Board of Directors

Strong leadership that’s straight from the heart.

The ECF Board of Directors is comprised of lay and ordained persons from around the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. The churches and worshiping communities of our Diocese are organized into eleven regional convocations, and there is one designated appointee from each convocation who serves as a member of our Board of Directors. The Bishop of Atlanta serves ex officio as a Director, and at any time there are up to fifteen additional at-large board members who serve with skills and experience necessary to carry out the mission of ECF.

Mrs. Mary-Kathryn Boler (she/her)

Chair

Mary-Kathryn Boler, CFRE has 30 years’ experience in education and economic development program creation and funding. As Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Kennesaw State University, she establishes and stewards philanthropic partnerships with business and nonprofit leaders throughout Georgia to support KSU's academic and community initiatives. She also shares her development expertise with other nonprofits as a grant writing instructor at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

Prior to joining KSU Mary-Kathryn was the Senior Director of Development for TAG Education Collaborative, where she brought hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education initiatives to students in grades K-12. Earlier in her career Mary-Kathryn was the chief executive officer of Catapult Strategic Consulting, where she increased the success and sustainability of over 500 entrepreneurial businesses and nonprofit organizations. Mary-Kathryn also has extensive experience developing entrepreneurial programs, such as technology business incubators and small business loan funds, for economic development authorities throughout the country.

Mary-Kathryn earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics and Economics from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Mary-Kathryn and her husband Kent are proud parents of two children, Matt and Finn, and they are members of St. Peter and St. Paul Episcopal Church in Marietta. Before moving to Georgia, Mary-Kathryn helped launch St. John’s Parish Day School and served on the inaugural board of directors for the St. John’s Parish Day School in Ellicott City, Maryland.

The Rev. Colin Brown (he/him)

North Atlanta Convocation

The Rev. Colin Brown serves as Associate Rector at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Brookhaven. His work there focuses on Worship, Formation, and Pastoral Care. Colin is deeply grateful to serve alongside the people of St. Martin’s as they discern together what it means to thrive as a community of faith in the 21st century.

In his life prior to ordained ministry, Colin spent the majority of his career as the owner of a sheet metal manufacturing company, serving a variety of industries such as food processing/packaging, pulp and paper, and materials handling. He finds that the skills acquired as a business owner are surprisingly applicable in day-to-day parish ministry.

Colin earned a BA in Religion from Florida State University in 1999 and a Master of Divinity with a certificate in Episcopal Studies from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2020. He lives in Smyrna with his wife, Christie, their two daughters, two dogs, and three chickens.

Ms. Mara Angelica DiGiovanni (she/her)

Northeast Metro Convocation

Mara has been a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Snellville since she was still incubating in the womb, and she has enjoyed many jobs and opportunities within the church while growing up there. Her favorite roles have included: acolyte, office assistant and printer of bulletins, ringer in the handbell choir, singer in the sanctuary choir, Easter Eggstravaganza bunny wrangler, Sunday school teacher and Youth leader, she has just concluded her responsibility as a member of the Nominating Committee, and is now preparing to run for Vestry for what would be her second term. She is looking forward to serving in a new capacity with the diocese as a member of the ECF.

Mara attended GCSU in Milledgeville immediately after graduating high school, where she spent most of her time as an art major. She left before graduating from that school, and took some time to discover her real interests and skills. She later graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College with a bachelors in psychology and big ideas, and she is currently planning out a Ph.D in research, studying the psychology of story-telling.

She currently works at St. Matthew’s Preschool as an assistant teacher for four year olds. She gets very enthusiastic about story time, and is able to use her experience as an art student while planning, preparing and making crafts with the children. In addition to wreaking havoc with glitter, she enjoys teaching her class everything she knows about dinosaurs.

In addition to reading, writing, and playing video games in her free time, Mara enjoys gardening, keeping aquariums, and the company of her pets, plants, and emotional support goblin, (otherwise known as her boyfriend Sean). If she were a dinosaur, she would most likely be some sort of raptor, but she will always have a soft spot for the T. Rex.

