So Who Is The Church Attorney, Josephine Hicks?

from Stand Firm by Sarah

[Hat tip: A Generous, Behind-the-Scenes Research Minion]

Josephine Hicks is a tireless worker and has served the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion in many ways.

From 2003-2009, she served on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, an elected body representing the whole Church. As Chair of the powerful Standing Committee on Administration and Finance, she co-authored a letter with Executive Council member John Vanderstar to Bishops Allison, Benitez, Dickson, Wantland, and Wood regarding the accession of dioceses to the constitution of the Episcopal Church and litigation expenses. In 2006, the Executive Council joined the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. In 2007, the Executive Council responded to the draft Anglican Covenant.

Her committee of Administration and Finance amended by-laws pertaining to investment committee membership, took monies from reserves, set a new set of budget priorities, and undertook a review of Executive Council bylaws.

The Chair of Executive Council is the Most Rev’d Katharine Jefferts Schori. Mr. David Booth Beers, Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop serves on the Council, as does Mr. Kurt Barnes, Treasurer, and the Rev Canon Dr. Gregory Straub, Secretary. She served with ACC member and Disciplinary Board member the Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas; she also served with Louie Crew and Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno.

Hicks served on the Anglican Consultative Council from 2003-2012. In that role she asked that the moratoria be rejected.

She serves on the Evangelical Education Society of the Episcopal Church Board of Directors. The Evangelical Education Society awards grants to Episcopalians in the eleven Episcopal seminaries and in seminaries accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. Students, faculty, staff, and their spouses and partners are eligible for support. Also serving with her is the Rev Robert Two Bulls (father of Disciplinary Board member the Rev Robert Two Bulls Jr) and TEC Chancellor David Booth Beers.

On January 2011, she was welcomed to the board of the Episcopal Relief and Development. On this board, she serves with Disciplinary Board members Rt. Rev. Prince G. Singh and Rt. Rev. Dena Harrison. Also serving on the board is Mr. Kurt Barnes (Ex Officio), the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, and The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori (Ex Officio), the 26th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church..

Three of the Disciplinary Board members Diane Sammons, Robert Fitzpatrick, and Dorsey Henderson all served on the Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons at the 2006 General Convention. Another Disciplinary Board member Bp James Waggoner serves on the Program, Budget, and Finance Committee and on Budgetary Funding Task Force.

This is the person who is

"to determine, in the exercise of the Church Attorney's discretion, whether the reported information, if true, would be grounds for discipline; and (d) to exercise discretion consistent with this Title and the interests of the Church by declining to advance proceedings or by referring any matter back to the Intake Officer or the Bishop Diocesan for pastoral response in lieu of disciplinary action."