Name: Linda Taylor - Elected
Church affiliation: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Santa Clara

1) What can I contribute?
Everything I can contribute to the Standing Committee is centered in listening for the word of God spoken to and through each of us, in desire to serve God's will and in commitment to the ongoing process of discerning God’s deepest hope for our diocese at this time. I bring a perspective based on personal and professional experience in a variety of settings and a sense of humor that helps me notice that the universe extends far beyond our corner of the world. I also bring administrative and organizational skills, creativity and imagination, excitement about the future, the ability to stay in the moment while a process is unfolding, comfort with conflict, and commitment to honesty and transparency in the work we do together.

2) Church activities
I am rector of St. Mark’s, Santa Clara, and have previously served at St. Andrew’s, Saratoga, and at Trinity Cathedral, as well as in hospital chaplaincy at Washington Hospital in Fremont. Prior to ordination five years ago, I served as Vestry member, lay Eucharistic minister and EFM mentor. I currently serve as Dean for the Central Valley Deanery and as a member of the Commission on Ministry.

3) What major issues face the church today?
The major issue for the church today is the same as it has been in every other age: How do we join together as the Body of Christ in this day and in this place to live into the Great Commission? One of the gifts of the Anglican tradition is our ability to live in the tensions rising from our diversity. Our way – the middle way – enables the inclusion of people who disagree about almost anything but share a common passion for the vision of God’s love made flesh in Christ Jesus. Because we don’t always share the same societal map, because we often have strongly divergent opinions about everything in our common life, it’s sometimes extremely difficult for us to hear each other and very easy for us to judge each other. In the last months, I’ve heard multiple visions for our diocese. Some of these visions are clearly articulated and tightly focused; others are less defined. The common attribute of these visions is the tenacity with which their proponents hold them. Several decades of working with culturally diverse teams to identify and serve the varied needs of individuals and groups have convinced me that we each hold a part of the truth. As we work together toward our future – in small groups, missions, parishes and diocesan structures – I believe it is imperative that we step away from our individual positions and open our hearts to the possibility of creating a shared vision together. Our mission is not to win the debate. Our mission is to restore the unity of all people with God and each other in Christ.
 

Name: C. Jeff Kraemer
Church affiliation: St. Dunstan’s, Carmel Valley

1) What can I contribute?
As a theological moderate, I will bring a voice that will represent an under-served portion of our Diocese. In thirty-plus years of ordained ministry I have found that standing in the middle has positioned me to be able to reach out to those on the theological right and left of difficult issues to create an atmosphere of trust and productivity.

2) Church activities
I have served on Diocesan Council, Commission on Ministry, Commission on Episcopal Schools, and several renewal ministry teams.

3) What major issues face the church today?
E.C.R. has had two decades of troubled leadership. We have struck out twice. We must get it right from now on, and we can by better utilizing the deep well of spiritual gifts that abound in the people of this diocese. We must draw from that untapped well for leaders, both lay and ordained, to lead our Diocese into a better future.
 

Name: The Reverend Efren Aguirre Garza
Church affiliation: Vicar Santa Maria Virgen, Milpitas

1) What can I contribute?
At this time of transition in our Diocese I believe that we as Gods people are called to not only remember the accomplishments which we have made, but also those God calls us to achieve. As a descendent of Mexican-American field laborers, and a person of bi-cultural roots, I see a correlation in the life of immigrant persons and the life of our Diocese. Just as immigrant persons, who through their faith, have moved mountains and have achieved and continue to pursue goals, so our Diocese is now called by Our Lord to do the same. As a member of the Standing Committee, as a field-laborer, I will tend to the Diocese to achieve the goals, which God calls us to achieve for His Glory.

2) Church activities:
Senior Warden Nuesrta Señora De Guadalupe, San José.
Youth Director Saint Joseph the Worker
Bishop’s Warden Saint Joseph the Worker
Mission FieldWork San Pablo, Salinas, San Pablo, Sea Side.
Missioner Milpitas
Vicar Santa Maria Virgen Milpitas
Youth Group Director and Spiritual Advisor to Teens
Member of the National Church Latino Clergy Start Up Start Over Committee

3) What major issues face the church today?
The issues, which face the church today, are numerous from war, to famine, to violation of human rights, to basic human sexuality. If we are to be a true people of God we must seek the wisdom and guidance of Our Lord, to stand against the injustices of these issues. The good news of the Holy Gospel calls us to peace and to help those in need, to ensure that the human rights of all are protected, and to honor the image of God in all his creation. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God leads us onto the path he has made for us and by faith we obtain the prize, the goal, set before us.
 

Name: Keith Johnson
Church affiliation: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Ben Lomond

1) What can I contribute?
I feel I bring both the ability to think outside of the box, yet maintaining the vision
of the larger picture. You know, the what I can contribute question is part of the
problem. What can WE contribute together is the main question. I would love to be part of an atmosphere of teamwork and I with God's help would do my best to help create such an atmosphere.

2) Church activities
Well I'm the rector of a small parish the question is what don't I do! However I've been know to throw a mean BBQ.

3) What major issues face the church today?
We lack vision. "Without a vision the people will perish." Without vision how can we decide on the direction what we as a diocese must take in order for us to be the church that God wants us to become? We also suffer from undirected passion, and mistrust. Yet with God's help, faith in each other, and some trust these problems can be addressed and solved.