Rev. Deborah DeWinter

The Rev. Deborah DeWinter, an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, is the Program Executive for the United States, World Council of Churches. She holds a Masters in Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Bachelor's degree from Luther College where she worked as Director of Career Planning and Placement Services following her graduation.  DeWinter served as a missionary in Hong Kong under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America developing advocacy and pastoral care ministries with Filipina migrant workers; facilitating the development of the Hong Kong Fellowship of Christian Artists; developing special outreach programs for Vietnamese refugees in the detention centers of Hong Kong; leading young adult service projects; and serving as pastor of a Chinese Lutheran congregation.  Her ministry in the United States has included pastoral ministry in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as Program Director for Resettlement at the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and Associate Director of the NCCC-USA Church World Service Refugee and Immigration Program.  She spent two years as a consultant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Resettlement Section in Geneva, Switzerland and just prior to her appointment at the WCC, was Executive Director of FilmAid International, New York. She was appointed by the WCC Central Committee meeting in August-September 2003, and took up her current position in September.  DeWinter is a member of the Community Church of Syosset (United Church of Christ) on Long Island, New York where she makes her home.

John Asher

John Asher serves as the Office Administrator and Program Assistant.  He holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from Fordham University, and Bachelors Degree in Communications from Washington State University.  Throughout his schooling, John held positions including Residence Hall Director and Graduate Housing Manager.    In these positions he developed several campus programs which addressed social justice concerns on campus.  He also completed a study abroad program in London, after which John traveled extensively in Europe and Japan.  John is originally from Washington State, where he began his lay ministry with youth at Columbia Presbyterian Church.  John's lay ministry continued after moving to NYC, where he reached out to the homeless through his work with Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church.  Currently, John serves as a youth leader at Trinity Baptist Church and on the Planning Committee for the 2009 Young Adult Ecumenical Forum.

David V. Fraccaro

David Valentine Fraccaro is a recent graduate of Union Theological Seminary, and is continuing his studies at Columbia University with a focus in religion and human rights. David originally came to NYC as an actor and singer, performing in theaters in New York City and across the country. During his time off from theater, David began working as a youth pastor to Union Congregational Church in Montclair, New Jersey, and later became pastor of 1st Congregational Church (UCC) of Woodbridge, NJ.  Throughout his time at UTS, David worked part time for the United Church of Christ at United Nations Church Center. David  has worked internationally on issues related to human rights and conflict resolution in Bolivia, Kenya and East Timor.   In addition, David has worked with United Caring Shelters for the homeless in Evansville, Indiana, with the Council of American Indian Ministries of the UCC in rural Oklahoma, and with No More Deaths on the Arizona/Mexico border.  David is currently in-care of the Metro Association of the New York Conference of the UCC through The Riverside Church, where he continues to serve as coordinator for Sojourners Ministry with detained immigrants.

Edna Palmer

 Edna Palmer is a native New Yorker who volunteers in the New York office twice a week.  She has been an active member of the ecumenical community for the last 45 years.  In the early 1960's she began working for the National Council of Churches, USA where she worked in the Friendship Press before going on to work with David Hunter, the then Deputy General Secretary.  She moved on to the commission on regional and local ecumenism before coming over to work for the WCC in 1980.

Edna brings a wealth of history, understanding and continuity to the US office.  She serves as part time receptionist and provides administrative support, while also welcoming guests and providing hospitality.  Her dedication, wisdom and bright smile throughout the years have been invaluable assets to the US office.

Alison Killeen

Alison Killeen, who recently joined the US conference as an intern to assist in planning the 2-4 December 2008 Annual Meeting, is in her third and final year of the Master in Divinity program at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  She received her B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador, and in the province of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.  In recent years, she has been involved in the non-profit coalition Ecumenical Women at the United Nations, where she currently serves as Communications Coordinator.  Alison is interested in Marian and Pauline theologies, international politics and human rights, and gender theories.