Vestry Nominees

Vestry Election

Voting for this year’s vestry election is available online below, using your email address on file in our parish database. To vote by paper ballot, request one from the parish office or pick up a ballot after weekend services on May 2-3 or May 9-10, and return it to the parish office by 4:30 PM on Thursday, May 14.

The parish voting list contains those eligible to vote in the election according to our bylaws: "one who is baptized, 16 years of age, a regular attendant upon the services of Christ Church, and whose name has been entered on the active Parish list for at least six (6) months as pledging contributors of record to the financial support thereof."

Election results will be announced at our annual meeting on Sunday, May 17.

VOTE ONLINE

PARISH VOTING LIST

Our Vestry Nominees

Jill Coghlan

Jill grew up in the Arden, Delaware area and developed an early interest in spiritual community through a Unitarian youth group in high school. She studied history at the University of California, Berkeley and completed graduate work at the College of William & Mary before beginning a career in research and librarianship. In the 1970s and 1980s, Jill spent several years living within the San Francisco Zen Center community, where she participated in its meditation life and served for two years as librarian for the center’s specialized Zen collection. She also spent time practicing at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. She later built a career in research and information services, working as an R&D librarian in western Massachusetts and helping establish a corporate library at Sun Microsystems, where she later served as a product manager. She also worked as a Census data researcher with the Connecticut State Data Center. Jill returned to the Arden area in 2014. From 2018 to 2024, she served as grounds lead for the Arden Club, organizing volunteers to maintain the community gardens. She joined Christ Church through the Parish Choir in 2023 and was baptized later that year. Jill attends Evening Prayer, participates in study groups, serves as a Eucharistic minister, and volunteers with the Flower Ministry. Her experience in research, organization, and volunteer leadership equips her to support the vestry in planning, decision-making, and nurturing Christ Church’s community life.

Brenda DePuy

Brenda was raised in a German Midwest community and a German Church (similar to Lutheran—a member of the United Church of Christ). She was baptized and confirmed in this lovely church. She later left the area and began a career with the federal government, which moved her from coast to coast and later to Europe where she trained naval civilian leaders throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. Returning to Washington DC, she continued her career and later established her own company—training, coaching, and advising senior leaders on strategic initiatives and leadership policies across the government. During this time, she attended the American University Key Executive Leadership program. She has been a guest lecturer at national conferences and universities such as Georgetown, American University, and others. It was Brenda’s move to the DC area in the early ’90s that began her journey in the Episcopal faith after attending services at the National Cathedral and discovering the Book of Common Prayer, which spoke to her as no other ever had. Brenda became a member of Grace Church in The Plains, Virginia, where she was confirmed and served as a member of the Altar Guild. She moved to Delaware eight years ago to slowly retire, and she and her daughter, Christina, joined Christ Church in 2018. Brenda has served as a member of the Altar Guild, Flower, and Celebration of Life ministries, while Christina has supported the Parish Fellowship ministry and cooked for the Green Show. Christ Church and the fellowship here have been a Godsend to these two world travelers, providing the community, love, and support they had sorely missed in their journeys. Brenda sees Christ Church as an anchor for those reared here, those returning, and those new—a welcoming faith-centered community with room for all. She would hope the lessons she has learned from many leaders could be of use in supporting the church.

