Meet the Staff

Bruce Birchard

Bruce BirchardBruce Birchard has served Friends General Conference as its General Secretary since the fall of 1992. In addition to his administrative duties in this position, he has spoken and written frequently about his personal spiritual journey, about what makes for a vital Friends' meeting, and about organizational leadership within the Religious Society of Friends.

Bruce started working for the Peace Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1974 when he began a ten-year stint working for disarmament and peace conversion. He continued doing peace work as the National Coordinator of the Disarmament Program of the American Friends Service Committee from 1984 to 1992.

Bruce joined the Religious Society of Friends in 1967 in Middletown, Connecticut, while he was an undergraduate at Wesleyan University. In Chicago during the late 60s and early 70s, Bruce worked on the National Study of American Indian Education, did alternative service as a teacher in a Head Start program, got involved in the anti-war and draft resistance movements, completed a master's degree in anthropology at the University of Chicago, and transferred his membership to 57th Street Meeting. He moved to Philadelphia in 1975 and is currently a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

Bruce has published a number of articles in Friends Journal and various peace movement publications. His essay, The Burning One-ness Binding Everything: A Spiritual Journey, was published in 1997 as a Pendle Hill pamphlet. Bruce's newest essay, The Roots and Fruits of a Powerful Peace Testimony, was published by QuakerPress of FGC in the summer of 2004.

In 2004, Bruce moved with his wife, Demie Kurz, to a new home in Tanguy Homesteads, a small community started in the 1940's by a group of idealistic Quakers and others. Their two adult sons, Ethan and Joshua, live in Philadelphia. In the spring of 2004, Bruce did a two-week trek around the East Face of Mt. Everest in Tibet with Ethan and four other friends. They were pleased to see far more yaks than people on the trek. bruceb@fgcquaker.org

David Botwinik

David BotwinikDavid came on board Friends General Conference December 1993.  As publications associate he is responsible for the design and composition of FGC's print media, including but not limited to, Quaker Press Publications, the Advance Program, QuakerBooks catalogs, advertisements, and FGConnections.  For two years much of David's time was used to edit, arrange, design and typeset Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal.

David has worked in the music publishing field since receiving his graduate degree in music from Temple University in 1977.  His career in publishing has included editing, arranging engraving and design.  In addition to his work at FGC, he operates his own business, Willow Graphics.  David combines his love of music, history and culture by playing in two music groups, Faith & Practice ("when good Quakers go bad," folk and bluegrass music) and Castlerock (Celtic).  He has previously played with two Civil War music groups, the Libby Prison Minstrels and the Cumberland Blues, performing music of the nineteenth century and the American Civil War.  Together with other musicians he has recorded three albums of popular nineteenth century songs in which he sings, plays guitar, banjo, piano and bass.  His research into early American music has led him, along with a musical colleague, to compile and edit an extensive book on popular songs of the min-nineteenth-century (not published). 

David is married and has two adult children.

David and his wife Debbie are dedicated volunteer crew members of Gazela Philadelphia, Philadelphia's tall ship. davidb@fgcquaker.org

 

Elaine Craudereuff

Biography coming soon. Email: elainec@fgcquaker.org

Lucy Duncan

Lucy DuncanLucy Duncan serves FGC as Associate Secretary for Programs and the Bookstore. She began working at FGC in 1999 and served as bookstore manager or co-manager from then until 2006 when she took on additional duties supervising the conference coordinator, the publications manager, and the publications associate, as well as serving on the newly established Admin Team. She shares management of the bookstore with her husband, Graham Garner, whom she met on an excursion to England for a QUIP - Quakers Uniting in Publications meeting.

Lucy used to own and manage her own children's bookstore called The Story Monkey in downtown Omaha, NE. She has been telling stories professionally since 1993 in schools, libraries, and, for 5 years, as part of the storytelling troupe The Five Bright Chicks, a group of five women who told original, personal stories for adults. She has conducted storytelling workshops with Quaker meetings, assisting the members in telling their stories of personal spiritual experience, and has felt blessed to do this work.

