A “Cradle" Episcopalian, baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church, I have been a member of Christ the King, Normal, since its formation as a mission in 1978. I have also served Christ the King as Senior / Rector's Warden, Junior / Parish Warden, and youth leader. Other ministries include Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Chalice Bearer, Sunday school teacher, and member of the church choir.

I retired from State Farm Insurance Companies in Bloomington after almost 20 years as a Software Developer. Prior to that, I was the Electrical Maintenance Director at Clinton Power Station. I also served in the U.S. Navy as an electrician on submarines.

I am currently serving in my third year as Diocesan Treasurer and have also served at the Diocesan level in several areas. I served twice as a lay member of the Standing Committee and one term on the Commission on Ministry. I have been a Deanery Representative, Synod delegate and Diocesan Council representative and a past co-chair of the Department of Mission. I have also been a lay deputy to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church four times.

Fr. Richard Lewis was confirmed in 1988 at Church of the Holy Trinity, Danville. He has assisted as acolyte, Chalice Bearer, rector’s warden, parish warden, treasurer, and Church School teacher. After ordination into the diaconate and the priesthood in

2016, he became priest-in-charge of the parish and continues in this vocation. In the Diocese of Springfield, he has served as both lay and clergy delegate to Synod, Diocesan Council, and as dean of the Northeastern Deanery.

As an elementary and middle school teacher, he taught in the Danville Public School system from 1976 to 2009. He received degrees from Illinois State University, University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University, and Nashotah House Theological Seminary.

Father Lewis is married to Pat Anderson Lewis and has an adult daughter, Rhoda Lewis.

A member of the Episcopal Parish of Alton since 1999, Susan Lukasik has held leadership positions as a member of Vestry, including serving as both Junior and Senior Warden. She currently serves on Altar Guild and as a Worship Leader, Chalice Bearer, and Lector/Intercessor. She co-leads the St. Francis Garden Guild, which tends the parish gardens and other landscaped spaces. Susan is a past Deanery and Synod delegate.

An advocate for life-long learning, Susan developed a parish library shortly after joining the Episcopal Church and has led a variety of classes within the parish. She served as editor of the parish newsletter for many years. She is a 2003 graduate of the University of the South’s Education for Ministry (EFM), studying under the direction of the late Fr. John Bettmann.

Susan is retired from the U.S. Navy, having served as a Navy Nurse from 1977 to 1998. Her interests include reading, health and wellness, spirituality, gardening, connecting with friends and family, and traveling with her husband William.

Susan is honored to have been nominated for membership on the Standing Committee and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Church in that capacity if elected.

Bob Vaughn was received into the Episcopal Church in 1980 at Yokota Air Base Japan. He and Sue were active members in 7 Episcopal churches while serving in the USAF. He and wife Sue have been members at St George’s Church for over 29 years. He led the ALPHA course for 2 years at St George’s Church, while he and Sue helped guide the New Beginnings youth ministry in this diocese for over 10 years. He co-led 2 rector search processes at St Georges. He’s served on vestry for two terms. As convener, he’s guided a local Order of St. Luke chapter for the past 7 years. He served on the diocese Cursillo Secretariat for 3 terms, while contributing as team member on many Cursillo weekends. In October, he will complete his term as President of the national Episcopal Cursillo Ministry Committee. He currently serves as an advisor to the St George Endowment Board of Trustees, and is completing a term on the Standing Committee. He is committed to spreading the good news of new life in Jesus Christ.

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Donald Monty, a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Carbondale, Illinois since 1968, has served as Vestry Member, Rector’s Warden, People’s Warden, Treasurer, and Delegate to Deanery and Synod. In the Diocese of Springfield, he has been active with

Church Camp where he served as Senior Session Director for 27 years. Don has been on the Church Camp Committee and on the Diocesan Trustees for many years. Currently, he is Chairperson of both groups. Don was elected and served as a Lay Delegate to the 2024 General Convention.

Don has degrees in Geography from California State University, Chico and Miami University in Ohio. He has advanced studies in Geography from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Don’s professional career was with the City of Carbondale where he served in many positions for 35 years. After retirement, he was elected to Carbondale’s City Council and served as Acting Mayor for the final 15 months of his four-year term.

Married to Anne Gaylord since 1968, they have two adult children and four grandchildren. Don and Anne enjoy hiking, have been active in Boy Scouts of America, and have traveled internationally for bird watching.

