few new positions I want to highlight for you:
--The Rev. Andrea Mysen has accepted my invitation to serve as canon to the ordinary and chief of staff. In her new role, she will oversee the ministry of the diocesan staff and handle its day-to-day operations.
--The Rev. J. Sierra Reyes will serve as canon for ministry, managing transition ministry and congregational vitality initiatives.
--Anna Stefaniak will become canon for administration, continuing to oversee human resources and the diocese’s administrative functions.
--Crystal Plummer will serve as canon for networking, continuing to oversee our community partnerships, communications, and fundraising efforts.
--Rebecca Elfring-Roberts will become the diocese’s comptroller, a new role in which she will oversee all of our accounting and financial reporting functions.
--Louisa McKellaston will become leadership development officer, a new role in which she will work with the Commission on Ministry, serve as diaconal ministry liaison, and oversee lay leadership formation.
--The Rev. Alvaro Araica will become our diocese’s missioner for multicultural ministries, serving our clergy, lay leaders, and congregations of color.
--Jen Boyle-Tucker will become communications officer, a title that recognizes the responsibility that she holds for coordinating communications across the diocese.
All of the other staff members you know and rely on will continue in roles that are similar to the ones they have held for many years. If you have questions about who to talk with about any particular topic or issue, please see our updated Who To Call list on the diocesan website.
I hope that this new way of working together will allow me to spend even more of my time building relationships with all of you, learning about your ministries and hearing about your hopes for the future. With the support of my gifted and dedicated staff, I am committed to finding new ways to share God’s transforming love with every community in our diocese. By leading with love, we can do great things!
Peace and blessings,
Bishop Paula Clark
