Candidates standing for election to Vestry in 2025

Scroll down to rEAD ABOUT THE 10 CANDIDATES STANDING FOR THE 5 OPEN VESTRY SEATS IN THIS ELECTION YEAR. Candidates are: andrew smith, Anne Bloom, Darin Powers, Jamie Johnson, Karen Jacobson, Kevin Gentry, Lindsay Simmons, Norm Fichthorn, Stephanie Vogelzang and Tom Yates.

andrew smith

Hello! My wife, Carly, and I have been members of The Falls Church Anglican since 2008 and were confirmed in the church in 2010. We arrived as a newlywed Presbyterian/Methodist couple, and over the years, our family has grown to include three children: Wesley (11), Harvey (9), and Beatrix (6).

Throughout our time at TFCA, Carly and I have been deeply involved in the church’s ministries. We hosted a home group for young married couples for 7 years, walking alongside them as we all grew into young families. I have served on vestry before and had the privilege of leading the church’s personnel committee for 4 years. Additionally, I’ve been part of the Welcome Team ministry, serving as a committee chairman to reimagine our welcome experience. I am actively involved in a regular men’s Bible study and discipleship group (and, I’d add, unofficially in a rock climbing group with other TFCA men). Carly has also been involved in a number of ministries, now as a lay leader in women’s ministry.

Personally, I am continually getting to know Jesus more deeply. My spiritual journey has been shaped by cultivating daily disciplines such as Bible reading, prayer, journaling, and fasting. My own growth in Christ has been marked along the way with learning through both joy and hard times; through trial and error. But in it all, I see Jesus’ continuous provision in the midst of the mess. I don't have it all together but by God’s grace, he continues to pursue me and show more of his love to me in real ways.

Professionally, my career has been focused on talent management, consulting, and organizational development. I lead the HR Operations and HR Business Partner teams at a cybersecurity company, where my team oversees nearly all aspects of the employee experience. I previously worked at Marriott International in roles ranging from talent management to global operations.

This kind of service to the church can feel like a team sport in our house, trading off schedules and kid activities season after season; in that regard I’m so grateful to my family for supporting me in standing for this role. It would be an incredible honor to serve on vestry again, bringing the learnings from my life, work, and faith journey to support our church.

If elected to the Vestry, I will seek God's will corporately and serve to the best of my ability.

Anne Bloom

The Falls Church Anglican has been our church home for about 17 years.

Faith has always been at the cornerstone of my life as I was raised in a very devout Catholic family. At the age of 16 I made an earnest commitment to Christ and began to study the bible and have a more personal relationship with the Lord.

Jeff and I have been married for almost 38 years and have three sons and one amazing granddaughter. We have loved serving in this wonderful body of Christ here at TFCA. I previously served a term on the Vestry including serving as Junior Warden. Our family hosted Fellows for six years. I served as a mentor and on the admissions team for the Fellows. Previously, I was co-chair of the hospitality committee and chaired the all parish church picnic. More recently, it has been my great joy to serve on the leadership team for the 20’s and 30’s. Belonging to our small group of faithful brothers and sisters has been a cornerstone for community as we have prayed for and over one another’s children, spouses, parents, friends, careers and all manner of detours and milestones. Our small group is a living testimony of bearing one another’s burdens and sharing one another’s joys.

Professionally, I am a retired Navy Captain and currently work(very part time) in a clinic that serves low income and at risk patients. As a Family Nurse Practitioner(FNP) I have had the privilege to serve people at the intersection of faith, hope, despair, birth, death, healing, loss and life. I have always felt fortunate that I love what I do and feel called to my profession as an FNP and am so very grateful for the Christian foundation I have been given. I have been able to utilize those principles and precepts when providing care and counseling to my patients.

I am honored and humbled to stand for Vestry. I am most grateful for the saints who go with and before me in setting such a firm foundation on which we stand and thrive. Soli Deo Gloria.

