I am writing today to announce some staff changes effective December 31, 2024:
The Rev. Suzanne (Culhane) Coles will be leaving her position as Canon for Stewardship after six years of service on the diocesan staff. She will remain the priest-in-charge of St. Philip’s Church, Dyker Heights. We are all very grateful to Suzanne for her efforts to promote stewardship education throughout the diocese and her efforts in helping the diocese to initiate its first-ever capital campaign which will continue under the guidance of Arthur Scully and Neil Watkins from the Carter Group.
The Rev. Michael Delaney will be leaving his position as Bishop’s Chaplain and Diocesan Liturgist after ten years of service on the diocesan staff. Following the completion of his sabbatical in early December, he will become the priest-in-charge of St. James of Jerusalem, Long Beach. We are all very grateful to Michael for his good care of our liturgical life, and I especially remain thankful for his attention to serving as the Bishop’s Chaplain.
The Rev. Claire Woodley will be retiring from full-time ministry as the Canon for Congregational Development at the end of December 2024. Claire has served our diocese in this role for seven years and has provided support to congregations and clergy in transition, provided avenues for support of newly ordained clergy, and created programs for “onboarding” as clergy and congregations have begun ministry together. Claire will serve as a consultant for the MAP program (which she created) in ongoing service to our congregations. I am very grateful to Claire for her care and service as a member of the bishop’s senior staff.
Ms. Deidra Beaman will be retiring from service to the Diocese after sixteen years on the bishop’s staff. Dee has served in various key positions within the support staff of the Bishop’s Office, providing continuity and depth to the work that provides ministry across the diocese. She has been an invaluable link in the system that is the bishop’s staff. In so many ways, she has been the welcoming presence to those who have arrived at the Bishop’s Office and more recently, the person who has aided clergy and lay leaders to prepare for the visit of one of our bishops. We are indebted to Dee for her good care and consistent presence in our diocese. It is now time for her to focus on other aspects of life as she retires from her ministry.
The Rev. Landon Moore will begin a half-time ministry as Canon for Vocations and Congregations while remaining the priest-in-charge of Church of the Advent, Westbury. In this new role, Landon will continue to foster vocations among both clergy and laypersons by providing leadership and coordination of various diocesan-wide programs to support clergy and congregations.
The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island