Board of Directors 2009
Diana Akiyama (president/board chair) is an Episcopal priest who has enjoyed a successful career combining research, teaching, and chaplaincy at Stanford University and Occidental College.
Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera is an Episcopal priest, justice activist, visual artist, and current Rector of St. Anselm of Canterbury Church in Garden Grove. Before entering ordained ministry, Wilfredo enjoyed a career first as a Community Organizer and later as a College Counselor. He is currently the President of Interfaith Council of Garden Grove, Stanton and Westminster.
Louis Chase is a United Methodist minister who currently serves the Hamilton UMC in South Los Angeles. He recently stepped down as chair of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace and continues to be deeply involved in interfaith work.
Virginia Classick (corporate secretary) is a lay activist based at All Saints Pasadena. In addition to volunteering her time and energy to build up PCU’s presence in the San Fernando/Ventura corridor, Virginia serves on the boards of Peace Action West and the National Religious Coalition Against Torture Action Fund. She is a trained social worker.
John Cobb, Jr. (co-founder) is a world-renowned theologian and author whose name is closely associated with Process Theology and with the Claremont School of Theology. A United Methodist, John continues to guide the work of PCU’s Reflection Committee.
Norman D. Copeland, Sr. is Presiding Elder for the Los Angeles District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Prior to this appointment Norman held a succession of successful pastorates with AME congregations in Southern California and Kansas. He has been very involved in community justice issues and social action in the Los Angeles area.
Art Cribbs currently pastors the San Marino United Church of Christ while also pursuing a graduate degree in Claremont. Prior to serving UCC congregations in California, Art managed denominational communications from UCC headquarters in Cleveland; he has a background in broadcast journalism.
Susan H. Craig is a Presbyterian minister who has served as Chaplain at Princeton University and as the Director of the PCUSA Women’s Ministries Unit. She recently retired as pastor of the University Church at USC. She is active in More Light Presbyterians, the Abrahamic Faiths Peace Initiative and PCU.
Paige Eaves is pastor of the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church and a long-time peace and justice activist. Before entering ordained ministry, Paige worked for the World Bank and for Habitat for Humanity in India. She also organized and led a specialized Native American Ministry for her denomination.
John Forney (treasurer) is an Episcopal priest, educator, and private-sector entrepreneur who created and led several successful businesses in Southern California. He serves on the board of a Ghanaian NGO doing rural development and educational work. He recently spent several weeks as a volunteer for the Obama campaign in the Akron, Ohio, region.
Barbara Haddon is a retired Presbyterian minister who held a number of successful pastorates in Southern California and the Central Coast area. She continues to be active within her presbytery.
Sarah Halverson is pastor of the Fairview Community Church (UCC/ABC) in Costa Mesa. Sarah is active with Planned Parenthood’s Clergy for Choice group, chairs the Orange County Chapter of PCU, and is on the Executive Council for The Center for Progressive Christianity.
Thaddeus “Tad” Heitmann is an Episcopal lay leader and community volunteer in Orange County. Tad is also the founder and president of a specialized communications firm serving the life sciences and healthcare industries.
Joseph C. Hough, Jr. recently stepped down as president of Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he was credited with saving the institution, stabilizing its finances, and recruiting distinguished new faculty. Prior to leading Union, Joe was dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School and president of the Claremont School of Theology.
Henry Jefferson, a United Methodist Lay Leader living in Ontario, enjoyed a 38-year career as an educator and school administrator with the Compton Unified School District. Henry continues to be passionate about creating better opportunities for youth, college and university students, especially individuals of color.
Charles W. Jordan (president emeritus) is United Methodist Bishop in Residence at the Claremont School and served successfully, prior to his retirement, as the Bishop of Iowa. Charles has guided the PCU nominations and board development processes since stepping down from two terms as president and board chair.
Robert A. Long (vice president) is a partially-retired attorney who recently completed an extended term as Senior Warden of All Saints Pasadena. Bob has recently been lending some of his legal acumen to PCU in reviewing By-Law revisions and other matters.
Alex Ben Morales is a very distinguished United Methodist lay leader from Claremont who has also distinguished himself in public service in this region as President/CEO of the Children’s Bureau, which serves 14,000 children and families each year in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Trained as a social worker, Alex has raised over $22 million to build up the Bureau and expand its services.
Denis O’Pray is an Episcopal priest who served as rector of Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel, following seven years with George Regas at All Saints. In retirement, Denis is vicar of Nativity Church, Burnsville, Minnesota. Denis also chairs the board of General Theological Seminary in New York City.
George F. Regas (co-founder) is Rector Emeritus of the All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, which he built into a nationally-recognized progressive powerhouse over the course of 28 years of service as Rector. Throughout the years George also conceived and launched several successful projects and organizations devoted to peace and social justice, including Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.
John Rollefson is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America having served in congregational and campus ministry settings around the country including his current westside Los Angeles congregation, Lutheran Church of the Master, near UCLA. He currently chairs PCU’s Finance Committee.
Mary Ann Swenson has returned for another term as Resident Bishop of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church. Her stands on inclusiveness and her passions for cycling and public transit have added to her recognition within the national denomination as an innovative and highly progressive leader.
Nancy Valencia is a long-time lay leader within the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Long Beach. She is also the creator of a highly-regarded summer recreation program for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in the City of Long Beach.
