About: Board & Staff
AED Staff
Executive Director
Deacon Carter Hawley |
Treasurer
Phyllis Jones |
Welcome to AED's new Executive Director
10/2022
Board of AED is delighted to announce that, after a period of time as Interim Executive Director, the Rev. Deacon Carter Hawley has agreed to accept the role of Executive Director of AED. AED's leadership, in consultation with Deacon Hawley and AED's Succession Committee, has decided that the position will continue to be part time for now, with the understanding that additional contractors may be engaged for specific projects, such as event planning, as needed.
"We are so pleased that Carter will be continuing in this role," said AED President Tracie Middleton. "She brings a wealth of administrative experience and skill to this role that will help us continue to offer excellent programming and advocacy for deacons and all those engaged in diaconal ministry."
10/2022
Board of AED is delighted to announce that, after a period of time as Interim Executive Director, the Rev. Deacon Carter Hawley has agreed to accept the role of Executive Director of AED. AED's leadership, in consultation with Deacon Hawley and AED's Succession Committee, has decided that the position will continue to be part time for now, with the understanding that additional contractors may be engaged for specific projects, such as event planning, as needed.
"We are so pleased that Carter will be continuing in this role," said AED President Tracie Middleton. "She brings a wealth of administrative experience and skill to this role that will help us continue to offer excellent programming and advocacy for deacons and all those engaged in diaconal ministry."

AED is pleased to announce an exciting leadership transition
3/2022
The Rev. Deacon Lori Mills-Curran has decided that, after nine years as Executive Director of AED, she would like to retire. She and the Board have collaborated on planning for her transition over the past year, and the Rev. Mills-Curran will conclude her work on March 31, 2022. The Board has hired The Rev. Carter Hawley as Interim Executive Director, beginning work on March 25, 2022, to serve in that role for a nine-month period through the end of the calendar year.
AED annually gathers all those interested in best practices for deacon formation, and at AED’s recent Archdeacon and Deacon Directors Conference, a video of appreciation messages from all the Presidents of AED that the Rev. Mills-Curran has worked with was shared. (Watch the video) Noting some of Lori’s accomplishments in the role, the Rev. Canon Tina Campbell, President of AED 2013-15, asserted that Rev. Mills-Curran’s tenure as Executive Director “has marked a real maturing of AED as a professional organization.” The Rev. Lauren Welch, President from 2015-17 added that “It’s been through Lori’s perseverance, collaboration, and her passion for justice - passion for justice for deacons especially - that has enabled AED to move forward.” The Rev. Maureen Hagen, President from 2017-2019, thanked Rev. Mills-Curran for efforts to engage fruitful dialogue with the Church Pension Group, as one example of her effective collaborations in the wider church, and The Rev. Douglas Argue, AED’s most recent Past President, shared that because of Rev. Mills-Curran’s leadership, “AED is better positioned than ever in the past to advocate for the ministry needs of the diaconate and ensure that deacons have a voice in the bigger picture of the Church.” “AED is in a great position to step into its next chapter,” agreed The Rev. Tracie Middleton, AED’s current President, “and we owe so much of that to [Rev. Mills-Curran’s] efforts.”
Lori indicates that her proudest accomplishment is the development of a close collaboration between AED and The Fund for the Diaconate. “We are now united with a common vision to seek to serve all deacons' wellbeing from discernment to grave,” Lori stated, noting that their first joint development campaign Advancing the Diaconate, which seeks to fund spiritual and wellbeing supports for all deacons in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, is well underway.
The Rev. Mills-Curran is already embarking on new ventures as she continues her efforts on behalf of deacons. After a road trip to the “quilting capitol “of Paducah KY, she will explore opportunities for teaching and writing. “I have been a deacon for 35 years, which I think is an uncommon story that may need telling,” she stated.
3/2022
The Rev. Deacon Lori Mills-Curran has decided that, after nine years as Executive Director of AED, she would like to retire. She and the Board have collaborated on planning for her transition over the past year, and the Rev. Mills-Curran will conclude her work on March 31, 2022. The Board has hired The Rev. Carter Hawley as Interim Executive Director, beginning work on March 25, 2022, to serve in that role for a nine-month period through the end of the calendar year.
AED annually gathers all those interested in best practices for deacon formation, and at AED’s recent Archdeacon and Deacon Directors Conference, a video of appreciation messages from all the Presidents of AED that the Rev. Mills-Curran has worked with was shared. (Watch the video) Noting some of Lori’s accomplishments in the role, the Rev. Canon Tina Campbell, President of AED 2013-15, asserted that Rev. Mills-Curran’s tenure as Executive Director “has marked a real maturing of AED as a professional organization.” The Rev. Lauren Welch, President from 2015-17 added that “It’s been through Lori’s perseverance, collaboration, and her passion for justice - passion for justice for deacons especially - that has enabled AED to move forward.” The Rev. Maureen Hagen, President from 2017-2019, thanked Rev. Mills-Curran for efforts to engage fruitful dialogue with the Church Pension Group, as one example of her effective collaborations in the wider church, and The Rev. Douglas Argue, AED’s most recent Past President, shared that because of Rev. Mills-Curran’s leadership, “AED is better positioned than ever in the past to advocate for the ministry needs of the diaconate and ensure that deacons have a voice in the bigger picture of the Church.” “AED is in a great position to step into its next chapter,” agreed The Rev. Tracie Middleton, AED’s current President, “and we owe so much of that to [Rev. Mills-Curran’s] efforts.”
Lori indicates that her proudest accomplishment is the development of a close collaboration between AED and The Fund for the Diaconate. “We are now united with a common vision to seek to serve all deacons' wellbeing from discernment to grave,” Lori stated, noting that their first joint development campaign Advancing the Diaconate, which seeks to fund spiritual and wellbeing supports for all deacons in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, is well underway.
The Rev. Mills-Curran is already embarking on new ventures as she continues her efforts on behalf of deacons. After a road trip to the “quilting capitol “of Paducah KY, she will explore opportunities for teaching and writing. “I have been a deacon for 35 years, which I think is an uncommon story that may need telling,” she stated.