Fr. Richmond first came to the Diocese of Springfield in 1978 as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, where he was a parishioner at the Chapel of St. John the Divine. A graduate of Nashotah House and ordained in the Diocese of Kansas in 1985, he arrived as vicar of Christ the King, Normal, in 1987, and was installed as the parish’s first rector in 1993. Somewhere along the way, he found time for a year of hospital chaplaincy at Methodist Medical Center, Peoria. After retirement from the public library world (2019), he returned to Christ the King in 2020 and retired for the second time on 8/1/2024.

Fr. Richmond has served as a camp counselor, spiritual director for Happening, and chaplain to the annual youth work week in East St. Louis. Ultimately, he aged out of youth work and onto the Commission on Ministry; more recently, he has ministered as dean of the Northern Deanery and member of diocesan Council.

In non-parochial life, Fr. Richmond directed public libraries in Kansas, Texas, and Illinois. He estimates that he has supplied (short- and long-term) in 35 parishes in five dioceses, including 10 worshiping communities in Springfield—quite the experience.

William Louis Jackson born March 3, 1949. Baptized at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Springfield, Illinois in April the same year. Educated in local Springfield public schools. Graduated Lanphier High School in 1967. Attended Springfield Junior College graduated with an Associate’s Degree in 1969. Bachelor of Science in Education – Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1971.

I began my employment as a youth in 1957. As an adolescent I worked summer jobs. As a university student during summers was employed as a laborer at a plastic factory in Springfield. Upon graduation from university, I was employed by the City of Springfield City Coordinator Office under Charles Kirschner. Upon leaving that position, I was employed by the State of Illinois Department of Mental Health first at Lincoln Developmental Center, then Jacksonville Developmental Center in case management and administration until retirement. Following

retirement, I worked for a non-for-profit CISA as an assessor and monitor of brain injured clients.

I began my service in church as an acolyte, then confirmation. As an adult I have served 3 times on St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Bishop’s Committee and once as warden. While living in Texas, I was a vestry member at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Sherman. Part of the Diocese of Dallas. I have represented St. Luke’s as a Synod Delegate three times.

Father Asplin serves the parish of Trinity Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois as priest-in-charge since 2023. He was ordained to the priesthood in November of that year.

Father Asplin was born in Champaign, Illinois and raised in the rural community of Altamont, Illinois. He attended Lincoln Christian University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Spiritual Formation and Intercultural Studies. He completed his graduate studies at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, earning the Master of Divinity Degree (MDiv) in 2023.

Father Asplin is married to his beloved wife of eight years, Laura, and together they are raising their two young children, Ava and Asaph (Ace).

Having recently participated in the discernment process himself, Father Asplin is very familiar with the experience of both postulancy and seminary, and recognizes this as an opportunity to encourage people toward the discernment process. He believes that the work of the Commission on Ministry is vital to the overall health and welfare of the Diocese, both for its clergy and laity. He recognizes the responsibility of the Commission’s members, in their willingness to commit the hours necessary to ensure the Diocese receives and prepares the very best clergy candidates to serve here. If elected to the Commission on Ministry, Father Asplin hopes that his experience and care, would provide a useful perspective in its ongoing work of recruiting, supporting, and assessing fit persons for ministry.

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The Very Rev. Sherry Black is a second career Episcopal Priest, ordained in 2008. The Rev. Black is Priest-in-Charge of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in West Frankfort and is Dean of the Hale Deanery. She has served as a full-time hospital chaplain for 14-1/2 years. In the past, she has served as Chair of the Diocesan Department of Social Concerns, and she was a member of the Election Committee for the XI and XII Bishop of Springfield; she has been an Inspector of Elections for Synods for many years. She has served on the Commission on Ministry, and the Diocesan ECW Board. The Rev. Black served as deputy for the Diocese of Springfield for General Conventions in 2015, 2018, 2022, and 2024.

Ordained in June 2000, Christine Hopkins serves as Deacon assigned to Emmanuel Memorial, Champaign. In that capacity she has a variety of

responsibilities including outreach, preaching, and pastoral care. At the diocesan level she has chaired the anti-racism commission, served on the Commission on Ministry, Diocesan Council and is currently the convener of the Deacons of the diocese. She also serves on the Illinois Conference of Church's anti-racism team. Deacon Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in math education and a Master's degree in counseling from the University of Illinois. For thirty-plus years Deacon Chris worked for the Urbana School District in roles including math teacher, guidance counselor, swim coach, and division chair.

She and her husband, Mike, have been married 54 years. Together they have three adult children and eight grandchildren with whom they spend much of their free time.

