What Is a Vestry?
A Vestry is an elected group of parishioners that helps manage resources, buildings and finances, define and articulate the mission of the congregation, supports the church’s mission by word and deed, selects the rector and church leadership, ensures effective organization and planning, and serves as liaison between members, clergy and staff. Each year at the Annual Meeting in January, CCBNY parishioners vote on who to elect to this governing board. The rector presides over the Vestry. If you would like to contact vestry leadership, please contact warden@ccbny.org
Current Vestry Members
The Rev. Kurt Gerhard D.Min., Rector
On May 8, 2022, Christ Church welcomed the Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard as its Rector. Father Kurt comes to Bronxville from St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and Day School in Washington, D.C. where he served as Rector for 12 years. Prior to his time at St. Patrick’s, Father Kurt was the Senior Chaplain at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin, TX for nearly 9 years. He has a Doctorate of Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary and a Masters of Divinity from Seminary of the Southwest. He was Chair of the Commission on Ministry in the Diocese of Washington, where he won praise for the pastoral care, concern, and gentle approach he took with ordinands. He is married to Jennifer, a palliative care physician and an active Episcopalian, and they are parents to Esther.
Father Kurt’s greatest passion is to connect with people and help them find new paths in life. He often preaches about the effect of current events on our spiritual lives and the Christian responsibility to bring about heaven here on earth.
Gillian Goddard, Senior Warden
Gillian Goddard has been a resident of Bronxville and a member of Christ Church Bronxville since 2009. She has been a Church School teacher since 2012 and has been a member of the Vestry since 2019. Gillian is an endocrinologist in private practice in New York City and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Hospital. She and her husband Holt have four children, Jack, Evelyn, Freddie and Charlie, who attend The Bronxville School and participate in CCBNY’s children’s programs at almost every level. After spending much of her childhood in the ballet studio, Gillian is an avid supporter of the arts and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Notes in Motion Outreach Dance Theater, an organization that provides arts education in underserved NYC schools.
Rob Deichert, Junior Warden
Rob Deichert was born and raised in Bronxville attending the Bronxville School as well as Christ Church. Rob moved back to Bronxville with his wife Diana in 2006 to start their family. They have three sons Otto, Zachary, and Teddy who attend the church programs. He's been active in the community serving for seven years as the Treasurer and board member at Gramatan Gardens Coop and presently serves on the condo board of Gramatan Court. He is also active in Cub Scouts where he is currently the Cubmaster of Pack 5. Professionally, he currently serves as chief revenue officer at TuneIn.com, a global digital radio platform. When Rob isn’t chasing after the boys or BBQing he’s beekeeping or sailing out on Long Island.
Tracy Cole, Clerk
Tracy Cole has been attending CCBNY since she and her family moved to Bronxville in 2010, and has served two terms in the vestry. She and her husband Rich Barker have two children, Ali (21) and Megan (18), who have grown up in the CCB family, particularly loving EYC and the pilgrimages to Taizé. Tracy is an attorney at BakerHostetler, where she specializes in litigation, investigations, and whistleblower and compliance issues.
Pierre Bouvard
Pierre Bouvard is Chief Insights Officer for Cumulus Media and Westwood One and leads their Audio Active Group, a media and creative advisory service. Pierre works with brands and agencies to craft targeting and measurement solutions. Previously, Pierre was SVP of Sales for TiVo Research & Analytics where he led cross-media targeting and measurement engagements for Procter & Gamble, Comcast, Turner Broadcasting, and NBCU. As President of Sales and Marketing for Arbitron Inc., Bouvard launched Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) and created the out-of-home and custom research divisions. Pierre's wife is Dr. Mary Rosser who is an OB-Gyn at Columbia Doctors who leads their Integrated Women's Health Program. Mary and Pierre have two daughter's, Isabella is a freshman at American University and Sophia is a senior at Bronxville High School.
Karen Sheer Carpenter
Karen Sheer Carpenter has been an enthusiastic member of Christ Church since her family moved to Bronxville in 1967. While attending BHS and playing sports was a joy, belonging to Christ Church was always the most important connection in Karen’s life. Karen has served on the vestry in the past, participated in a rector search and taught Sunday School. She continues to lead the ushers, which is a true pleasure. Dave and Karen Carpenter were married at Christ Church. Karen is pleased to see how the church has increased its outreach, and the wonderful new members and staff who have joined. After a career at Citigroup, Karen is an HR manager at a leading animal lifesaving organization. She is excited to be able to share her time and experience as a member of the vestry.
Stephen Cubbellotti
Stephen Cubbellotti has been a member of Christ Church since 2018, a choir member since 2022, and a member of the vestry since 2023. While he was born a Roman Catholic, he was received by the Episcopal Church in 2023. Stephen holds a Bachelor's in Psychology with minors in music and math from Marist College and a Ph.D. in Psychometrics from Fordham University. He married his husband, Jonathan Lam, at Christ Church in 2019 and is father to Alexander "Kit" who was baptized at Christ Church in 2023.
