About

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Board of Directors

Karen Jackson, President
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Norfolk
Faithinclusionnetwork@gmail.com

Gray Puryear, Vice President
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Norfolk
gpuryear@cox.net

Jeff Turner, Treasurer
Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, Suffolk
jnt112@msn.com

Helen Elder, Secretary
Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, Chesapeake
helenelder2@cox.net

LaVerne Avant
Basilica of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Norfolk
lwavant@cox.net

Suzanne Eich
Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, Suffolk
eich@verizon.net

William C. Giermak
St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children
ceo@smhdc.org

Jenny Redick
St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach
jredick@hrpdcva.gov

Angela West
Young Life Capernaum
Angelaylc08@gmail.com

Juanita Williams
Grove Baptist Church, Portsmouth
Juanita.williams@med.navy.mil

Amos Yong, Board Advisor, Regent University, Virginia Beach
ayong@regent.edu

About Faith Inclusion Network

The Faith Inclusion Network (FIN) of South Hampton Roads is a non-profit, grass roots organization founded in May of 2008, dedicated to helping faith communities develop inclusive ministries for people with disabilities and helping families affected by disability to find welcoming and accessible places to worship in South Hampton Roads, VA.

On May 1, 2008, 22 representatives from faith communities and disability service providers met for the first time to discuss how to broaden awareness, share resources and begin to better meet the spiritual needs of people with disabilities in our community. Since then, we have met for tri-annual general meetings in September, January and May, to offer networking and educational opportunities in the area of faith and disability. In May of 2009, we held our first conference called, "That All May Worship" which was attended by close to 100 people from South Hampton Roads and beyond.

GOALS

To help people with disabilities and their families find welcoming and accessible faith communities through the use of our website: Faith Inclusion Network and by FIN sponsored meetings and events.

To help faith communities better include people with disabilities into their congregations by providing opportunities to network and share resources with each other and local disability service providers.

To educate the general public about FAITH inclusion and disability issues by way of open general meetings, events and conferences.