Martha Henley

As a young girl, Martha’s earliest faith experiences occurred outdoors in the mountains of upstate New York. After moving to Wilmington in 2002, Martha and her husband, John, were invited to Lemonade on the Lawn at Christ Church. It didn’t take long for them to realize they had found their new church home. Their two sons, Danny and Connor, have grown up here. They have hosted Lemonade on the Lawn, participated in the Christmas pageant and youth service projects, sang in the St. Nicholas Choir, and served as acolytes. Danny is currently a sophomore at University of Delaware, and Connor is a senior at Salesianum. Martha is passionate about the faith building and fellowship that regularly occur at Christ Church and looks forward to the Friday Women’s Bible Study, where she is spiritually fed, supported, and encouraged, and gets to do the same for her many friends in Christ. Martha has been heavily involved in the church’s Children & Youth Ministries, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years and serving on the search committee to select a new youth minister. She is the go-to person for youth activities at the parish picnic, coordinating children’s activities for the Green Show, and collaborating with Winterthur on Santa’s fire truck arrival. She is a longtime member of the Parish Fellowship ministry and involved in the Green Show, often in the kitchen preparing food for the next celebration. While Martha spends much of her free time supporting others and the many initiatives at Christ Church, she works as a registered dietitian at Wilmington Hospital, counseling people to improve their health. She coaches track and cross country for Immaculate Heart of Mary School, using the skills she acquired as a collegiate athlete at Penn State to mentor young athletes in all areas of life. She was a panelist at a post-pandemic Health & Wellness Summit at Christ Church, and this past winter, she and John prepared food for Code Purple days. Martha is honored to be nominated for the vestry and looks forward to working together to build upon the love and community that is Christ Church.

Jonathan Payne

Jon began his spiritual journey at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, Connecticut, where he was baptized; then, after moving to Delaware in 1960, at Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church, where he was confirmed and served many teenage years as an acolyte. Jon subsequently became a member of the Christ Church community, and along with his partner, Jo Ellen Cockley, welcomed their daughter, Katie, who was baptized and confirmed here. Katie also attended Christ Church Episcopal Preschool, sang in the St. Nicholas Choir, and participated in the Christmas pageant for many years. The caring and nurturing environment experienced at CCEP strengthened the family’s bond with the Church, with many happy summers spent at Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach. Jon received his bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University and pursued a long career in construction management and engineering, recently retiring as a chief engineer for Bristol-Myers Squibb. In the past, Jon served on the board of the Friends Neighborhood Guild in Philadelphia and currently supports several charitable organizations in Delaware. At Christ Church, the family participates annually in the Interfaith Thanksgiving Project, and Jon’s recent involvement in the Leak Remediation Project and Master Planning Committee has strengthened his commitment to supporting the future health of our cherished facility. Jon has extensive experience with master planning, having served on several planning boards for regional healthcare entities, including Capital Health of New Jersey, Central Maine Medical, and St. Elizabeth’s Healthcare of Ohio. The nascent Christ Church Master Plan promises to offer many opportunities to advance growth and outreach for the church and preschool and establish new community partnerships, while simultaneously creating consistent maintenance and stewardship of the physical facility. Jon believes his professional background aligns well with this initiative, which will establish a broad road map for the future of the Christ Church community. Jon is grateful for the opportunity and trust Christ Church placed in his control with the recent facility improvements and desires to continue this service through a potential vestry membership.

Eric Romano

Eric and his wife, Jane, joined Christ Church after relocating to Wilmington in 1998. With their young daughters, Lindsay and Emily, they became involved in young family parish activities such as potlucks, Christmas caroling, and trips to Memorial House, which they found supported the development of a parish community for their family. They also became involved in youth ministry and continued to serve in this role for many years, most recently helping lead Confirmation Class for more than 10 years. Eric served a previous term on the vestry and enjoyed that role; one of the major efforts at that time was discerning a path forward to develop Christ Church Episcopal Preschool. Eric is also involved with outreach ministries, such as supporting Friendship House and their ministry to the homeless population in Delaware. He has served as a Eucharistic minister, lector, and usher at Christ Church. For their own faith journey, Eric and Jane participated in Christ Church’s Camino pilgrimage with a group led by Stacey Carpenter and now participate in a church small group, which is currently exploring “Practicing the Way” as an outgrowth of that pilgrimage journey. Both of their daughters are now married, and their grandson was recently baptized at Christ Church. Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He spent most of his career at DuPont leading teams to understand changing market trends and that interface to innovation and growth. Eric believes that Christ Church plays an important role in the lives of our parishioners, the development of their spiritual journey, and in the community. He looks forward to the opportunity to help shape and deliver on these impacts.