Darin Powers

My wife, Christine, and I started attending TFCA in 2008. At the time, our three sons were in elementary and middle school and Cornerstone became central to our life. Now, with 31 years of marriage, our sons are out on their own, each benefiting from the discipleship of their Youth Family mentors, and Christine and I from the strong teaching from the pulpit. TFCA has and continues to be formative in our faith journey.

Through death and divorce, my mom raised my four brothers and I by herself. While we had a faith foundation at home, our interaction with mainline denominations was bumpy, as a family we just did not seem to fit in. For me, during my early years, in my young mind I translated these experiences into a need to repeatedly reaffirm my salvation. If there was an alter call, I was there. I wanted to ensure that I fit in and belonged to Christ. Just after college graduation, in my early 20’s I was baptized – it was then that Christ assured my heart that I belonged to Him forever. Since that time, as Christine and I have journeyed together, we’ve greatly benefited from the broader Christian community in both church based and parachurch ministries, from pre-marriage ministry to bible studies, to supportive small home-groups.

Early in our time here at TFCA, volunteering with Youth Family was our central place of engagement and community building. For the past 10 years, I’ve been active with the Fellows program, serving as a mentor, Job Teams lead, and now as Steering Committee Chair. Professionally, I am a retired Marine Corps officer, having served globally during the pre and post 9-11 national security era. Corporately, I am a redemptive builder, serving and having served in CEO, President and COO leadership roles in several companies, helping these organizations transform, grow, scale and meet the demands of a dynamic marketplace.

I am honored and thankful for the potential to serve TFCA as a Vestry member. I think back to my early years and finding ways to enable others to fit in and be part of the body is important to me, and a mindset that I desire to contribute as a potential Vestry member.

Jamie Johnson

I grew up in Ohio, where my family attended church regularly. Later in my early 20s while in graduate school, I committed my life to Christ through the witness of a friend. By God’s mercy, my faith deepened by being a part of some amazing churches over the years. I am deeply thankful that God has placed pastors and godly men in my life who have led, mentored, and discipled me in my spiritual journey. These experiences have given me a desire likewise to mentor, teach, and lead, where called at TFCA and previous churches, where I served on elder boards for many years.

My wife, June, and I have been a part of The Falls Church Anglican for almost four years and have experienced God’s rich grace and growth through the preaching of the Word, wonderful worship, rich fellowship, and blessed service to and with this wonderful community. I serve as an usher, prayer minister for Prayer at the Rail, member of the Welcome team, and as a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM). I also love being a part of the men’s ministry and actively participate in a weekly men’s group every Thursday morning. In addition, I (and June!) am studying and training to be a Spiritual Director to help people discern God’s presence and leading in their lives through Soul Shepherding Institute. Their program has led to an amazing period of spiritual growth in my life with Christ, and I look forward to serving and using my gifts further as the Lord leads.

June and I live in Arlington, have been married 30 years, and have two adult daughters. Professionally, my career began in South Carolina working as a nuclear engineer. Shortly after that I moved to Virginia, where for 30 years I served in numerous executive and leadership positions in the federal government for the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security. About two years ago, I felt the Lord leading me to leave government service, and now I serve as the Chief Operating Officer for a defense contracting company. I also serve as a leadership assessor and coach for government employees aspiring to senior leadership. Outside of work, my interests and hobbies include hiking, fishing, reading biographies, anything sports related, and travel.

I am humbled and honored to be considered for the Vestry. My prayer is that we at TFCA would continue to be a community that grows in grace and come to know the richness of God’s presence in seasons of our lives. TFCA is a very special place and I believe serving on the Vestry is an opportunity to further serve this church as the Lord would lead.

Karen Jacobson

The Falls Church has been my church home for most of my life and has been an incredible blessing to me and my family. My parents joined the church in 1980 as new believers. I was discipled in Sunday School and in the youth ministry, where I grew in faith and a fuller understanding of my salvation in Jesus Christ. My husband Alan and I met through family friends at The Falls Church and were married there in 2000. Our three boys, Troup (22), Will (20) and Alexander (16), were all baptized and confirmed at TFCA. I am so thankful for the ministry of Cornerstone and its leaders in their lives.