The Very Rev. John M. Hamilton (he/they)

Georgia Mountains Convocation

John M. Hamilton is currently the Rector, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Episcopal Church, in Dahlonega, near the starting point of the Appalachian trail. He is also the chaplain of the Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of North Georgia Dahlonega Campus, the dean of the Georgia Mountains Convocation of the Diocese of Atlanta, Secretary of the Community Helping Place Board, and secretary of the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Ministerial Association. He is an active member of the Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club.

John was born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1962, and has experienced life in many diverse places: Poitiers, France and Oxford, England where he studied in university, Honduras where he was a missionary elementary school teacher, and diverse U.S. cities, Memphis, Atlanta, and the Metropolitan New York City area where he lived longer than any other single place.

From childhood John has been a faithful follower of Jesus, has been active in church life since birth, and was ordained to priesthood in the Episcopal Church in 2005. Pastoring a church fits his deep commitment to spirituality, life in community, and a process of ongoing spiritual exploration. Including people relegated to the margins of our community is an important aspect of his ministry. He has lived with People with Intellectual disability in a Community of L’Arche in Liverpool, England for three years, and was the convenor of Integrity Atlanta for three years.

John is committed to a long-standing practice of daily prayer, to intentional simplicity of life and intentional giving to both the church and those in need. He is concerned about stewardship of the earth. His interests include both ancient and modern intentional community, especially the Benedictine Rule, and he is discovering a growing interest in Celtic Christianity. His goal in ministry is to help those who work to uncover the relevance of spirituality in general, and following Jesus in particular, as relevant in a world which should and will constantly be changing.

John likes cooking, gaming, nature, reading, languages, and history. He speaks French and Spanish and has some working knowledge of Latin, Biblical Greek and Hebrew, German and Italian.

His cat, Edward, does not share many of John’s interests, but does enjoy naps, sitting in the windowsill, and wet food. He loves Sundays as the day he receives the “good stuff”. He is adept at chasing string, and he won the Cutest Cat in North Georgia title in the 2022 Rotary Cutest Pet contest. He seems unaffected by the adulation.

The Very Rev. Clayton D. Harrington (he/him)

Oconee Convocation

The Very Rev. Clayton Harrington is the Dean of Diocesan Campus Ministries and the Wright House Chapel at UGA. He is also an Associate Rector at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia. In these roles, Clayton is passionate about the potential of Christian community, worship, and service to empower all of us to grow into the people that God has made us to be.

Before coming to Athens in 2018, Clayton was the Program Coordinator for Youth Ministry at the Cathedral of St. Philip, from June 2017 to June 2018. He was also the Seminarian of the Cathedral from August 2015 to May 2017. Clayton earned a BA in History and Religion from Campbell University in North Carolina (May 2014). Clayton is a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, having earned a Master of Divinity with a Certificate in Episcopal Studies (May 2017).

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Howell (she/her)

At-Large

Beth Howell is President & CEO of Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC), a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the health and wellbeing of children and families. ARMHC provides temporary housing and support services to families with ill and injured children being treated at local hospitals. She is responsible for operations of 2 houses that currently include 81 rooms, as well as scholarship program that provides over 70 scholarships annually. Under her leadership, ARMHC introduced Atlanta’s first Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program in October 2016. The Care Mobile’s mission is to bring asthma care to children where they live, learn, and play. In August of 2017, the organization launched a new Ronald McDonald Family Room program located on the inpatient oncology floor of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The Family Room will provide a peaceful place of respite for families, allowing parents to better communicate with their child’s medical team which improves adherence to complicated treatment plans.

Prior to her tenure at ARMHC, Howell worked for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for over two decades. She joined Children’s in 1990 to assist with program planning. In 2001, she became Chief Compliance Officer and was promoted to Vice President of Corporate Oversight in 2004, before being named Vice President of Academic Administration in 2008. As Vice President of Academic Administration, Howell led the expansion efforts related to research and teaching in collaboration with academic partners, such as Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. She also served as the Administrative Director of the Pediatric Center of Georgia, a non-profit corporation supporting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University. The Pediatric Center includes more than 300 Emory University School of Medicine faculty working in more than 20 specialties and subspecialties that are actively involved with pediatric clinical care, teaching, research and child advocacy efforts in Georgia and throughout the Southeast.

Howell is a native of Atlanta and earned her bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College. She and her husband, Bob, are native Atlantans and are also Rotarians.

Mrs. Megan E. Hulgan (she/her)

Vice Chair

Megan Hulgan, 40, is the current Director of Food Ministry at Covington First United Methodist Church, a position she has held since December 2017. The mission of the CFUMC Food Pantry is to end hunger in Newton County for God's glory, and Megan is able to work every day with a diverse group of volunteers and donors to move closer to that goal. Megan has a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee and has worked in family reconciliation, hospital social work, homicide victims’ assistance, foster parent training, domestic abuse survivor counseling, and volunteer management.

Megan is an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal in Covington and has served as a volunteer with Sack Lunch Saturday, nursery, choir, the stewardship committee, and fundraising events. She and her husband Jonathan have two children, 12 and 8, who attend the Newton County Theme School, and they have lived in Covington since August 2013. Megan has previously served as a Cub Scout den leader and Girl Scout troop leader, and remains a committed Scout Mom. Megan enjoys hiking, running, and cycling around Covington, and running into friends along the way.

Mrs. Stephanie A. Johnson (she/her)

Middle Georgia Convocation

Stephanie A. Kaigler Johnson, born in Montezuma, Georgia, is a graduate of Macon County High School. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Savannah State University with a B.S. in Accounting. She has completed graduate work from several universities including Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea, OH) – MBA (Systems Management), 1989; Georgia Southwestern College (Americus, GA) – Business Education Certification, 2002; University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA) – Ed. S., Business Education, 2005; Georgia College and State University (Milledgeville, GA) - Ed .S.- Educational Leadership Certification, 2007; Instructional Coaching Endorsement, Middle Georgia RESA, 2014; Computer Science Endorsement, Middle Georgia RESA, 2021.

Family: For 22 years, Stephanie has been married to Mr. Carroll (CJ) Johnson. Combined, they have four adult children. They love and enjoy Cassidy, their 2-year-old Shih Tzu.

Occupation: Stephanie is an educator for the Peach County Board of Education since 2000. In the past, she has also served as an adjunct professor for two of the local universities. Prior to working for Peach County Board of Education, she gained substantial work experience from the IBM Corporation as an Account Systems Engineer; Accounting and Computing Consulting Entrepreneur; and West Central Georgia Community Action Council, Director of Administrative Services.

Church History: Stephanie was baptized at an early age in the family church, Second Salem Baptist Church, of Montezuma, GA. She has been an active member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church since 1995. She was re-confirmed at St Luke’s Episcopal Church of Fort Valley, Georgia in 1988 by the late Father Hugie Walker. Prior to moving to Warner Robins, Georgia, she was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron, Ohio in which she was confirmed on December 5, 1982.

Activities: An active member for more than 25 years, Stephanie is a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Home Eucharistic Visitor, and president of Daughters of the King. In the past, she has served in various roles: Chairperson of Stewardship, Chairperson of Communications Committee, Member of Fellowship Committee, Foyer participant, and past vestry member and Senior Warden. Additionally, she serves in a variety of community roles, including president of the Fort Valley Area Savannah State University National Alumni Association (SSUNAA) Chapter, Middle Georgia First Lego League (FLL) Tournament Director, First Tech Challenge (FTC) Mentor, and Robins STARBASE 2.0 Adviser.

Ms. Jennifer Bonds King (she/her)

Mid-Atlanta Convocation

Jennifer Bonds King serves as the National Administrator for the Department of Veterans Affairs Epilepsy Centers of Excellence. Board certified in healthcare management, she is responsible for the business operations of 17 regionally based Centers.

Administrator for the Regional Telehealth Service at the Atlanta VA Health Care System. Board Certified in Healthcare Management, she is responsible for business and clinic operations for multiple telehealth services, such as Tele-Primary Care and Tele-Ophthalmology, provided predominately to Veterans in rural Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama.

Jennifer is also the Principal Consultant for The Enlightenment Group, LLC, where she provides management consulting and leadership coaching for organizations and leaders in the health equity ecosystem.

Jennifer received a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida cum laude and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2016, she completed a Graduate Theological Certificate in Faith and Health from North Park Theological Seminary. She is also a Graduate of the Class of 2014 of LEAD Atlanta and a 2012 Graduate of the United Way Volunteer Involvement Program.

Jennifer is a toddler Episcopalian from the Diocese of Florida and has been an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in SW Atlanta since 2011. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, reading, Florida Gator Football, and spending time with family and friends. Jennifer blends her personal and professional lives to live out her calling of eradicating healthcare inequities and ensuring all persons are able to become their best selves.

Mr. Laurin McSwain (he/him)

At-Large

Laurin M. McSwain is a principal of Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes, McSwain, Hass & Hanley, P.C. Laurin concentrates his practice in estate planning, probate, and estate administration.

He works with clients in analyzing their personal and financial estate planning goals and developing strategies to accomplish those goals utilizing sophisticated estate planning techniques. Wills, trusts and other legal documents are utilized to implement these plans.

With an extensive background representing the fiduciary, Laurin works closely with both corporate and individual executors and trustees to guide them through the administrative process in an efficient and timely manner and, when appropriate and necessary, working through the courts to clarify, amend or modify documents.

Laurin was admitted to practice in Georgia in 1976 and is active in Bar Association activities including service on the Board of the Atlanta Estate Planning and Probate Section where he also served as Chair. He is a member of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta Bar Association, and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, and is a frequent lecturer for the Fiduciary Law Section and community groups on estate planning and probate matters. Laurin has served the Fulton County Probate Court as a guardian ad litem and has served as a Special Assistant District Attorney for charitable matters. Laurin also serves as a Trustee of the CornerCap Group of Funds.

Additionally, Laurin contributes to the community through various activities including current service on the boards of the Alliance Of Christian Media/ Day 1, Friends of Cathedral Music, the Georgia Community Trust of BDI and the Advisory Board of the Schenck School. He has formerly served on the Boards of The American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate (past chair of the Southeast Affiliate), The University of the South, The Schenck School (Chair), The Cathedral Book Store, Holy Innocents Episcopal School, All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) (past President), The Alliance for Christian Media/Day 1(Chair) and the St. Andrews- Sewanee School. Laurin completed the Philanthropic Advisory Leadership Institute sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Prior to joining Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes, McSwain, Hass & Hanley, P.C., Laurin was a partner in the firm of Bloodworth & McSwain, an associate with Bloodworth & Nix, a principal of The Arden Group and an officer in the Trust Departments of Wachovia Bank and SunTrust Bank.

Laurin received his undergraduate degree from the University of the South (BA. 1973), in English with Honors, and his law degree from Emory University School of Law (J.D. 1976).

Ms. Victoria E. Patrick (she/her)

Marietta Convocation

Victoria Patrick grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where she attended Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church. She was very active in state-wide youth retreats and served on the EYC board. While attending Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, she served as the college-liaison to assist in increasing student participation at St. Peter’s. After graduation, Victoria attended Georgia State University and graduated with an Ed.S. in School Psychology. Initially, Victoria worked as a School Psychologist in Gordon County, Georgia for 5 years. Next, she began employment in the Cobb County School District, where she worked for 26 years before retiring in August 2021. She looks forward to her transition into a second rewarding career.

Community involvement has included numerous activities through Hands On Atlanta, including Project Coordinator at the Salvation Army shelter, where she oversaw children’s activities led by volunteers. Through the Cobb County School District, Homelessness Program, Victoria served as a tutor for children living in temporary placements. While attending All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Victoria volunteered with the Sister’s With Pride program, a weekly activity night for girls living in the Herndan Homes community. Other volunteer activities have included Girl Scout Leader, and activities at the Giving Garden.

Victoria and her teenaged daughter have attended St. Benedict’s for 11 years. Currently, Victoria is on the Vestry, Task-Force for Reopening committee, and Daughters of the King. Previous activities have included teaching Sunday School, participating on the Children’s Ministry committee, and chairing various St. B’s retreats. She enjoys Adult Formation and virtual Compline services.

Personally, Victoria loves to read, garden, and camp.

The Rev. Trey B. Phillips (he/him)

At-Large

Trey Phillips is the curate and Director of Youth Ministries at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (Marietta). There his work focuses upon the Christian formation of the youth and wider parish. Trey's passion is to reinvigorate the local parish as a center for deep theological learning by employing the rich intersection of human learning sciences and religious education.