Lucy lives with Graham and their young and joyful son, Simon, at Friends Southwestern Burial Ground, a seventeen acre Quaker cemetery for which Graham serves as caretaker. She is a member, attending with her family, of Goshen Friends Meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. You can learn more about Lucy by reading her e-mail newsletter posted on the QuakerBooks website. Lucy has found working at FGC to have provided a rich and nurturing context within which to deepen her faith. lucyd@fgcquaker.org

Eric Evans

Eric EvansEric is the Bookstore and Traveling Ministries Associate and FGC’s Ministry & Nurture Committee staff person. He came to Quakerism fairly recently. He left the Philadelphia-area Evangelical church he grew up in at eighteen, and later became a member of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Berkeley for the last few years he lived in the Bay Area. After living on the West Coast for a little over a decade, he moved back to Philadelphia in the summer of 2001. He lives in South Philadelphia (“Yo, how you’se doin’?”), with Matt Clark, his partner of 10 years, and their two horrible little dogs. Eric is a deeply committed member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where he is involved up to his eyeballs.... erice@fgcquaker.org

Deborah Fisch

Deborah FischDeborah began working for Friends General Conference in the spring of 1998 and currently serves as Associate Secretary for Programs and Traveling Ministries.

Deborah works from her home in Des Moines, Iowa when not on the road or in the Philadelphia office. She is a member of Paullina Monthly Meeting in rural NW Iowa and attends Bear Creek Monthly Meeting when home. Deborah has served on several monthly and yearly meeting committees, as well as the Friends Journal Board of Managers and Scattergood Friends School Committee. She is the current clerk of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative).

Deborah feels blessed that her daughter and son-in-law Rebekah & Louis DeWild and their son, Henry (her grandson) and her son Michael and his fiancé Megan all live in Des Moines at this time. debo...@fgcquaker.org

Graham Garner

Graham Garner Graham Garner joined QuakerBooks of FGC in 2003 job sharing as Co Manager with his wife Lucy Duncan.

I usually work Tuesday and Thursday with Lucy working Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and concentrate on consignments and Booktables for Meetings, Yearly Meeting Booktables and Special events as well as ordering stock and searching (or hopefully being told) about new Quaker related books.

I worked for 15 years in the Quaker Bookshop in London for Britain Yearly Meeting and before that have worked in bookshops on and off since I was eleven. Other jobs have included freezing peas, painting electric motors for dentists chairs and tank turrets (before I became a Quaker!) and I am now also Manager of the Friends SW Burial Ground.

With a very lively three year old (as of 2005) I don't seem to get much time for other interests but when I can like to mess around with old bikes, old books and listen to music. I also have a great interest in Utopian Tolstoyan communities of the 1890's after discovering I lived next door to what had been the anarchist "Croydon Brotherhood Church" all my childhood days.

Am a member still of Sutton Preparative meeting in England. grahamg@fgcquaker.org

Michael Gibson

Michael Gibson Michael is the Religious Education Coordinator, joining the FGC staff in August of 1999.

A perpetual student, he has an undergraduate degree in music and graduate degrees in teaching English (M.A.) and in religious studies (M. Div.). In his previous "lives" he has been a telephone operator, a musician, a college English/ESL instructor (in Japan and in the US), a lay pastor, and a private tutor, among other things. After exploring Quaker faith and practice from a distance for over 20 years, he joined the Religious Society of Friends in 1997. He lives in Woodbury, New Jersey, with his partner, Charlie, and is a member of Woodbury Meeting.

His hobbies/passions: photography, reading, writing, travel, hiking, learning, teaching, and, of course, music. michaelg@fgcquaker.org

Carrie Glasby

Carrie Glasby Carrie Glasby takes great pleasure in serving as Development Manager for Friends General Conference. Since January 2003, she has been helping to raise the money that enables FGC to carry out its many programs. She is continually inspired by the dedication and service of her colleagues and FGC's many committed volunteers.

Carrie is a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. She currently serves her meeting as a recording clerk and a member of the finance committee. Her journey to Quakerism began on the west coast, where she first joined Eugene (Oregon) Monthly Meeting and then spent a year at the Ben Lomond Quaker Center in California. She cherishes how FGC has helped her to build connections with Friends across the United States and Canada.

