Alan Murray

AED Board Nominee - 2020 Election

Lay Candidate #2

Alan Murray

Diocese: Oregon

Present Employment: Clinical Practice Specialist, Marriage and Family Therapist (Licensed in California and Oregon)

Current Ministries: Deputy to General Convention (L-1), Co-Chair of the Deputation; Member of the Task Force on Women, Truth and Reconciliation; Province VIII Peace & Justice Coordinator; 11th Bishop Search Committee (Oregon); Co-Chair of Cathedral Life Commission (Trinity Cathedral, Portland); Member of Family Commission, Trinity Cathedral, Portland; Godly Play Teacher (1st/2nd Grade) – Trinity Cathedral

Current Church Assignment: Lay person, member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland

Previous Positions: N/A

Education: Masters in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling, Fresno Pacific Mennonite Seminary

Prior Board Experience: Board member and Board President of California Counseling Institute (San Francisco); Ex-Officio, Board member of Grace Cathedral Board of Trustee (San Francisco)

Skill sets: Previous board experience; Networking with wider church/wide connection with many interim bodies and people in church governance within the Episcopal Church; Legislative advocacy with Office of Government Relations; Technical skills – not afraid of using technology such as Zoom, google drive and other technological tools available to collaborate; Good at seeing big picture and conceptualization; Organized and detailed oriented.

Question #1
How do you envision contributing to the AED Board? What are your special talents and gifts?
The strength of a congregation and diocese lies in how much they value the diaconate. The diaconate brings the intersection of the church and the world to experience the power of a Loving, Life-Giving and Liberating God. What I could bring to AED’s Board is my passion for social justice; my love for church governance; my connection with the wider church as a result of my involvement in General Convention and the interim bodies. As a person of color, a married gay person and a parent, I am aware of the unjust structures of the church and world. The relationships I have built over the years within and outside the church can help me to connect and mobilize AED’s Board, the church and the world.

Question #2
What is your vision for the future of the Association for Episcopal Deacons?

To develop and strengthen Provincial networks of deacons.
To educate the church on the diaconal ministry especially in dioceses where diaconal ministry is not valued.
To evaluate and to ensure AED has the best tools and best practices to carry out its mission in a changing church and the world.
To develop sustainable model that would ensure leadership development and succession.
To identify barriers that prevent the flourishing of diaconal ministry in Dioceses and Provinces.
To identify resources to support the formation and deployment of deacons across the church.
To engage in a strategic visioning process that will help AED to fulfill its mission into the future.
To continue to be a prophetic voice and stake holders at the General Convention and interim bodies so that our church can develop policies that would advocate on behalf of those who are marginalized and voiceless.

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