Dr. Lenore Killam is an active member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Springfield where she sings in the choir and serves as Fr. Andy’s “Left Hand Man” as chalice bearer. She is also privileged to lead a martial arts ministry that practices in the Great Hall.

Dr. Killam is a Clinical Associate Professor at UIS where she teaches environmental public health. She is active in the EDS Cursillo movement in which she has made many lifelong friendships.

Carol grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Her career teaching deaf and hard of hearing children brought her to Centralia, IL where she has been a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church since 1975.

At St. John’s she has served on the Bishop’s Committee and as the Bishop’s Warden. She has been active in the Episcopal Church Women and Bible study. Carol has been active in the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield Cursillo for the last 22 years and served on the Secretariat for Cursillo for 9 years. She is presently the Rectora for the 40th Cursillo Weekend in the Diocese of Springfield.

Carol has been active in youth ministry, teaching Sunday School at all age levels for 18 years. She has participated as a counselor at our Episcopal Church Camp for 19 years. She has served as the Junior Session Director at ECC since 2015.

Carol has served as a Province V Synod Delegate and served on the Province V Executive Board for 2 years.

Carol retired from teaching in 2012 and worked as an Early Intervention Therapist for 5 years, specializing in hearing loss in infants and toddlers. She lives in Springfield, IL and has three grown children and four grandchildren.

I am a centrist. If you want to vote for a deputy who will hold only a liberal or conservative viewpoint, you should not vote for me. I understand and support aspects of both. I am a bridge-builder and peacemaker. I believe completely in the via media. I believe with patience, forbearance, and God’s grace, we can live the Kingdom of God and together understand His will for us. This happens at vestry meetings, diocesan councils & committees, and at General Convention. A good deputy will prayerfully and carefully listen to our brothers and sisters to discern God’s will for us. If elected, I will work to find places in our governance where our laity and clergy can represent us.

MINISTRY Experience:

Camp counselor, Episcopal Church Camp - Camp Phoenix (2005-07)

Past member, Commission on Ministry (Missouri)

Cursillo, 2022-2025

Past Dean, Eastern Deanery

Co-chair, Mission Department

Clergy, Effingham Episcopal Fellowship

Past Vicar of St. Mary’s – Robinson, 2022-2024

Current Priest-in-charge, St. John the Baptist – Mt. Carmel

Baptized United Methodist, 1974

Confirmed Episcopalian, 1988

Ordained deacon, March 2022

Ordained priest, October 18, 2022

Registered Nurse, 28 years (retired)

Married to Paige Clark. Two ‘grown’ sons: Riley Paul Hart and Samuel Becket Clark.

The Reverend Canon Mark Evans retired from full-time ministry as Canon to the Ordinary – Springfield, a position he held from January 2020 to November 2024. Prior to that appointment, he was Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln, IL from 2011 to 2020.

During his tenure in the diocese he has served as a four-time Deputy to General Convention, as chair and member of the Finance Committee, as a Trustee and as a voting member of the Diocesan Council. Currently, Canon Evans is the Title IV Intake Officer, a Trustee and a member of the Finance Committee.

Upon his retirement, Mark and his wife, Sandy Moore, relocated to Wausau WI to be closer to family. He is licensed in the Diocese of Wisconsin and is Associate Rector of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Wausau and long-term supply at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in De Pere, WI.

Canon Mark and Sandy are the parents of three adult daughters and have two grandchildren.

The Very Rev. Andrew Hook is the Dean of The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul the Apostle in Springfield. Dean Hook grew up in a nominally Mennonite

household and after straying from the Faith returned in 1998 as a Junior in high school. After re-joining the Mennonite Church, Andy pursued his undergraduate degree in youth ministry at Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas and then Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. His first exposure to the Episcopal Church was as a Junior in college when he attended The Great Vigil of Easter at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

After college, Dean Hook co-pastored a Mennonite Church in Ohio and then upon returning to Kansas, his birth-state, he took up the position of youth minister at Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was confirmed into the Episcopal Church in 2008. Feeling God’s call into the priesthood he received his Master of Theology from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. He was ordained to the diaconate May 25th, 2013 and then the priesthood on the Feast of Saint Andrew of that same year. In 2015, he was called to serve as Cathedral Dean in Springfield. He has served as Chair of the Commission on Ministry and President of the Standing Committee. The Dean also serves as prelate of the Order of Christ the Saviour, a Dominican religious order within the Episcopal Church.

