ECF Welcomes Three New Directors
October 19, 2020, New York, NY - The Board of Directors of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) recently elected three new board members: Karla Fernandez Parker from Austin, Texas, Annette Buchanan from Neptune, New Jersey and Andrea McKellar from John’s Island, South Carolina.
Donald V. Romanik, President of ECF said, “I am pleased to welcome Karla, Annette and Andrea to the ECF board. All three are strong leaders with strategic and visionary minds, years of practical application and service in their fields and in our Church. I know that they will bring so much value to ECF as we look to the future and discern who we are and how we are called to serve our Church in this unique time.”
Karla Fernandez Parker is a marketing professional specializing in cross-cultural and Hispanic advertising. Her experience spans national, regional and statewide campaigns as well as international. She founded K. Fernandez Marketing 24 years ago, and serves as Managing Director for Sensis in Austin, TX, where she operates a successful office with a variety of active clients in the categories of Higher Education, Not-for-Profit, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Financial Services, Telecom and Energy/Utilities. She has been a member of the Hispanic Ministries Committee of the Episcopal Church for over 20 years (now known as Latino/Hispanic Ministries), providing marketing planning and social media programs to member parishes including the development of video and social media content. She is a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX, where she plays the guitar at the family service, volunteers for the Mix youth group and for the HS youth group.
Annette Buchanan is an experienced non-profit management consultant, specializing in leadership training, strategic planning, consultation and facilitation. Previously she held roles in telecommunication companies beginning her career as a software developer and systems engineer and culminating as the director of technology strategy & development. Annette is the former national president of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE); past UBE national secretary and Mid-Atlantic regional director and served as the president for the UBE Chapter in the Diocese of New Jersey. In 2015 she was appointed to the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons for the Episcopal Church. She is a member of the Client Council of the Church Pension Group and contributes an array of articles to ECF Vital Practices. At St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, N. J., her home parish, she is a member of the vestry and Worship Committee and coordinates the first Sunday Soup Kitchen. She has served as junior warden, chaired the Fundraising, Stewardship, and Building & Grounds Committees and served on search committees for parish rector.
Andrea McKellar is the Ministry Developer for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, a role that encompasses Christian Formation, youth, transition ministry, and leadership development in the diocese. She especially enjoys working with congregations to find a new clergyperson and creative ways to be church in the 21st century. Currently she serves on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church; as a Deputy to General Convention, and member of the Episcopal Church Scholarship Committee. Past Church associations include Forma board member, Task Force for Leveraging Social Media for Evangelism, and Standing Commission for Lifelong Christian Formation and Education. Andrea worships at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Charleston where she serves as Digital Ministry Coordinator, a Sunday School teacher, and Christian Formation task force member. Previous parish activities include senior warden, vestry member, Stewardship chair, Christian Formation Director, and Treasurer.
ECF’s Board of Directors will convene virtually on November 5-7, 2020, where they will focus on the strategic direction of the organization in this challenging yet promising new landscape, and ECF’s role in transforming ministry for the Church of the future.
Communications Contact:
Charis Bhagianathan
[email protected]