I have enjoyed serving in many different ministries at TFCA over the years. My husband Alan and I have been in a wonderful small group for almost a decade. We are currently leaders of this group, but really act as facilitators and schedulers as we all take turns leading. The families in our group are a core of friendship and fellowship for us at our large church.

I served as a member of the pastoral Care Team from 2013-2020. Some of these were tumultuous years, as we left the Episcopal church and weathered the pandemic. Being on the care team gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of caring for our own members in times of need. I believe this is vital for the life of our church and our witness.

When my children were younger, I taught Sunday school for a few years. I learned how essential this ministry is for the discipleship of our young ones, who are the future of the church. I was encouraged to see the fruit of this ministry when serving on the discernment committees of two young men seeking to confirm their call into full-time ministry with the blessing of our church.

Professionally, I am delighted to work as the program director at A Purposeful Day, a nonprofit founded by a fellow TFCA member. Our mission is to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing them with a sense of daily purpose.

This fall, I have felt led by the Holy Spirit to go deeper in my involvement at our church. As a result, I have joined the Women’s Ministry on Thursday mornings and am a new volunteer with TFCA’s ESOL program, both of which bring me great joy. I love our church, and I am honored to stand for the vestry. If elected, I would gladly and humbly serve with the hope of helping TFCA to thrive in its ministry and mission.

Kevin Gentry

Nearly 30 years ago, my wife, Anne, and I visited our church on the recommendation of friends, and we’ve never looked back.

Our children were baptized here. Our family grew up here, strengthened in faith by strong Biblical preaching and discipleship. We have been richly blessed to be a part of a truly special church that’s dedicated to worshiping our Lord and sharing the Good News about Jesus with others.

During this time, professionally, the Lord has led me to hone my gifts related to stewardship. My business is anchored in helping great causes to transform their marketing and fundraising. And I have drawn from my experiences to help TFCA, as well, having served for a long time as chairman of the stewardship committee.

Over these past three decades, I’ve also enjoyed the privilege to serve several times on TFCA’s vestry. During that period, though we have weathered many storms, God has always been with us. And our church has grown and thrived.

If chosen to serve again, you can expect me to hold steadfast to TFCA’s core vision and mission and to support our dedicated leadership and congregation on their efforts to invite others to meet Jesus.

Lindsay Simmons

I joined TFCA in September 2007 when my husband Josh and I moved to DC. The church has been a home and support for us over the last 17 years. Our three children have been baptized here, and they actively take part in Sunday school, youth group, retreats, vacation Bible school, and the many wonderful events offered by the church. Our family has served the church in different ways over the years, including that Josh (aka J.B. Simmons) wrote the story of TFCA in the book The Awakening of Washington's Church.

I am honored to be a regular Scripture reader during our worship services. I am deeply involved in the Women's Ministry at TFCA, including weekly Bible study, Women's Ministry events, and serving on the Women's Ministry Leadership Team. I've attended almost every Women's Retreat in the past 17 years because I love them! I have learned so much from church seminars and teachers. Last year I took the weekly healing prayer class and deepened my ability to hear from the Holy Spirit and pray for others. I have a life-long passion for worship.

Professionally, I am a former regulatory attorney and policymaker in the federal government, where I served for over 12 years. My area of expertise is executive compensation and related HR matters. I have experience on boards and working with different stakeholders to achieve goals. I hold a JD from UVA Law and an AB in Politics from Princeton. I currently focus full-time on my home and children.

I grew up attending a Vineyard church in Champaign, Illinois, and studied reformed theology in my Christian high school. I also learned about Catholicism while in college and attended Presbyterian and Episcopal churches in Charlottesville. The spirit-filled Anglican tradition at TFCA is indeed for me and my family a perfect "via media" (middle way). I am so grateful for this church community and the deepening and maturing of my faith over the years. It would be an honor to serve our church community on the vestry.