Fr. Matthew Kemp has served as Vicar of St. John’s in Centralia (and thus also Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran) since June 2024, though he has been canonically resident in the Diocese of Springfield since 2018. He has served the past year as Dean of the Eastern Deanery, and was also appointed to the Commission on Ministry at the last Synod. Having attended seminary at Nashotah House, Fr. Matthew was ordained a deacon in 2014 and a priest in 2015. He has served congregations in various capacities in Kansas, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Prior to coming to St. John’s, Fr. Matthew spent nine years in academic ministry (though he was almost always actively serving a parish as well). He completed a Ph.D. in theology and ethics at Loyola University Chicago, where he also taught undergraduates. He later taught theology at Marquette University in Milwaukee for two years.

In his spare time, Fr. Matthew continues to engage in theological writing and teaching. In addition to a few academic publications, he has written several pieces for Covenant, a blog of The Living Church, and was recently invited to become a regular contributor.

Fr. Matthew is especially passionate about worshiping God “in the beauty of holiness,” teaching the faith in its fullness, and promoting Christian unity. He and his wife Alethea have been married since 2010 and have five children.

I was born and raised a non-denominational missionary kid in Sudan. After graduating from Wheaton College, I started attending an Episcopal church in Chicago. After finishing medical school there, I moved to Mattoon, Illinois, where I worked as a pediatrician for 18 years. Sensing a call to the ordained ministry, after discernment and with the support of the Bishop and Diocese of Springfield, I attended Nashotah House Theological Seminary as a residential student. Upon completion, in 2021, I was called to Trinity Episcopal Church in Mattoon, where I continue to serve as priest-in-charge. I represented the diocese at General Convention in 2024, and currently serve as Dean of the Northeastern Deanery, and as Safe Church coordinator for the diocese.

I enjoy travelling, good food, and sharing hospitality. My special interests are mental health and human development across the lifespan, both scientifically and theologically. My vision for the Church is “ . . . a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9), a visible unity and an equally visible and celebrated diversity.----David Knox

Episcopal Church

General Convention Deputy, 1997 (Committee on Rules of Order)

2000 (Committee on Canons)

2003 (Committee on Canons, Chair of Deputation)

2006 (Vice-Chair, Committee on Canons, Chair of Deputation)

2009, 2012 (Committee on Canons, Chair of Deputation)

2015 (Committee on Constitution and Canons, Subcommittee on Legislative Certification, Chair of Deputation)

2018, 2022, 2024 (Committee on Constitution and Canons, Chair of Deputation)

Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons, 2006-2012

Province V

Provincial Synod delegate, 1999-2002, 2014-2017, 2020-2023, 2024-present

Diocese of Springfield

Chancellor, 2012-present, Dep’ty. Chancellor, 2002-2012 (ex officio, Diocesan Trustees)

Parliamentarian of Synod, 1993-present

Diocesan Council, 1992-present

Standing Committee, 1995-2000, 2001-2005, 2017-2021

Chair of Department of Christian Social Concerns, 1996-2000

Chair of Department of National and World Missions, 2004-2008

Chair of Department of Young Adult and Higher Education Ministries, 2008-2012

Synod Delegate, 1992-2003, 2016-present

Commission on Ministry, 1998-2004, 2006-2012, 2020-2023

Episcopal Transition Committee, 2021-22 (Chair)

Moderator, Episcopal Election Walkabouts--2021

Chapel of St. John the Divine, Champaign

Peer Minister, 1983-85

Bishop’s Committee/Vestry, 1984-1986

Lay Eucharistic Minister

St. Andrew’s, Edwardsville

Vestry, 1992-1995 (Senior Warden, 1995), 2015-2018 (Senior Warden, 2017-2018)

2020-present (Senior Warden, 2020-2023)

Finance Committee; Lay Eucharistic Minister; Audit Committee; Discernment Committees (2); Rector Search Committee, 2019, 2022 (chair)

Personal

Married to Michelle Murphy Babb, 2 grown children

Attorney in private practice in Edwardsville since 1989

University of Illinois—AB--1984; JD-- 1987

Jasmine Howe grew up in Amarillo, Texas and moved to Central Illinois back in 2009. She currently works at Illinois Wesleyan University as the Director of Student Accessibility Services and is the advisor for two student organizations: Students with Disabilities Association and All Things Swift. She's worked in higher education since 2016 and loves seeing students mature and change throughout their time in college. Prior to her time in higher education, Jasmine served as Youth Minister at Ramsey Christian Church (Ramsey, IL) and Jefferson Street Christian Church (Lincoln, IL).