Prior to his parish employment, Trey served as a hospital chaplain at Emory University Hospital Midtown. It was a year of being pastoral amid a pandemic, as he provided hundreds of hours of spiritual and emotional support to both the hospitalized and medical staff while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trey earned his BA in Biblical Studies and Humanities with a minor in Business Management. A recent graduate from Emory University's Candler School of Theology (20T), his seminary training focused on Episcopal studies and spiritual formation. His thesis addressed how The Episcopal Church can think about questions of identity, and how the church might welcome and shape those new to the Christian faith.

Trey grew up in Alabama and lived in Indiana and South Carolina before he and his spouse, Annie, moved to Atlanta in 2017. Annie is currently a pre-K teacher at College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Decatur, GA. They enjoy going to the movies, traveling, and practicing hospitality—usually through board games and cookies!

Mrs. Marjorie Morton Smith (she/her)

Chatahoochee Valley Convocation

Mollie Smith is Associate General Counsel at Total System Services LLC (TSYS), a global payments solution provider and affiliate of Global Payments Inc. She is responsible for negotiating long-term agreements with North American banks for credit card transaction processing, call center, and loyalty program support services. Before moving in-house at TSYS, Mollie’s private practice primarily focused on estate planning and administration. She worked closely with individuals, advisors and community and private foundations to address families’ wealth succession needs and support planned giving efforts.

Mollie is a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, GA, where she has served in several capacities through the years. In recent years, she has devoted her attention outside of the parish to support the work of the Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry (CVEM). After the retirement of CVEM’s founding director, Mollie co-chaired the Executive Director Search Committee and participated in a multi-year discernment effort to refresh the mission and strategic plan for CVEM’s continued commitment to fighting inequity and building strong communities in the Chattahoochee Valley communities.

Mollie received her undergraduate degree from Davidson College and her JD degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, listening to podcasts, and watching her son’s tennis matches and Georgia football.

The Rev. Rhett Solomon (he/him)

East Atlanta Convocation

A native of New Jersey, Rhett Solomon traveled to Atlanta in the fall of 1999 to attend Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2003. After graduating Morehouse, he discerned whether to pursue doctoral work in Political Science or a call to ministry. After much prayer and consultation, he pursued active ministry. A licensed and ordained Baptist minister, Rhett served at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA, from 2005 – 2008, during which time he was admitted to the MDiv program at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, a program he completed in 2009.

In 2008, Rhett left Mt. Carmel Baptist Church to co-pastor Resurrected Church of Atlanta, a non-denominational church-plant based in Atlanta. He served the small congregation of Resurrected Church of Atlanta until May 2012 when the church amicably disbanded.

To prepare for this transition, Rhett enquired and was received into The Episcopal Church at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in May 2011. After years of managing a Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Rhett accepted the call to serve as Parish Administrator of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, a position that he held until July 2021.

In the summer of 2020, Rhett earned his ThM (Master of Theology) from Candler School of Theology. He was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on December 19, 2020 and to the Sacred Order of Priests on June 26, 2021.

Rhett currently serves as Associate Rector at Holy Trinity Parish, where he oversees Children, Youth, and Adult Formation. He also serves as Board Member of Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia; Diocesan Assembly Chaplain for The Order of the Daughters of the King (Atlanta); Chaplain of St. Joseph’s House, a formation community at Candler School of Theology; and adjunct faculty at Candler School of Theology.

Rhett is a divorced father of two beautiful daughters, Charlotte and Skye. He loves God, quality time with family and friends, people, and ministry. He enjoys reading, writing, poetry, music, history (African-American, British, United States, U. S. Presidential), mythology, art, traveling, hiking, tennis, swimming, basketball, movies, theater-going, playing board games and cards, and building LEGO sets.

Justin D. Streeter (he/him)

Treasurer

Moved to metro Atlanta, Georgia in 2008. I love it here in the South although Michigan will always be home. I get back there as often as I can.

My wife Leigh was born and raised in Atlanta, and we were lucky enough to meet while I was living in Michigan. She loves being back in her hometown.

