Board Members

ECCL Board Members

Sharon Mook

The Rev. Dr. Sharon L. Mook is Program Director for the Ecumenical Center for Christian Leadership. An ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), she serves as Co-moderator of the Presbyterian Intercultural Network.*Having served inner-city, urban, and suburban congregations, on seminary faculty, and in hospital, prison, and retirement center settings, Dr. Mook’s life, ministry, worldview, and spirituality have been formed, and continue to be re-formed, in ongoing dialogue with a diversity of persons, cultures, contexts, faith traditions, and theologies. Knowing from direct experience the joys and challenges of congregational ministry as well as ministry in other contexts, she has a heart for supporting pastors, chaplains, and other church leaders. Years of education and experience as a pastoral counselor, and in providing pastoral care in many settings and circumstances, have honed her skills in providing the support and challenge needed through the multiple stresses that ministry brings.

Dr. Mook’s education includes a B.S. in health and physical education (Slippery Rock University); M. Div. (Princeton Theological Seminary); D. Min. (Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University); and Ph.D. (Luther Seminary in Minnesota). She completed five units (two basic, three advanced) of Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, as well as a three year residency training program for Pastoral Counseling at Abbott-Northwestern Center for Pastoral Counseling in Minneapolis. Dr. Mook is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

Well versed in family systems theory, Dr. Mook loves this approach to formation for ministry and for assisting church leaders investigating the dynamics of life in the congregation and in other institutions. Convinced that “transformation” is one of the most important words in the English language, she is deeply committed to accompanying others on their own transformational journeys. With a strong background in teaching and intuitively drawn to education, she loves the thrill of being a part of what happens in a transformative class, workshop, or conference. Understanding that transformation emerges from genuine relationship, Dr. Mook is passionate about building intentional intercultural relationships and community that are mutual and just ---where persons from widely diverse national, cultural, ethnic/racial, and social/economic locations live and work together in ways defined by truth, justice, and equity; and where power is shared, and power imbalances and dynamics are understood and continually factored into all aspects of the community’s life. Dr. Mook believes intentional intercultural relationship, and intentional intercultural community, are crucial ways in which the Spirit is moving to bring deep-level transformation tothe North American church, powerfully ushering in what God is calling the church to be in this time and place.

*The Presbyterian Intercultural Network is a grassroots organization working to build intentional intercultural relationships and intentional intercultural community and to ignite a transformational movement in the church by confronting racial and other cultural injustices and by honesty and effectively addressing the critical issues of “whiteness,” institutional racism, power imbalance, and power sharing.

Sr. Marilyn Winters

Adrian Dominican Sister, Liturgister/workshop leader/adult formation director for Liturgy / Worship / Ministry Formation; resource to Bishops in Roman Catholic Dioceses in several states for liturgical planning and education. Served on National Board for Liturgical leaders.

Bishop Wendell Gibbs

The Right Reverend Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr. was consecrated a Bishop of the Episcopal Church on February 5, 2000. He was installed and seated as the Tenth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan on November 4, 2000. Bishop Gibbs attended St. Mary's University & Seminary (Baltimore) and Towson State University (Towson, MD), where he received his B.A. in business administration in 1977. In 1987, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary (Evanston, IL). He was ordained a deacon in June 1987 and a priest in December 1987. Before his election to the episcopate, Bishop Gibbs served congregations in the dioceses of Southern Ohio, Central New York and Chicago. He and his wife Karlah reside in Detroit and are proud parents of two daughters and proud grandparents of two grandsons.

Eugene W. James Jr.

Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Roanoke, Virginia. Studied at University of Virginia - Roanoke Branch, Youngstown State University, Wayne County Community College - Detroit, Concordia University - Ann Arbor, Ashland Theological Seminary - Detroit, and Michigan Theological Seminary. Completed Mediation Skills Training Institute sponsored by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.
Currently serving as the Regional Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Michigan Region, served as pastor Northwestern Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Detroit, Michigan, Chairperson Church Growth and Vitality Commission, Michigan Region, President of the Michigan Black Disciples Caucus, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Division of Overseas Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United States and Canada. A third generation Disciple preacher, grandfather, Elder Cary James, father, Pastor Eugene W. James, Sr., and brothers, the Rev. Dr. Timothy James, Associate General Minister and Administrative Secretary of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Indianapolis, IN, the Rev. Titus James, pastor North Heights Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Wichita, Kansas, and Elder Daniel James, Fair Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Springfield, Ohio.
He and his wife and best friend Sabine have five children, nine grandchildren, and one great grandchild. His interests include music, reading, physical fitness, travel, and "quiet time."

Fr. David Rosenberg

Fr. David Rosenberg, director of St. Francis Retreat Center, was appointed by Bishop Earl Boyea in August, 2015, following the passing of Father Larry Delaney in June 2015. Fr. David was born and raised in Galesburg, Ill, graduating from Siena Heights University in Adrian Michigan. He attended Pope St. John XXII Seminary in Weston, Mass. Me was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Carl Mengeling in 2005. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Boyea in 2011. Fr. David formerly served as pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Mary and St. Ann in Charlotte Michigan. Prior to serving as pastor of St. Mary and St. Ann Parishes, he was associate pastor at St. Andrew Parish, Saline.

Mike Kutas

Currently serving as the Director of Operations for the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, Michigan, Mike is a lay member of the ECCL Board. In addition to his work at the Retreat Center, Mike is a member of the Knights of Columbus and co-founded and leads both a youth service group called Kids of the Cross and a men's outreach group at his home parish of St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, Michigan.

John Best

Rev. Dr. John M. Best, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), has served as General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Lake since 2008. He was raised in rural Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, and Union Theological Seminary in VA, served a Presbyterian mission in Brazil for three years, and then several congregations in Pennsylvania and New York prior to his call to Michigan.