Lay Leadership

Lay Leadership is the heartbeat of The Riverside Church. As a congregational church the various commissions and committees lead the way as we aspire to embody the love and justice of God in our neighborhood, across the nation, and around the world.

 

Download the Lay Ministry Booklet
Download the Lay Leadership Candidate Booklet

2025-26 Lay Leadership Elections

Congratulations to the individuals below who have been elected to lay leadership in The Riverside Church for 2025-2026.

CHURCH COUNCIL
Jocelyn Perry
Robert Mark Wallace

EDUCATION COMMISSION
Dr. Juanita Kirton

MEMBERSHIP CARE & PARISH LIFE
Karen Diggs
Dr. Valerie Henning-Piedmonte
Annie Meredith

MISSION & SOCIAL JUSTICE
David King
Jeannie Lee
Regina M Tate

WORSHIP COMMISSION
Kwesi McDavid
Zachary Newton
David Orcutt
Naomi Jones

2024-25 Elected Lay Leadership

Jean Schmidt (Chair)

Eric McFadden (Vice Chair)

Christian Rojas

David King (MSJ Rep)

Jerome Hairston

Lisa Hinds

Ernest Jones

Juanita Kirton (Education Rep)

Linda LeShanna

Laura Miraz (MCPL Rep)

Jocelyn Selene Perry

Mark Riddles (Worship Rep)

Martha Wiggins

Jesse Wilkins

Henry Williams

Staff Liaisons: 
Rev. Adriene Thorne (Senior Minister) and Natalie Fein (Chief Operating Officer)

Email the Church Council

Updates from the Church Council

Okome Mojubaolu — Chair

Kristin Sherlock — Vice Chair

Juanita Kirton — Rep: Council

Debra Lily — Rep: Scholarship, Institutional Relations

Mark Pascarelli — Member

Latoya Wilkinson — Member

Staff Liaison: Rev. Jabe Ziino

 

Annie Meredith — Chair

Karen Diggs — Vice Chair, Rep: Nominating Committee

Laura Miraz — Secretary | Rep: Council, Institutional Relations

Yemi Abioye — Member

Marion Conteh — Member

Doug Miller — Member

Aida Montero — Member

Arthur (Chris) Doyle — Rep: Building

Valerie Henning-Piedmonte — Rep: B&P

Sally Riddles — Rep: Stewardship

Tawanna Huguley — Rep: Stewardship

Staff Liaison:  Rev. Tim Dalton

 

Regina Tate — Chair

Pam Davis — Vice Chair, Rep: B&P

Arelis Figueroa — Rep: Institutional Relations

David King — Rep: Council

Sandra Chapman (Chap) — Member

Jeremiah Drake — Member

Perry Greene — Member

Staff Liaison:  Rev. Mira Sawlani-Joyner

David Vaughn — Chair

Alexa Donaphin — Vice Chair, Rep: B&P

Karissa Garner — Rep: Nominating Committee

Patricia McClure — Rep: Nominating Committee

Zachary Tyler Newton — Rep: Building Committee

David Orcutt — Member

Kwesi McDavid — Member

Mark Riddles – Rep: Council

Michael Winger — Member

Charles Semowich — Rep: Stewardship

Staff Liaison: Rev. Adriene Thorne

Jocelyn Perry — Chair

Valerie Henning-Piedmonte — Rep: MCPL

Alexa Donaphin — Rep: Worship

Pam Davis — Rep: MSJ

Linda LeShanna — Member (Council)

Andre Nakashian — Member – At large

Jean Schmidt — Member (Council)

Staff Liaison: 
Matthew Kerner (Director of Finance)

Glenessa Gordon — Chair

Barbara Mellor — Vice Chair

Patricia Ali — Member

Carolyn Bland — Member

Karen Diggs — Rep: MCPL

Patricia McClure — Rep: Worship

Staff Liaison: Rev. Adriene Thorne (Senior Minister) 

