Staff

DIOCESAN STAFF

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The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry

11th Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan

(313) 833-4435 | bishopperry@edomi.org

Bishop Bonnie A. Perry

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry is the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan (EDOMI).  She was consecrated as bishop on February 8,  2020. Her position oversees a diverse diocese of 76 worshipping communities and more than 14,000 baptized members. The diocese encompasses the Detroit metropolitan area and adjacent regions that stretch as far west as Lansing, Jackson, and Hillsdale. Prior to her election as bishop, Perry spent 27 years as rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Chicago, one of the largest and most active congregations in the Diocese of Chicago.

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Tali Perry

Canine to the Ordinary

tali@edomi.org | @tales_fromtali_theaussie

Tali Perry—Canine to the Ordinary

My name is Tali Perry and I’m an Australian Shepherd. Originally from Blue Rain Aussies located in Sobieski, WI I’m excited now to be living in Detroit. I’ve been educated at Call of the Wild dog training in Chicago, completing my Basic Puppy Obedience and Level 1 Obedience.

One of my great joys in life is snatching frisbees out of the air and adding commentary to Zoom calls. In my new position as Canine to the Ordinary, I’m working on my herding skills and honing my pastoral skills. I’ve found that most life events are enhanced by wiggles and caring looks.

I have a strong following on Facebook and invite you to follow me on Instagram where you can find me at @tales_fromtali_theaussie.

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The Rev. Canon Ellen Ekevag

Canon for Congregational Development and Transitions

Total Ministry congregation and Ministry Support Team guidance

(313)-833-4421 |  eekevag@edomi.org

The Rev. Ellen Ekevag is Canon for Congregational Development and Transitions. She collaborates with lay and ordained leaders to develop more faithful, healthy, and effective faith communities. After spending over a decade leading and guiding churches of various sizes, she believes the local church is the primary context for formation, ministry, mission and transformation. Through our baptism we are each called to share in Christ’s identity and mission, and each church has been given the gifts and the people it needs to accomplish God’s will. In all of her work she puts a high value on prayer, collaboration, openness and a sense of humor.

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The Rev. Susie Shaefer

Associate for Transitions and Local Formation

Assists clergy in the deployment process and offers support to congregations during periods of transition, including discernment, pastoral care and guidance through the search process, oversees Whitaker Institute and serves as the Bishop’s staff liaison to the Commission on Ministry

(313)-833-4424 |  sshaefer@edomi.org

The Rev. Susie Shaefer serves as the Associate for Transitions and Local Formation. She loves working with people in all seasons of discernment: folks in the ordination process, congregations and clergy in transition, and anyone being nudged by the Spirit into deeper knowledge and love for God’s mission in the world.

Susie most recently served as the Vicar of St. John’s in Clinton from 2012-2022, and lives in Ann Arbor with her spouse, two kids, and a rescue dog.

The Rev. Sister Veronica Dunbar, “Sister Vee”

Missioner for Spirituality and Race

sistervee@edomi.org

The Rev. Sr. Veronica Mary is a native of Southeast Michigan, born and raised in Mount Clemens. Prior to her call to ordained ministry, she spent over seventeen years working for the Federal Government, mostly in regulatory compliance of international trade, focusing on manufacturing and supply chain logistics and free trade agreements. After serving in lay ministry, she answered a three-fold vocational call: Sr. Vee is a professed member of Anamchara Fellowship, an Episcopal religious order; she was certified as a spiritual director through the Haden Institute, and maintains an active practice; and after graduating from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, was ordained to the priesthood. Sr. Vee loves running and walking along the shore of Lake St. Clair, and centers herself spiritually through gardening, reading, writing, and photography.

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Mark Miliotto

Canon for Finance & Chief Financial Officer

Diocesan Finances: Diocesan budget, accounting, financial reporting, payroll, audit.  Congregational resources: payroll, parochial reports, budgets/strategic planning, financial reporting, accounting/bookkeeping, audits/reviews, Tretheway Downs grants, Growth and Income Fund
(313) 833-4427 | mmiliotto@edomi.org

Mark Miliotto serves as the Canon for Finance and CFO of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, having first joined the diocesan staff in 2012. Prior to coming to the diocese, Mark served as the Director of Finance and Administration of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary in the Chicago area. Before that, Mark worked in a variety of finance roles in the banking industry in Denver. Mark’s wife, Beth Taylor, serves as rector of St John’s Episcopal Church in Royal Oak, Michigan. Together, Beth and Mark are the proud parents of two teenage children, Gianni and Sofia. Outside of work, Mark volunteers as the treasurer of Episcopal Divinity School and he enjoys all outdoor activities, especially gardening, hiking, and biking.