My children are grown as I started early, Elizabeth is 28 and lives in Flint, MI. Xandra is 21 and lives in Midland, MI. My dad is a Snow Bird, so it's fun to see him at his Florida residence during January to April of each year.

My stepdaughter Hillary lives in Athens where she works as a Nanny, and is going back to Brenau for her Masters.

Mr. Jeffrey T. Tindall (he/him)

Northwest Georgia Convocation

Jeff Tindall grew up in Marietta, GA attending St. Catherine's Episcopal Church. A technology executive with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare software industry. He started his technical career in healthcare documentation management software with Healthcare Technologies, Inc. while attending the Georgia Institute of Technology where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Jeff served as President of HTI Technologies, Inc. prior to its acquisition by Superior Global. As the healthcare market has evolved through the passing of the HITECH Act and the Affordable Care Act, he has continued to expand his expertise in the healthcare revenue cycle to include creating systems for outsourced coding, auditing, and most recently billing companies. Jeff is currently the Managing Director of Agile Innovations Group, a leading provider of outsourced innovations for enterprise business platforms and Founder/CTO of OnePoint Systems, a social advocacy platform transforming the way businesses reward consumers for brand advocacy.

In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family and staying involved in the community. His wife, Tiffany, is a Cartersville native who graduated from the University of Georgia and currently teaches dance. Jeff and Tiffany have two children together. He oversees operations and vision of the Church of the Ascension's Red Door Food Pantry with his family where their team served more than 118,000 pounds of food to over 14,000 Bartow County patrons in 2019. Currently the President of the Rotary Club of Etowah, Jeff also serves on the boards of the BLESS Coalition, The Bookmobile, and the Steps of Faith Dance Company.

After moving to Cartersville in 2003 to be near Tiffany’s family, Jeff found his passion for remodeling and landscaping. In 2011, Jeff and Tiffany moved into the Lottie Moon house from 1856 in Downtown Cartersville and have completed numerous renovation projects in the years since. Jeff also enjoys traveling the world and scuba diving which he sometimes has good fortune to do at the same time.

Mr. Robert B. Townes, IV (he/him)

At-Large

Robert B. Townes IV is Executive Vice President of Sinclair, Townes & Company, a fundraising consulting firm in Atlanta. Rob has over 35 years of experience in nonprofit service and has provided annual, capital, and legacy giving counsel for numerous philanthropic organizations, including over 50 churches and church-based ministries. Previously, he served on staff as the director of fundraising in Atlanta for the American Heart Association and The Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation. He also provided fundraising counsel both as an independent consultant and with the firms Coxe & Associates, and Anderson, Cole & Dollhopf, Inc.

Active in church and civic affairs, Rob sat on Emory University’s Board of Governors and served on the national board of the United Nations Association after his term as President of the Atlanta Chapter. He served as the Chair of (Emory University’s) Candler School of Theology’s Alumni/ae Executive Committee and as the Co-chair for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta’s Commission on Racism. He was one of approximately fifty stewardship consultants for the national Episcopal Church. Additionally, he served on the governing boards of the Cathedral of St. Philip and St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, and the advisory board for St. Luke’s Community Kitchen in Atlanta. Currently he sits on the boards of Green Bough House of Prayer in Scott, Georgia, and the Episcopal Community Foundation of Middle and North Georgia. He was elected to serve on the Diocese of Atlanta’s Standing Committee after serving on its Commission on Ministry for two terms. Additionally, he serves as one of Emory University’s Ambassadors, a group of alumni who previously served Emory in a volunteer leadership role, and also serves on the Advisory Board for Candler School of Theology’s Episcopal and Anglican Studies Program. In 2021 Rob served as an adjunct professor at Candler teaching resource development and has led a virtual session on resource development through the Candler Foundry.

Rob holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University's Candler School of Theology and a B.B.A. from the University of Mississippi. He was tapped as an alumni member of Emory University’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa.

Rob is married to the Rev. Lynnsay A. Buehler, an Episcopal priest who serves as the Director of the Julian of Norwich Center at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. They have a 25-year-old son Robert who is a recent graduate in agricultural engineering from the University of Georgia. Rob and Lynnsay live in Decatur, Georgia.