Jasmine lives in Bloomington, IL; she serves as a reader and Chalice Bearer/Crucifer at Christ the King and is in the choir; she also volunteers with the Midwest Food Bank, the Ecology Action Center, and Little Galilee Christian Camp and Retreat Center where she's helped run weeks of high school camp since 2019. Jasmine has previously been a delegate at Diocesan Synod and an Alternate Delegate to General Convention. Up until 2024, Jasmine attended at Trinity Episcopal Church (Lincoln, IL). She now spends her free time reading books from all genres, watching IWU sports, and drinking good cups of coffee.

Cindy Lynk has been nominated to serve as a Lay Deputy to General Convention in 2027. She is active in a number of ministries at St. George's, including: Adult Choir, Altar Guild, Lector and Eucharistic Minister Coordinator, Lector and Eucharistic Minister, Liturgical Commission, and as member of the Vestry and Vestry Liaison to the Liturgical Commission. At the diocesan level, she has also served five terms on Diocesan Council as Darrow Deanery Representative and Synod member at large, Lay Deputy to General Convention in 2022 and 2024, Synod Delegate, and Deanery Representative.

She was received into the Episcopal Church in 1988 and has attended St. George’s since 1998.

Cindy successfully completed Education for Ministry (EfM) in 1995, and participated in Cursillo through the Roman Catholic Church in 1985. In 2017, she served as Rector for Cursillo XXXV in the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield and is currently serving on the Secretariat for the diocesan Cursillo movement.

Following graduation from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cindy served in the United States Marine Corps for four years as a Communications Officer. While in service, she met and married her husband, a Marine aviator. Following her end of active duty, she settled with her husband in the Collinsville area and started a family. During this time she also worked for five years as a high school German teacher, and four years as a high school Guidance Counselor. Subsequently, to meet the evolving needs of her family, she elected to focus her full attention on actively rearing her two children and maintaining a stable household.

Cindy also actively supported her children’s athletic efforts, served as a Stroke Judge in both YMCA and USA Swimming venues. While her children were young, she served as a Sunday School teacher for the youth and as a camp counselor for two years at the Diocese of Springfield Episcopal Church Camp. Her varied hobbies include: Weight Training, Spinning, Swimming, Knitting, Sewing, and Reading.

Joe is a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Springfield and has been a member since 1989. Joe has served many terms as a member of the Cathedral Chapter. Joe has served as Treasurer and is the former chairman of the Finance Committee. He has served as both the Dean’s and Bishop’s Warden. Joe taught the Confirmation class at the Cathedral for twenty years. He has served as a chalice bearer, lay reader and acolyte at the Cathedral. He served on the Search committee for a Dean of the Cathedral. Joe is a former member of the Diocesan Council representing the Northwestern Deanery and has represented the Cathedral as a Synod Delegate for over ten years. Joe served on the search committee for the former Bishop and was a delegate to the nominating and electing Synods for the former Bishop. Joe has served as a deputy to two General Conventions, one of which elected the former Presiding Bishop.

Joe and his wife celebrated their 54th anniversary in August. They have two grown children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Joe is retired from the State of Illinois.

I am delighted to be nominated to serve as a Deputy for The Episcopal Church General Convention in 2027.

In the early years of my life I found spiritual peace and love in the Episcopal Church. Attending a small HBCU (Historical Black College University) supported me faithfully while a student at Voorhees College.

A retired librarian and associate professor of the The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Over forty eight years I have been involved with the Episcopal Church through my affiliation with The Episcopal Churchwomen, UTO (United Thank Offering).

Since 1985 I have been an active member of The Chapel of St. John The Divine, Champaign, Illinois. The Chapel has been an integral part of my daily life. I served as usher coordinator for twenty-seven years. I continue to serve as an usher, oblation bearer and a licensed lay reader. In addition I am the Chapel’s UTO Coordinator. Participate in outreach community programs sponsored by the Chapel. Chapel delegate to Diocesan Synod Meetings.

Active member of Diocese of Springfield Episcopal Churchwomen.

Co-Chair the Episcopal Churchwomen Lenten Retreat March 2025.

In 2017 I became the Diocesan UTO Coordinator. In this position I have developed a wonderful rapport with many churches and parishes throughout the diocese. UTO Ministry has brought much gratification to me knowing how the Anglican Church supports congregations innovative ministries and financial needs.

In June 2024 I attended General Convention as a Deputy representing The Diocese of Springfield. I found it to be a wonderful adventure. It allowed me the opportunity to learn more about the governance of the Church. Meeting other people throughout the Anglican community was inspiring.

If elected to be a Deputy to General Convention I will serve my best to represent the Diocese of Springfield with honor and respect.