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Kara Chapman

Accountant

Benefits statements, accounts payable and receivable, tithe invoices, Tretheway Downs Children’s fund scholarships
(313) 833-4407 | kchapman@edomi.org

Kara Chapman is the Accountant for the Diocese of Michigan. She has been with the diocese since 1999, a little over 20 years! Though her degree is in Accounting Information Systems, in 1999 she volunteered at the diocese for the Refugee Resettlement office, which led to a full-time position as a caseworker. Eventually she transitioned to part-time caseworker and part-time accountant and then to a full-time position in the finance department. It has been such a blessing for her to work for the Diocese of Michigan as she feels that the staff and the diocese at large are a wonderful family full of kindness and love for God and one another. She looks forward to continuing to serve and support all of the congregations and people of the diocese.

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Simon Chapman

Feline of Finance

To get in touch with Simon, just crack open a can of tuna and he will be happy to answer and assist you in any way he can.

Simon has an “amazing sense of balance” and is great at taking care of the books.

He enjoys typing on the keyboard (i.e. walking across the keyboard); and he never misses a chance to appear in a Zoom meeting as he likes to be right in the middle of the action. Simon works well with others as long as they pet him and reward him for a job well done (i.e. treats).

Simon hopes you have a “purrrr-fect” day!

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Crystal Ramirez

Director of Administration

Coordinates human resources, benefit and insurance management and other diocesan administrative tasks. Please contact Crystal if you have any questions related to benefits or payroll.

(313) 833-4414 | cramirez@edomi.org

Crystal brings a strong background in process conformance, operations and auditing which translates well into her role in Administration.  She is always striving to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the diocesan processes while ensuring the needs of our congregations are met with a sense of urgency and care.

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Susan Mason

Executive Assistant to the Bishop

(313) 833-4435 | smason@edomi.org

As the Bishop’s Executive Assistant, Susan coordinates the bishop’s visitation schedule, appointment scheduling, correspondence, provides administrative support for the Commission on Ministry – and all other duties as assigned.

Susan previously served as parish administrator at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, executive assistant to a board of directors, and is an experience technical writer and disaster recovery analyst.  Susan and her husband Dan have 2 adult children, Mary (equestrian and human resource manager) and Forrest (guitar enthusiast and electrical engineer.) They enjoy traveling and exploring national parks. Susan also enjoys hiking, biking, backpacking, and running marathons (to be honest, “enjoys” running marathons might be a stretch, but she has completed several.) When Susan volunteers at St. Philip’s, you will usually find her cooking in the kitchen as she is also Serv-Safe certified.

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Carmen Piggins

Missioner for Ministry with Young People

(313) 833-4437 | cpiggins@edomi.org

Through Carmen’s experience and understanding of childhood spirituality and development and pedagogy, she offers congregational leaders support and resources for Christian Education programming. Carmen supports congregations in deepening their ministries to families and their children by resourcing the adults who work with young people. She is constantly learning from our congregations about what type of support they need to sustain, grow or build their formation programs for children.

Carmen supports programming for children and youth throughout the diocese, training and resourcing for children and youth formation leaders, oversees the Diocesan Youth Council, Safe Church, Safe Communities training, and is a liaison for College Chaplains. 

Dennis Boyd Jr.
Dennis Boyd Jr.

Director of Communications

(313) 833-4425 | dboyd@edomi.org

As Director of Communications, I’m honored to be working alongside Bishop Perry and the entire Diocesan staff in supporting our office and our worshipping communities with their communications needs.

I’m a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Detroit. I’ve served on the Vestry (Jr and Sr Warden), and currently active in our Men’s club and Technology Ministries.

I love dogs, taking long walks in nature, seeing different parts of the world, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.