Rich Dower
Rich Dower became a member of the church in 2016 after son Nate joined Young at Arts. The entire family was taken by the warmth of the congregation and inclusivity of the services at CCBNY. Since that time Rich has enjoyed many church programs with his family: wife Laura, who has directed the church pageant for several years; daughter Olivia; son Myles; and son Nate, who will be joining this year’s pilgrimage to Taize. Rich is currently a global history teacher at New Rochelle High School, and has been in that district for 27+ years. A former Scoutmaster at Bronxville Troop 1, Rich loves hiking, birdwatching, and community service.
Hershell George
Hershell George was first introduced to the Episcopal Church his freshman year at Ole Miss, where he earned a BA in Biology & German and a BFA in Printmaking & Painting. He received a fellowship to Pratt Institute and came to Brooklyn to study Printmaking, earning an MFA in 1973.He and his wife, Margaret, were married at Calvary Church in 1989. In 1994 the family moved to the Cedar Knolls section of Bronxville/Yonkers and Hershell started attending Christ Church. Hershell has served on the Vestry of CCB for two previous terms. Having run his own design studio in NYC for almost 50 years, he has done extensive design work for CCB, including two books, the 100th Anniversary parish history book “Built Upon a Rock” and “American Sarum”. He also runs a local catering business, bxvFood, and has catered many events at CCB. His responsibility as Sacristan is to maintaining the high standard of the Sarum Rite liturgical tradition at Christ Church Bronxville, both practically and aesthetically.
Vanya Hersh
Vanya, a newly admitted attorney describes herself as a cradle-raised Episcopalian. After graduating college in 2014, Vanya found her spiritual home here at CCBNY. Since then she regularly serves on the altar as a Lay Reader, Subdeacon and Thurifer. Vanya also enjoys attending and chaperoning EYC events. An avid traveler, she has also taken the pilgrimage to Taizé and the Holy Land. For the past two years she has served on the vestry and looks forward to the future of Christ Church.
Cristle Collins Judd
Cristle Collins Judd and her late husband Bob joined Christ Church in 2017 when Cristle was appointed the president of Sarah Lawrence College. You can see her academic bio here. What follows offers a bit about her faith journey. Growing up in a small town in Texas in the Southern Baptist tradition, Cristle was certain when she left home for college that she was leaving behind church and anything to do with it, including--and especially- -God. But God clearly had sense of humor as well as a different plan. As a music major, during her junior and senior year in college, Sunday after Sunday found her in one church after another being paid to play the oboe. Along the way Cristle (re)discovered her faith and the expression of that faith in the liturgy and catechism of the Episcopal church. Cristle and Bob (a lifelong Episcopalian) were married in the Anglican communion at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford while they were grad students. As their academic careers took them around the globe from England to Australia and various parts of the US, worship and their church communities anchored their lives together, as three daughters, Katie, Hannah, and Sarah, joined the family. Cristle’s involvement in prior parishes has included a stint on a church staff, as a Director of Children’s Ministries, as well as teaching Sunday school, leading children’s worship and music, singing in choirs, leading youth events, chairing a discernment committee, and serving on vestries. She is honored to be called now to serve on the vestry at CCBNY.
Jamie O’Grady
James O’Grady is a Bronxville resident, husband to Megan and father to Cornelius and Maeve. By vocation, he is a partner at the law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP. In addition to James, Megan is also an active member of the Christ Church community, where she teaches Godly Play, and their children have thoroughly enjoyed participating in church activities such as the Christmas Crèche Pageant. Prior to moving to Bronxville, James was an active member of St. James Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he served as a member of the Grants Committee and was baptized alongside his son Cornelius during the 2017 Easter season. A life long Yankees fan, James grew up on the Upper West Side, where he attended the Trinity Episcopal School for thirteen years. James is thrilled to be joining a group of accomplished and engaged parishioners on the church Vestry and to continue the mission of Christ Church in the community.
Laura Prior
Laura Prior is a lifelong Episcopalian, having been raised at Christ Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She married her husband Christian, a Bronxville native, at Christ Church in Westerly, Rhode Island, and started attending her favorite of the Christ Churches (BXV, naturally) in 2009. She and her family live in Tuckahoe, where Clara (age 10) and Andrew (age 7 and 3/4) attend the Cottle School. Sunday worship has always been an important part of Laura’s life, one that she hopes to instill in her children. Clara received her first holy communion at CCBNY in 2021, and Andrew will do so this Spring. Laura holds an officer title of her investment group at her advertising agency. In her spare time she is an avid yogi, burgeoning gardener, and enthusiastic home cook.
Deborah Ross
Deborah Ross is the daughter of an Episcopal priest and an actress. She has been a member of Christ Church Bronxville since 1998. Her daughters Nora and Ella were confirmed at CCB and went to Taize multiple times. Deborah has been a church school teacher for 20 years and is currently the teacher for Communion class (Gr 2/3). She was an active member of the Working Mother’s Fellowship and the Women’s group and currently joins the Women’s Guild meetings. She is a lay reader, member of the Parish choir, and occasional usher. She directed the Christmas Creche service for 4 years but does not miss the stress of that duty. Deborah is the Chair of the Elize Corwin Frost Child Center Steering Committee. While Deborah served on the Vestry as Clerk for one year, this is her first term as a vestry member. Deborah is the Executive Director of the Joyce and George Wein Foundation, following her 35 yr. tenure working with George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz and Newport Folk Festivals, among many others.