Meet the Nominees for Session and Deacons
SESSION
Ray Kim
Ray is a Ph.Dcandidate at Georgetown University, and he has been attending Western since hefirst moved to DC to start this chapter in his life. After his first visit, hewas drawn back to Western by the vision and values of this community as it wasreflected in the leadership, church programs, and congregational life. He feltlike he found a place where he could call his 'spiritual home base' as hisresearch takes him out of DC every so often.
AnnetteReilly
Annette isinvolved with Western Presbyterian as a choir member, regular volunteer for Miriam'sKitchen, participant in the women's book group, and Flower Team leader. Shealso manages the Ronda Gilliam Clothing Bank in South Arlington, where shebegan volunteering in 1973. Since retiring from Lockheed Martin fiveyears ago, she has continued her involvement in international standards forsystems and software engineering, serving on a number of boards, committees,and working groups for ISO, IEC, and the IEEE. Currently she is working on astandard for applying ethical values to systems design.
Cindy Stevens
Cindy and her husband Roger attended Western when Roger’s son was singing in the choir and they had just married. They stayed because they were inspired by the sermons; Cindy was baptized and became a member of Western in 1993. Over the years, in addition to providing spiritual sustenance, Western provided fellowship, friendships, and community support that continued through Roger’s illness and death in 2014. Since retiring from Arlington County as the director of housing assistance, Cindy has found purpose in serving on Western’s Mission Team and the Session. She is committed to “figuring out” how to follow Jesus and live out Christian values in the turbulent times we live in, ensuring that the least amongst are loved and not forgotten. She also finds joy in singing in the Chancel Choir.
Susanne Ward
Susanne is renewing her term as an Elder and currently works with the Facilities Ministry and the Plaza Task Force Ministry. She is a teacher at Emerson Prep School. (More info to come.)
DEACONS
BillRappolt
Bill beganintermittently attending Western in 2008 but did not become a member until2018. While perhaps slow to commit at first, since joining, he’s tried tobe an active member of the community by volunteering to be an usher, helpingwith Sunday school, and participating in other Western activities. He’smarried to Megan, a member of the church who recently has been devoting herSundays during the school year to studying while in night law school. They have two children: Wyatt and Nadia. He’s also an attorney at thefirm Sheppard Mullin where he helps energy market participants resolveregulatory and commercial problems. He hopes to continue to engage withthe Western community by serving as a Deacon.
AlecResurreccion
Alec is asecond-year law student at The George Washington University Law School,currently focusing on national security and criminal law. He came to and stayedat Western because of the encouraging community and homely environment that thechurch provides, even though he was not a Presbyterian in the past (he grew upBaptist). This church continues to be a second home for me as he navigates hisnew life here in D.C. As a law student, his first steps in D.C. were some ofthe most tumultuous and anxiety-inducing, and the subsequent steps continue tobe. However, he feels blessed to find in Western a congregation that can helpme relieve those stresses and strengthen my relationship with God. He thanksthe Nominating Committee for giving me the opportunity to serve the Church evenfurther than I already do as a member of the choir. As a deacon, he promises topromote the welcoming environment that he holds so dear to ensure that otherstake part in this community and do not feel left out, no matter their cultureand upbringing.
Cayla Vila
Cayla moved from New Jersey to Foggy Bottom to attend the GW School of Medicine. She started worshiping at Western, and quickly fell in love with the mission of service and feeling of community every Sunday. Cayla has volunteered at Miriam’s Kitchen for three years and attended college ministry events before becoming a member last year. She currently serves as an usher and feels blessed to continue deepening her relationships at Western by serving as a Deacon.
LauraWilcox
Laura has beena member of Western Presbyterian Church since January 1997. She was activelyinvolved in Project Create for ten years, serving as chair of the committeeoverseeing the program, and now serves as co-chair of the WPC Flower Committee.She met her husband, Donald Schwarz, at Western in 1997, and they married atthe church in 2000. They live in Silver Spring, Maryland. Laura's career hasbeen dedicated to higher education communications/ public relations, andcurrently she is a communications consultant serving higher educationassociations, colleges, and universities. Previously, she served incommunications positions at a DC think tank, and worked for eight years onCapitol Hill in both the House and Senate. She began her career as a radio newsjournalist. Laura earned a Master's degree in Legislative Affairs at GeorgeWashington University and a BA in Communications at Kent State University. Sheis an award-winning watercolor artist, loves to travel, is an avid reader, andenjoys entertaining.