Carrie makes her home in the Germantown section of Philadelphia with her wife Kathleen, son Timothy, and dog Jack. carr...@fgcquaker.org

Travis Green

Travis is FGC's Conferences Associate. Originally from Albuquerque, Travis moved to Philadelphia to attend Haverford College where he studied political science. After graduation Travis became a Haverford House Fellow through Haverford's Center for Peace and Global Citizenship. He worked with the Iraq and Israel/Palestine prgrams at the American Friends Service Committee. In addition to his work with FGC, Travis is a member of the Middle East Working Group of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. You can contact Travis at trav...@fgcquaker.org.

Laird Holby

Laird Holby Bookstore clerk. I am happy to be here working among Friends fulfilling Friends needs in Philly. And, although I don't think I'll be here that long, it sure is nice that the Terminal Market is right next door (good food there). I have worked in many bookstores, was a minor performer in the modern dance world of San Francisco, New York City and Philadelphia, taught English in Chengdu and as a subject in a high school in New Jersey, worked as a carpenter, am a CO and member of Medford Monthly Meeting in New Jersey and have two children totally Quaker educated--all aided and abetted by my loving wife Alice Andrews who works at AFSC. lairdh@fgcquaker.org

Vanessa Julye

Vanessa JulyeVanessa Julye is Coordinator for the Friends General Conference Committee for Ministry on Racism.

She leads workshops and speaks on issues regarding racism, focusing on its eradication and the healing of racism's wounds. Vanessa has established several organizations to empower people of Color. She worked for a couple of years with the Green Circle Program, a human relations program that helps children and adults understand and appreciate difference. Prior to that she was the Associate Secretary of Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas for many years. Vanessa is the author of The Seed Cracked Open: Growing Beyond Racism (Quaker Press of FGC, 2006. She has written several articles, as well as the Foreword for Margaret Hope Bacon's pamphlet, Sarah Mapps Douglass, Faithful Attender of Quaker Meeting: View from the Back Bench (Quaker Press of FGC, 2003).

Vanessa is a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where she serves on the meeting's Membership Care Committee and Ad Hoc Committee on Race and Racism. She travels under a concern for addressing Racism in the Religious Society of Friends with a minute to travel in the ministry from her meeting. Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting also provides a support committee that meets with Vanessa on a monthly basis. She has a website for her ministry.

Vanessa lives in South Philadelphia with her husband, Barry Scott. They have three adult children, two daughters and a son, Ellen, Maggie and Kai who all live in Philadelphia.

She enjoys quilting, needlepoint, cross stitch and photography. vanessaj@fgcquaker.org

Patsy Arnold Martin

Patsy Arnold MartinPatsy Arnold Martin joined FGC staff as Junior Gathering Coordinator in the fall of 2005. She works closely with the Conference Coordinator, Conference Assistant, and Junior Gathering Committee clerks to shape the Junior Gathering program, for infants through those finishing eighth grade.

Patsy lives in Bedford, Virginia with her husband Tony. She is a member of Roanoke (VA) Monthly Meeting and currently serves as Meeting librarian. She has 30 years experience in both public and private education. Her husband Tony teaches in Bedford and is clerk of Ministry and Oversight for Roanoke Meeting. Her daughter Angie teaches Spanish in Roanoke, and son Jacob is studying theater as a graduate student at Harvard. She is active in her local community theatre where she directs, acts (most recently as Charley's Aunt), and serves on the Board of Directors. patsym@fgcquaker.org

 

Ken Miller

Ken Miller Ken Miller is Fiscal and Property Manager for Friends General Conference and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer for Friends Meeting House Fund. He began working at FGC in April 1973 as Conference Coordinator for the Gathering of Friends and after 18 years in this position he moved into an administrative position. He now manages the FGC property, is treasurer of the building's Condo Association, and is the liaison between FGC and the FGC accountant for financial statements, payment of bills, payroll and budgeting. Ken assists in the administration of the Friends Meeting House Fund which provides loans and grants to Monthly Meetings and investments in Friends Meeting House Fund Mortgage Pool Notes.

Ken is a member of Doylestown Meeting (PA). He is married to Gretchen Castle. He enjoys working on his 1700s farmhouse and trying to keep up with his children Hannah and Haley. He loves watching movies and spending vacation time with his family in Chautauqua, NY. kenm@fgcquaker.org

Jerimy Pedersen

Jerimy Pedersen I fill the associate manager position in the bookstore. Mostly I order books from, and determine payments for publishers. I've worked in bookstores for years now; I usually enjoy their atmosphere. I feel comfortable around books, and around people who love books.

I live in Center City and am an attender at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. jerimyp@fgcquaker.org

Nicole Rayborn

Nicole Rayborn Nicole serves as the Administrative Associate to the General Secretary. She joined the staff in 2008. Prior to working for FGC she worked as a project manager. She is a member of Mullica Hill Monthly Meeting. In addition to being a Quaker, she is also a mom, wife, daughter, sister, baker, “crocheter”, and friend. nicoler@fgcquaker.org

 

Emily Stewart

Emily StewartEmily Stewart grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina where she was a member of Durham Friends Meeting, and attended Carolina Friends School for 15 years. In 2004, she received a bachelor's degree in sociology with minors in feminist studies and Spanish from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

Following college, Emily spent a year at Pendle Hill serving as a Social Action/Social Witness intern for the Peace Center. That summer, she was the program nurturer for the Young Adults Leadership Development program at Pendle Hill. Emily also enjoyed being a high school counselor at the Gathering for four years, and volunteering as a Friendly Adult Presence at the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Workcamps. In January of 2006, she began serving as the Youth Ministries Coordinator for Friends General Conference, and she still loves it!

When she is not working, Emily can be found on the soccer field, basketball or volleyball court. Dance, music, art, travel, playing with children, writing poetry and laughing all make her heart sing. She also loves hearing from F/friends near and far, so don’t be shy about emailing her at emi...@fgcquaker.org. Quaker Youth: Speak Thy Truth!

Traci Hjelt Sullivan

Traci Hjelt Sullivan

Traci Hjelt Sullivan is the FGC Conference Coordinator. Traci’s interests include sacred chant, and promoting the movement of the Spirit among groups. She is a member and former clerk of Santa Cruz Meeting, PacYM, and currently worships at Providence Meeting, PhlYM. She continues to grow into the belief that one does not have to choose between being loving and truthful.

She moved to the Philadelphia area in 2006 after almost 14 years in northern California where she and husband Walter were Co-Directors of the Ben Lomond Quaker Center, a small retreat and conference center on 80 acres of second growth redwood forest. Happily, she continues to live among trees at Pendle Hill where her husband is on staff.

Traci and Walter’s two daughters, Rebecca and Grace Sullivan, have long experience with parents who are both Quaker employees. They strike a (usually) graceful balance between being supportive of their parents and reminding them that family life is important, too! Rebecca is a student at Guilford College, and Grace a student at Strath Haven High School.
Email: tracis@fgcquaker.org

Michael Wajda

Michael Wajda Michael Wajda began as FGC's Development Manager in September 1996. In 2001, he was promoted to Associate Secretary for Development and Interpretation. Michael has overall responsibility for FGC's development program. He also manages major gifts and planned giving for FGC and travels to visit with individual donors and meetings.

Thanks to Michael's skillful help and deep commitment, FGC has just successfully completed a $2,000,000 campaign called Nurturing Quakerism: The Campaign for Friends General Conference. Before coming to FGC, Michael helped lead two other organizations, including Stratford Friends School in Havertown, PA, through successful major fundraising campaigns.

Michael has worked as field staff for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, serving as Coordinator of Salem Quarterly Meeting from 1973 to 1977. He helped establish Central Finger Lakes Monthly Meeting (part of New York Yearly Meeting) in 1987; and from 1998-2002 he served as clerk of the Meeting on Worship and Ministry of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. He is a graduate of the School of the Spirit Spiritual Nurturers program.

Michael is married to Alison Levie and has three children: Lisa Wajda Edwards, who is grown, married, and lives in Greensboro, NC; and Morgan and Dylan Wajda-Levie who are both in college.

Michael has led numerous workshops and retreats, as well as given talks on various Quaker subjects at Friends meetings. Together, with his wife Alison, he has taught Quakerism as part of the Quaker Studies Program in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and traveled in the ministry for Friends General Conference. In April 2001, Michael and Alison gave the 38th Annual J. Bernard Walton Memorial Lecture at Southeastern Yearly Meeting. Shaped by the Light: The Quaker Experience of Worship, Community, and Transformation is now published as a pamphlet and available from QuakerBooks of FGC.

Michael and his family are active members of Goshen Monthly Meeting, located near West Chester, PA. michaelw@fgcquaker.org