Candidates for Office

The Annual Meeting Agenda is available here.

The following candidates are standing for office at the annual meeting on December 3, 2011:

John Curtis

I have been on several church Vestries and am currently in my third and final year of Vestry at Holy Trinity by the Lake, Rockwall/Heath. I also serve as Church Treasurer. In the past I have been the Director of the Chapter Brotherhood of St Andrew. Presently, I am Chair of our Columbarium Committee and a Lay Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

Other community activities include President of the Rockwall Housing Development Corporation [a non-profit], Vice Chair of the City of Heath Parks Board and a member of the Rockwall Rotary Club and Rotary District 5810 Boards.

In the wider church, my wife and I have presented Episcopal Marriage Encounter weekends for 35 years in many states and countries and have served as its Executive Lay Couple on two separate terms.

Though officially retired, I continue hold Professional Civil Engineering licenses in four states.

Steve Orthwein

While not a “cradle Episcopalian” I got here as quickly as I could and have been an Episcopalian for 57 years and a member of The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Irving. After several years of “vacation”, I have been very active in the church for the past 15 years.  I was a founding member of Redeemer’s Thursday night Bible Study group, Reel Theology ministry, the Breakfast Club, and our Brotherhood of St. Andrew chapter. I have served two terms on the Vestry and was Stewardship Chairman for five years and a Stewardship Captain for 15 years.

I have also participated in the church’s mission trips to Biloxi, MS, rebuilding houses destroyed by hurricane Katrina. I have been active in many community outreach activities including Austin Street Shelter, Irving Cares, North Texas Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity.

I edited and wrote much of the Redeemer newsletter for ten years and was co-writer of the award winning “Reel Theology” column which appeared in Esprit and Episcopal Life for five years.

I have been a member of Irving Toastmasters for 13 years and have held every club office numerous times and have served two terms as Area Governor and one as Division Governor. I am a “Distinguished Toastmaster” (highest education level you can attain in TM), so I am quite comfortable in planning, organizing and conducting meetings.

I really don’t like campaigning for something like this, and wouldn’t be if I hadn’t been asked to run. But I love being a part of the Brotherhood on all levels and strongly believe in its mission. I am retired so I would have ample time to devote this ministry. I would be humbled and proud to serve as Diocesan Director if that is your wish.