Jerome Hairston (Chair)

Staff Liaisons:
Matthew Kerner (Director of Finance) and Natalie Fein (COO)

Barbara Mellor — Member-at-Large

Desiree Baxter — Member

Chris Doyle — Rep: MCPL

Eric McFadden — Member (Council)

Jeannie Lee — Rep: MSJ

Linda LeShanna — Member (Council)

Zachary Tyler Newton — Rep: Worship

Staff Liaison
Shanniel Morrison (Director of Property Management)

Jean Schmidt — Chair

Eric McFadden — Vice Chair

Linda LeShanna — Treasurer

Laura Miraz — Commission Rep

Staff Liaisons
Natalie Fein and Rev. Adriene Thorne

Lisa Hinds — Chair

Eric McFadden — Member (Council)

Jean Schmidt — Member (Council)

Staff Liaison
Matthew Kerner (Director of Finance)

Clarence Anderson (Chair)
Len Leach
Jean Schmidt

Staff Liaison
Rev. Adriene Thorne

Ernest Jones — Chair

Derrick Biney-Amissah — Rep: MSJ

Sally Riddles — Rep: MCPL

Tawanna Huguley — Rep: MCPL

Charles Semowich — Rep: Worship

Staff Liaison
Natalie Graves Tucker (Director of Communications and Development)

Areas of Elected Lay Leadership at Riverside

Church Council

Description: The Church Council has overall responsibilities for the program, policy, property and all temporal affairs of the Church, subject to the authority of the Congregation. The members of the Church Council are deacons of the Religious Society, and assist the ministers of the Church in advancing the spiritual welfare of the Church. They are also trustees of the Religious Corporation, with the powers, duties and responsibilities of trustees under the Religious Corporations Law of the State of New York. Members of the Church Council shall have fiduciary responsibilities for the Church, and their actions shall, at all times, be informed by the mission of the Church and the spiritual needs and concerns of the Congregation.

List of Desired Skills/Backgrounds: List of Desired Skills/Backgrounds: accounting, finance/investment, legal, human resources/organizational behavior, educational background, conflict resolution / governance / leadership, non-profit experience, managerial/secretarial, and audit.

Nominating Committee

Description: It shall identify within the membership of the Church persons with leadership qualities and persons with talent and experience needed by various Commissions, Committees, etc. for possible service to the Church and shall give the names of such persons to the Appointments Committee and the Church Council; clarify, administer and assure the integrity of the processes and procedures to elect Church officers and lay leaders; prepare candidate slates that reflect the diversity of the membership of the Church for all elective Church offices; and formulate for congregational approval amendments to the By-laws regarding the nomination of candidates for Church office and the election, including, but not limited to, candidate eligibility requirements, including membership, pledging, re-election and office qualification criteria. It shall also implement procedures for handling and identifying candidates for Church office maintained by petition; voter eligibility requirements and balloting procedures; and policies regarding the filling of interim vacancies, and such other rules and procedures not inconsistent with these By-laws.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Openness to speaking with Riverside congregants about the elected offices available to members.
– Have a welcoming and friendly manner with congregation members, particularly those new to the Riverside community.
– Discerning through listening and open discussions those who would be assets as Lay Leaders.
– Working with Commission leaders as well as Riverside congregants at large to encourage qualified folk to run for elected office.
– Hold positive attitude towards Riverside Church leadership and speak of the integrity of Nominating Committee and elections.
– Agree to faithfully attend all meetings and volunteer with Sunday morning tabling.
– Willingness to help during the election process including Meet the Candidates and voting counting at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
– Organizational and/or secretarial skills.

Membership, Care, and Parish Life Commission

Description: The Membership, Care, and Parish Life Commission accompanies church members on every step of their spiritual journeys. Programs include: Pastoral Care, New Members Class, Spiritual Life Retreat, and Wellness Programs.

