From Your Synod Executive...
- Chip Hardwick
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
I’m thrilled to announce that at our called meeting on 3/18/25, the Synod elected the Rev. Ruth-Aimée Belonni-Rosario as our new Associate Executive for Racial Justice. God’s hand has been evident throughout the call process, and I’m eager to work with, learn from, and be inspired by Ruth-Aimée. She plans to move to the Detroit area some time around her tentative start date of 5/19/25. I can’t wait for you to meet her! Her work will center on connecting leaders and communities of color, discovering how the synod can strengthen, support, and learn from these leaders and communities, and developing anti-racism resources for our presbyteries and congregations.
Ruth-Aimée currently serves as the Associate Dean of Student Success and Retention at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL. She has served at several seminaries and has experience serving in the church at the congregational, presbytery, synod, and General Assembly levels. She is a certified coach, published author, and a doctoral candidate at Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore. You can read her full bio here.
The search committee and I were very impressed with her passion, expertise, theological depth, and faithfulness. The committee received twelve resumes, held eight zoom introductory interviews, and brought two candidates to the Detroit area for interviews. The committee members has done an extraordinary job listening to the Holy Spirit and investing time, energy, and wisdom over the last six months. Many thanks to Adrienne Adams (Detroit, chair), Timothy Chon (Lake Michigan), Enikö Ferenczy (Muskingum Valley), Georgia McCall (Lake Huron), Amy Snow (Cincinnati, clerk), Charles Tinsley (Miami Valley), and Laura Van Dale (Western Reserve).
This call is the culmination of much work and planning over the past few years. The Synod hired Lindsay Anderson as the Organizer of Synod Communities of Color in September 2022 to help us learn from the communities and leaders of color how the Synod could support and learn from their ministries. Her work culminated in October 2023 with the recommendation to change our by-laws to include six commissioners of color (the Nominating Committee is currently seeking leaders for these positions; please contact me if you have nominees, including yourself) and to call this Associate Executive for Racial Justice. The position has been in the budget since January 2024.
The job description of the position was finalized in the summer of 2024 and the search committee formed by that fall. They have worked consistently through the called assembly last week, when they were dissolved with thanks from the assembly.
Grateful to be your partner in ministry,
Rev. Charles B Hardwick, PhD
Executive
309-530-4578
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