Norm Fichthorn

Growing up in Ohio, I attended Episcopalian churches and was baptized and confirmed. During my teen years I turned away from God, but He mercifully brought me, at age 22, to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Through my 20s, in northern Virginia and for three years while a law student in California, I attended good churches but found no long-term congregational home. In the early 1980s, I had visited The Falls Church and heard a compelling sermon by a young John Yates. Years later, it became especially important to commit to a church as my dating relationship with Melissa appeared to be progressing toward marriage. Remembering that John Yates sermon, I suggested to Melissa that we attend a Falls Church service. We did -- and realized immediately this would be our church home. As a newly engaged couple, we became members, and in 1990 we were married in the historic church. Our sons, Joe and Matthew, were baptized and confirmed in the church and attended Sunday school, Crossroads, and Cornerstone.

My family and I have been blessed immeasurably by participation in the life of TFCA. Many blessings have come from hosting eight Falls Church Fellows in our home, during several years beginning in 2010, and developing friendships through the Fellows program with church members of all ages. Over the years, I have also been blessed by serving in other ways, including helping in Sunday school, participating on a congregational discernment committee, assisting in various men’s ministry activities and discipling younger men, and representing TFCA as a delegate to the Diocesan Synod.

After 36 years working as an attorney at a law firm in Washington, I retired in 2021. Melissa and I enjoy traveling to national parks, getting together with friends, and spending time with Matthew, who lives with us, and with Joe and his wife and their two-year-old daughter, who live near Charlottesville.

It is humbling to be considered for service on Vestry. If elected, I pray my time and talents would be used in helping us to steward faithfully what God has given us to advance His purposes, to His glory.

Stephanie Vogelzang

Hello church! Thank you for considering me for the Vestry. Our family loves it here and is thankful for the strong community. My husband and I attended TFCA when we were first married in 2009 and then returned after working overseas. Since 2016, I've been a part of the women's ministry, helping on Thursday mornings and, more recently, helping to host a women’s small group on Tuesday nights. Through women’s Bible study and the greeting team, I've learned how vital prayer and Holy Spirit-guided community are to ensure a thriving church life!

Before TFCA, I was born and raised in a Christian home in Holland, Michigan. My faith “became my own” when tested at Yale while studying religion and politics in their ethics program and later when I lived and worked in London. Those two experiences mainly taught me the importance of belonging to an orthodox Bible-believing church, which is one of the reasons I love TFCA. I am also passionate about prayer and am thankful for the healing prayer ministry here. As Pastor Sam said in a recent sermon, “Prayer time is never wasted time!”

My favorite job is being a wife and mother to Betty (10) and William (8). I also care deeply about Christian education and serve as the Board Chair at Tyndale Christian School, a new classical, Charlotte Mason-inspired school that launched this year! In many ways, Tyndale is the fruit of TFCA, with many board members and families being church members. It has been a thrilling journey filled with God's provision and protection. It has also significantly grown my faith and kept me reliant on God's grace and guidance.

Tom Yates

I have been attending the Falls Church Anglican Church with my wife, Kim, and two children, Caroline (20) and Henry (18) since 2013. We were drawn to the church because of its clear Biblical teaching and the sacrificial stand it took in 2006.

I grew up in a Christian family and attended an evangelical Episcopal church. I do not remember ever not calling myself a Christian. I came to a mature understanding of the reality of God and his desire to walk with me daily as a college student, surprisingly with a small group within my fraternity. Over the years, it has been amazing to me how God has been at work in my life and the lives of my family.

Professionally, I am a partner at the law firm of Yates Campbell LLP in Fairfax City. My law practice concentrates in the area of trusts and estates.

My involvement at TFCA includes serving as a member of the Finance Committee (including as Chair), Vestry, the new Endowment Committee (as Chair), former member of the managing board of the 6565 Arlington Boulevard LLC, an usher and current acting chancellor for the Vestry (providing legal advice).

I am excited about the future of TFCA as we lean into our mission and ministry. I am encouraged that God clearly has had his hand on the direction of this church.