July, August, September 2002

It is with a great deal of joy and enthusiasm that we announce to you the calling of the Rev. Carlotta B. Cochran as our Executive Director. Lottie, as she is affectionately known, is a native Virginian and has previously served parishes in Roanoke and Norfolk, Virginia where she recently served as Associate Rector. She and her husband Tom will continue to reside in the Norfolk area. Lottie comes to this job with a well-rounded background of experience, a B.S. in Business Administration as well as a Virginia Teaching Certificate in Secondary Mathematics. After a few years in the business and teaching world, Lottie felt the call to the ordained ministry, and, having gone through the process of ordination, she was graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1993.

Her previous ordained ministry experiences have prepared her well for AFP work. They include working on deepening the spiritual life of adults through Bible study, prayer groups, quiet days, vigils and retreats, creating innovative small group ministries, intergenerational programs, working with multi-racial congregations for joint prayer and worship, and the practical parish work of Capital Stewardship and annual stewardship campaigns. Lottie is an engaging, inspiring preacher, and has worked to create powerful worship experiences to help draw children and families into the Church. She has a deep feeling for the entire church family.

Accolades came from Bishops interviewed as well as from the Dean of the Virginia Theological Seminary. The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, Bishop of the diocese of Virginia sent his congratulations and described Lottie as a splendid priest. The Very Rev. Martha Home, Dean and President of V.T.S. (where Lottie serves on the Board of Trustees) wrote a glowing endorsement:

"It is difficult for me to imagine a better candidate for the position you are seeking to fill. Lottie is an excellent leader with superb administration skills. She also is a woman whose faith permeates all that she does, and whose life is grounded in prayer. She is an articulate speaker and a gracious presence who would be well received by the many people involved with the AFP."

These endorsements speak volumes about the person we have called to be our next Executive Director. Lottie is as excited as we are about beginning her tenure with us on April 2, 2002, and I hope many of you will be able to meet her at our conference in Denver where she will be officially installed at the closing Eucharist by the Rt. Rev. Barry Curtis, Co-Director of AFP, Canada.