Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Jo Campe, Sandra Gilbert, Alan Goracke, Ange Hwang, Christopher Leifeld, Jerad Morey, and Connie Roehich; and the reappointment of G. Paul Beaumaster, Windell Calvert, Richard Coleman, Nancy Haapoja, Susan Hilgart, Wilhemlina Holder, Andrew Parker, and Jon Pratt to the Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives. All 15 are appointed to terms that expire April 4, 2011.

Beaumaster, of Faribault, is the Rice County Attorney. He earned his master of law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, and his bachelor of science degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. He is a Sunday School teacher, mock trial judge and coach, and past president of the Rice County Historical Society. Beaumaster has been a member of the council since 2006.

Calvert, of Rochester, is the church leadership catalyst for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention in Rochester and has more than 20 years of pastoral experience. He earned his master of arts degree in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth Texas, and his bachelor of behavioral science degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Calvert has been a member of the council since 2006.

Campe, of St. Paul, is the pastor of The Recovery Church, with campuses at Central Park Methodist Church in St. Paul, and Wesley United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. In addition to serving as a church pastor, he has also been a high school teacher. Campe earned his doctorate degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, and his master of divinity degree from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton. Campe replaces Hamdy El-Sawaf on the council.

Coleman, of Eagan, is the community engagement and leadership pastor with New Life Christian Ministries in Richfield, as well as the founder and chief program officer with Servant Leaders’ Support, Inc. He has served as a pastor as numerous African Methodist Episcopal churches, and has a wealth of faith-based involvement in the community. Coleman has been a member of the council since 2006.

Gilbert, of Plymouth, is a workplace neutral investigator with NeuVest in Edina. Her community activities include serving as the secretary and member of the Reconciliation Associates board, Wayzata Evangelical Free Church Mission Commission as well as its China Center coordinator. Gilbert earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and her bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield. Gilbert replaces Larry Forsberg on the council.

Goracke, of Blaine, is the senior pastor at Kingswood Church in Blaine. He is pursuing his doctor of ministry degree at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, earned his master of arts degree in ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, and his bachelor of science degree from St. Cloud State University. He is a member of the Blaine Planning Commission, Blaine Charter Commission, and the faith community representative to the Anoka County Emergency Shelter Grants Program/Federal Emergency Management Agency Committee. Goracke replaces Debra Jacoway on the council.

Haapoja, of Redwood Falls, is the Youth For Christ Campus Life director with the Redwood Falls Youth for Christ. She is also vice president of the Redwood Area Ministerial Association, a member of the Redwood Area Crisis Pregnancy Center board, Choices Pregnancy Center board, and the Redwood Valley Senior High School Site Council. Haapoja has been a member of the council since 2006.

Hilgart, of Brainerd, is a team leader with Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. in Brainerd. She earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational management and communications from Concordia University in St. Paul. She is a member and past chair of the Brainerd Police and Fire Civil Service Commission, a member of the Brainerd Transportation Advisory Committee, and a member of the Crow Wing County Poverty Commission. Hilgart has been a member of the council since 2006.

Holder, of Plymouth, is the executive director of Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE), Inc., a multicultural non-profit organization that provides direct services and leadership development opportunities to empower immigrant women and girls. She is also a consultant with African and American Friendship Association for Cooperation and Development, (AAFACD) Inc., and is active in numerous community organizations. Holder has been a member of the council since 2008.

Hwang, of Minneapolis, is the founder and executive director of Asian Media Access, and producer as well as director of “East Meets West” – a monthly cable television show. She earned her master of arts management degree from Metropolitan State University, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Hwang replaces Kimberly Ketola on the council.

Leifeld, of St. Paul, is the executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. He earned his master of arts degree from the University of Minnesota, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He is a board member of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, Minnesota Catholic Education Association, Catholic Health Association of Minnesota, Marathon for Nonpublic Education and is actively involved with a number of other community organizations. Leifeld replaced Christopher Morton on the council.

Morey, of Brooklyn Center, is a communications and organizing consultant whose clients include the Minnesota Council of Churches and the United Methodist Church. He is a member of the multicultural Brooklyn "MOSAIC" community, a new United Methodist Church start in the Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park area. He earned his master of theological studies degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, as well as his master of arts degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University, both in Washington, D.C., and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota. Morey replaces Gary Reierson on the council.

Parker, of Minnetonka, is the co-founder of the Parker Rosen law firm in Minneapolis and previously operated the Smith Parker law firm for nearly a decade. He earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, his master of arts degree from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota. He is the co-founder and former co-chair of the Minnesota Chapter of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, and has also served on the Minneapolis Jewish Federation board of directors. Parker has been a member of the council since 2006.

Pratt, of Minneapolis, is the executive director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, an association of nearly 2,000 organizations that sponsors research, training, lobbying, and negotiated discounts to strengthen Minnesota’s nonprofit sector. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, his juris doctorate degree from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C., and his bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield. Pratt has been a member of the council since 2008.

Roehrich, of Mendota Heights, retired last year as the warden at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault. She previously served as the warden of the Minnesota Women’s Correctional Facility in Shakopee and the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Willow River/Moose Lake. She earned her master of science degree in sociology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and her bachelor of science degree in social work from Bemidji State University. Roehrich replaces Malo Thao on the council.

The Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives was created by executive order (Executive Order 05-14) to make recommendations on how to level the playing field for faith and community organizations and increase access to public and private funding opportunities. The council includes leaders who represent the diversity of the State of Minnesota geographically, ethnically, by gender and faith. The council consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor.