Bishop Charles E. Jenkins is the tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. Bishop Jenkins is a Louisiana native. He is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and Nashota House Seminary and holds an honorary doctorate degree from the University of the South. Bishop Jenkins participates in many interdenominational activities within Louisiana and national activities within the Episcopal Church. The Bishop’s current work includes being at the forefront of the diocese’s “Grow the Vision” capital campaign to raise funds for campus ministry in New Orleans, new church starts in growing areas and a diocesan youth conference center. Bishop Jenkins also recently partnered with Episcopal Relief and Development to form the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana’s Office of Disaster Response.

The Very Reverend David Allard duPlantier Vice Chair
The Very Reverend David Allard duPlantier has served Christ Church Cathedral since 2002 as the 13th Dean and 27th Rector. Dean duPlantier devotes his time to the Executive Board of the Diocese of Louisiana, the Jeremiah interfaith ministry, the conference of North American Cathedral Deans, the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, the Diocesan Rebuilding Committee, the Spafford Children’s Center and Anglican ministry in the Middle East. He is a graduate of Miami University and The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church.

Christopher Beary, Esq. Treasurer
Chris Beary is an attorney and certified public accountant. Mr. Beary practices law including business law, commercial litigation, commercial transactions, bankruptcy, healthcare, legal malpractice and accountants’ malpractice, successions, and estate planning. He is a former Senior Warden of Christ Church Cathedral. Mr. Beary is a member of the American Bar Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Louisiana State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Beary graduated from the University of New Orleans and Tulane University Law School.

Ronald Markham
Ronald S. Markham is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Inc., (NOJO), an organization committed to preserving New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage. Mr. Markham serves on the boards of Greater New Orleans, Inc. and The Audubon Nature Institute and volunteers with Fleur-de-lis Ambassador Program. He studied music at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.

The Reverend Francis King
Reverend Francis King serves as the Chaplain of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, the Episcopal ministry to Tulane and Loyola Universities. He is a graduate of Mississippi College, Mississippi School of Law, and the School of Theology of the University of the South. Rev. King has served as both a federal defender and a federal prosecutor. He has been active in urban ministry throughout the United States for more than thirty years.

Pastor Emmanuel Smith (not pictured)
Dr. Emmanuel Smith, Jr. is a pastor of the Israelite Baptist Church. Dr. Smith works at the Medical Center of Louisiana as the employee relations manager. He is president and CEO of the Liberty City Center Community Development Center. Dr. Smith serves as professor at the Union Baptist College and Theological Seminary. He is an alumnus of Union Baptist Seminary College and Theological Seminary, University of New Orleans and Mississippi Valley State College.

Julie George, Esq.
Julie Livaudais George works as an attorney in New Orleans. She is active on the board of many local community, cultural, and healthcare organizations. Ms. George has presided over the Junior League of New Orleans, the Board of Trustees of Country Day School, and the women of Trinity Church. She is a Stanford University and Tulane Law School graduate. In 2007, Ms. George was named a top New Orleans lawyer by New Orleans Magazine and she received the Leadership in Law award from New Orleans City Business.

The Reverend Susan Gaumer
Susan Gaumer is an ordained Episcopal Priest. She serves as rector at St. Andrews in New Orleans and served previously at St. Augustine’s in Metairie. Prior to ordination, Ms. Gaumer served as a school Chaplain at St. Martin’s School in Metairie, on the Bishop’s staff as the coordinator of Christian Education, and as the Ecumenical Officer for the Episcopal Diocese. Ms. Gaumer is a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, John Hopkins University, the School of Theology, and the University of the South.

Superintendent John E. Pierre
Supt. Pierre serves as a Pastor of Living Witness Church of God in Christ, Superintendent of “Lighting the Way District”, Louisiana East Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and the Executive Secretary of the Jurisdiction and the Church. Supt. Pierre is a Vietnam veteran was a student at Delgado Junior College, Southern University at New Orleans, St. Mary’s Dominican College and Union Baptist Theological Seminary. Supt. Pierre participates in the leadership of many community organizations.

Ellen Ball
Ellen Ball is the treasurer of the Mobile Loaves and Fishes ministry, a former vestry member and Senior Warden of Trinity Episcopal Church. Ms. Ball has been a member on the New Orleans Summer Bridge Advisory Committee, St. George’s Episcopal School, Isidore Newman School and the Junior League of New Orleans community boards. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ms. Ball is a consultant in land management.