Bishop & Staff
The Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Brown
Tenth Bishop of Maine
Susan Sherrill Axelrod
Director of Communications
Susan leads our congregations and clergy in spreading the Good News! Contact Susan to share stories from your church, people, and ministries. Reach out to her with your press requests and questions about newsletters, social media, podcasting, and video. Susan is also the director of communications for the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire.
Mike Douglass
Director of Camp Bishopswood
Contact Mike about Camp Bishopswood or to have Mike speak to your congregation about the camp.
The Rev. Cn. Mark Furlow
Canon to the Ordinary
The Rev. Cn. Mark Furlow serves as Bishop Brown’s chief of staff, focusing on the implementation of mission strategy, support of clergy and parish leaders, and collaboration with the dioceses of New Hampshire and Vermont. He also partners with diocesan staff members and committees to support the discernment processes for lay and clergy leaders and other areas of diocesan governance.
Emily Keniston
Director of Faith Formation
Emily supports members of the diocese as they engage in their life-long faith journeys. Contact Emily for support with your church’s formation programs for children, youth, or adults. Emily is also our liaison with the Province of New England and the Global Mission Advocate for the diocese. She serves on the board Camp Bishopswood.
The Ven. Aaron Perkins
Archdeacon
Contact Aaron for matters about deacons including identifying who in your faith community might be called to be ordained to the diaconate. He is responsible for the support of and pastoral care for deacons, organizing events including the diocese-wide Deacon Sunday within congregations. You might see Aaron when he accompanies Bishop Brown on visitations. Aaron serves on our Commission on Ministry. He continues his ministry as a deacon at St. George’s in York Harbor.
Teresa Pinney
Director of Engagement
Teresa ensures that members of the church and governing bodies stay connected to the work of proclaiming the gospel and to each other. She manages the diocesan annual convention cycle, the diocesan website and diocesan hosting plan for churches, and serves as the primary support for domestic poverty initiatives. You can also contact Teresa with questions about jubilee centers, our database and directories, annual congregation reports, diocesan grants, clergy reports, our archives, or summer chapels.
Sherri Quint
Accounting Manager
Sherri manages all bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll functions for the diocese, supervising our payroll specialist. She reconciles and prepares financial statements, supporting the audit and managing internal controls. Contact Sherri about diocesan accounts payable/receivable, payroll, insurance, and congregational assessments.
Lauralee Raymond
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Lauralee provides support to Bishop Brown with his calendar and correspondence and official acts. She serves as the Loring House office manager, the staff liaison to our Liturgical Commission, and secretary to the Trustees of Diocesan Funds. Contact her with questions about the chaplains to the retired clergy and the ordination process. Reach out to Lauralee for help getting on the bishop’s schedule, questions about visitations, permission to officiate, and requests for Letters of Good Standing.
Amy Redfern
Digital Communications Specialist
Amy works on creative strategy, content development, and digital initiatives that amplify the mission of the diocese and member churches. She is responsible for newsletters, social media, video messaging, and connecting with our online community, as well as assisting the director of communications with PR and marketing projects. Reach out to her with questions about how you can market your church. Amy is also the digital communications specialist for the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire.
The Rev. Suzanne Roberts
Transition and Deployment Officer
Contact Suzanne about changes in clergy leadership or to applyapply for a clergy position in the diocese. She is available to guide clergy and congregations through their times of transition. She trains search committees, screens candidates, and creates letters of agreement.
Consultants
The Rev. Cn. Michael Ambler, Consultant to the Bishop for Conflict Remediation
Bishop Brown will arrange to have the Rev. Cn. Ambler assist you or your congregation or vestry for conflict remediation. He also serves as one of our two intake officers. To discuss a complaint against a clergy person, please email or call him at 207.208.0434.
Anne Coyne, Payroll Consultant
Email Anne with questions related to payroll and to submit hours or call 207.772.1953 x138.
John Hennessy, Public Policy Director
John helps all of us live out our baptismal vows by representing our social justice interests in the public square. Contact John about advocacy at the State House through the Maine Episcopal Public Policy Network and Maine Council of Churches. He coordinates our work in racial justice, creation care, the Committee on Indian Relations, and the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. John loves to speak about faith-based advocacy and the justice work of the diocese at churches. Reach out to invite him via email or phone 207.400.6619 (mobile).
Wendy Kopera, Database Consultant
Email Wendy with database (Realm) or directory updates, or questions about Safe Church training access.
Loring House, the building housing the Bishop and staff offices at 143 State Street in Portland, is closed on Mondays and Fridays. From Dec. 20, 2024 through Jan. 1, 2025, the staff will be enjoying a holiday break, and the offices will be closed.
Is the email link not opening up for you? All staff members’ email addresses are the initial of their first name, full last name, @episcopalmaine.org except for Sherri. She’s “sherriq @…”!