Karen Attix Sinton

Karen is both humbled and honored to be nominated for the vestry of Christ Church—the church where her religious roots were born and are still firmly planted. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Christ Church, and both of her parents were involved in many areas of the inner workings of the institution. After high school and college graduation, Karen married and began a 45-year career in education and athletics. Working with student athletes at the Tatnall School, Upland Country Day, and currently at Tower Hill School has been both rewarding and fulfilling and a lifelong passion. With her five sons and a daughter now living on their own, she has welcomed the opportunity to give back to the church. Karen has so enjoyed being a part of many groups and committees at Christ Church. She has served in numerous capacities with the Green Show, has helped organize the annual Christ Church Golf Classic, and serves on the Stewardship Committee. In addition, Karen is a member of the Parish Life, Celebration of Life, and Wedding ministries, participates in our Friendship House ministry, providing meals to residents there, and has organized our Easter/Christmas flower delivery the past few years. Not only do these groups provide the opportunity to help in many areas of our parish life, but they also allow her to interact with other parishioners and enjoy the camaraderie of old and new friends. Serving in these varied ways has given Karen the knowledge, experience, and understanding to be better prepared to serve in a leadership role on the vestry. As she continues her spiritual journey, it would be a privilege to serve as a member of the vestry of Christ Church.

James Storey

Jim and his wife, Robin, have been members of Christ Church since moving here in 2019 following their retirement from New York State. They have three children (in Maryland, California, and Connecticut) and expect the arrival of their sixth grandchild this spring. They live in Hockessin with their Shetland Sheepdog, Heather, and enjoy travel, photography, music, and spending time with family. Jim grew up in an active Methodist family, singing in both the junior and senior choirs, serving as an acolyte, and engaging with the youth fellowship group. He later married Robin, a cradle Episcopalian, and together they have made the Episcopal Church their spiritual home, with a period spent in the Lutheran tradition where Jim served as an Elder and Eucharistic minister. Jim completed his undergraduate studies at Bucknell University and pursued medical training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, followed by postgraduate work at the Uniformed Services University (Bethesda) and UCSF. He served for nine years as a naval medical officer, after which he established a career in neurology in Albany, New York. During his tenure, he was the managing partner of a large practice—overseeing operations and financial matters—and held the position of chief of neurology at St. Peter’s Hospital. Additionally, he contributed as a professor at Albany Medical College later in his career. At Christ Church, Jim is an active member of the Parish Choir and participates in special concerts, including performances of Messiah and collaborations with John Rutter. He volunteers with the Green Show kitchen team, takes part in a small group Bible study, has served on a discernment committee, and is currently involved in establishing the new Men’s Fellowship. Jim remains committed to supporting the music ministry, fostering fellowship, and building intergenerational connections within the Christ Church community.

Michael Vild

Mike and his wife, Donna, joined Christ Church in 2019 after returning to the area following six years living in Saratoga Springs, New York. The music at Christ Church, coupled with the warm welcome that they received from both congregation and clergy, confirmed that they had found a church home. After completing the Ministry Match survey, Mike auditioned for and was welcomed into the Christ Church Choir. He considers singing with this outstanding group of musicians as one of the greatest blessings of life. The Ministry Match survey also resulted in Mike being asked to join the Christ Church Outreach Committee, on which he serves. Prior to their relocation to upstate New York, Mike and Donna were actively involved for many years in the parish life of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, Pennsylvania, where their daughters, Ellen and Grace, were baptized and confirmed. At St. Christopher’s, Mike was the music director and served at various times on the vestry, as rector’s warden, and on the Stewardship and Discernment Committees. Mike has a Bachelor of Music from Ohio State University and a law degree from Notre Dame Law School. He is in private law practice in Wilmington. If selected to serve on the vestry, Mike will work to see that Christ Church strives to meet the goals laid out in its strategic plan: to grow our faith community, to grow deeper relationships with God through Jesus Christ, and to steward our many gifts in support of our ministries in and beyond Christ Church.