List of Desired Skills/Duties: Should have a history of volunteering at Riverside or other organizations, or demonstrate willingness and devotion to carry out the task required for the success of the commission. MCPL Lay Leaders should be able to engage with the purview of ministries our commission supports (Membership, Parish Care, and Parish Life). We welcome members in the profession of trades, law, social services, and the arts.

Education Commission

Description: Oversees the development and implementation of the comprehensive Christian Education Ministry at the Church. Programs include: Sunday Morning Bible Study, Youth and Young Adult programs, English Language Training, Infant and Toddler Nursery programs, and the Scholarship Fund.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Attended or led Adult Bible study at TRC, whether small group or Open Bible study.
– Sat for 1 year on Riverside Committee such as ACEC, Budget & Planning, Ordination, Global Justice & Peace, etc.
– Ability to cast vision as it relates to the direction of the overall congregation’s faith formation and learning experiences.
– A desire to invest in the lives of people of all ages with special attention to children, youth and young adults.
– A willingness to lead the congregation in exploring practices related to spiritual formation and Christian education.
– An appreciation of the various ways in which people who are differently abled might learn or receive information.
– Sensitivity to cultural and racial diversity as it pertains to Christian education and formation.
– A desire to practice servant leadership and humility; a willingness to learn from others even as you lead them.
– Organizational and/or secretarial skills.

Mission and Social Justice Commission

Description: As agents of God’s justice, healing and love, the Mission and Social Justice (MSJ) Commission seeks to transform individuals, communities and systems of racial, social, economic and environmental oppression. MSJ ministries include: African Fellowship, Antiracism Taskforce, Beloved Earth C​ommunity, Black Lives Matter, Ecclesia Ministry, Latinos/as at Riverside, Maranatha – Riverside’s LGBTQ Ministry, Lift Every Voice and Vote, Men’s Class, Poor People’s Campaign, Prison Ministry, Sojourners, South Africa/Cuba Support Group, Theatre of the Oppressed and Wellbotics.  Social Services (Food Pantry and Clothing Distribution Program are also a part of this commission.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Demonstrated passion for justice.
– Ability to communicate how faith in God moves us to act for justice.
– Experience in team building and effective communication in Riverside and/or Harlem and NYC.
– Practiced in creative thinking to achieve positive change.

Worship Commission

Description: Responsible for the worship programs of the Church. It advises on the overall planning of the Sunday services, other worship services, and special services. It consults with the Director of Music on the music program of the Church for Sunday services and for special occasions. Primary among the duties of Worship Commission members is to remember that the Church is a living body, kept alive by responsive and meaningful worship in many forms.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Regularly attend worship services and see it as the core of your involvement at Riverside.
– Be open to all forms of worship – traditional as well as innovative.
– Have imagination in envisioning the depth and richness of worship.
– Be willing to participate in the service as communion servers/preparers, greeters, and liturgical participants on a regular basis.
– Have organizational/secretarial skills.
– Have a positive and supportive attitude toward the leadership of Riverside Church.
– Respect the liturgies and rituals of the church as a primary means of meeting the spiritual needs of all the people.
– Appreciate the power of Word and Sacrament as understood by our affiliated denominations, i.e. ABC and UCC.
– Strive to envision new worship services (grounded in traditional forms of worship) that are responsive to the needs of changing times and diverse worshipers.

Budget & Planning Committee

Description: The Budget and Planning Committee shall establish and administer procedures for evaluating the programs of the Church; organize and coordinate a process for planning the programs of the Church and establishing goals and priorities to accomplish the Church’s mission, as embodied in its Mission Statement, including an annual planning retreat for laity and staff; and monitor and report to the Church Council and the Church at its Annual Meeting on the extent to which the programs of the Church are achieving the Church’s stated goals and priorities.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Financial background.
– Ability to read and comprehend budget spreadsheets.
– Experience using excel or similar financial programs.
– Managerial/secretarial skills.
– Open to innovative ideas relating to budget planning.
– Committed to the financial health of The Riverside Church.