Luke L Miller
President
Luke L Miller grew in the Mennonite church on a farm in Ohio and attended Goshen College before pursuing medical studies in Chicago. He joined the BMC board in 2016 and has also been a leader of Pink Menno since its inception in 2009. He practices Radiation Oncology in the Chicago area, where he lives with his husband Christian. Luke and Christian alternate summers at their cabin on Lake Michigan with winters in the city, and enjoy any chance to go back to Ohio to spend time with family, especially Luke's ten nieces & nephews.
Erica Lea-Simka
Vice President
Erica Lea-Simka serves as pastor of Albuquerque Mennonite Church. She is a graduate of San Jacinto College, Texas A&M University, and Truett Theological Seminary. She has served Baptist and Mennonite congregations in Wyoming, Texas, North Carolina, and Washington DC. When not at church or serving the community, she enjoys cooking, nature walks, British mysteries, travelling, and time with her spouse, Ryan. Connect with Erica on Twitter- @RevEricaLea
Karen Orr
Secretary
Karen Orr is a member of Calgary Inter-Mennonite Church in Alberta, Canada. She is semi-retired after a career in environmental protection and management. She loves the outdoors and spends as much time as possible hiking in the Rockies near her home in Calgary. Karen is a proud parent of three adult children and grandparent to two grandchildren. She is active in the LGBTQ community in Calgary and is a co-facilitator with New Directions, a local transgender support group.
Josih Hostetler
Treasurer
Josih Hostetler joined the BMC Board in 2016. He grew up in Church of the Brethren congregations in the Midwest and East Coast. Josih attended Goshen College, and graduated from Manchester University. He served two years volunteering through the UCC Volunteer Ministries at BMC as the Kaleidoscope Coordinator from 2003-2005. Upon receiving an MSW from the University of Minnesota, Josih has worked in health outreach programs in university settings. He lives in La Verne, California with his husband, Jon. Josih is a member the La Verne Church of the Brethren and is involved in Peace and Justice efforts through the congregation.
Jess Hoffert
Board Member
Jess Hoffert grew up in the Lewiston Church of the Brethren in southeast Minnesota. While working toward his degrees in magazines and broadcast news at Drake University, he attended the Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren in Des Moines, Iowa. Jess has worked at Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation since 2011 as a writer and editor for Midwest Living, the Official State Travel Guides for Kansas and North Carolina, and other publications. He currently works remotely from his home in Minneapolis, where he lives with his partner Andrew and his cats Leo and Max. Jess currently attends the Common Spirit and Open Circle Brethren congregations in the Twin Cities.
Theda Good
Board Member
Theda Good is Pastor of Connections at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, Ohio. She is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, VA with an M. Div and concentration in Spiritual Formation/Direction. Originally from Pennsylvania, Theda lives with her partner, Dawn Kreider in the quaint town of Bluffton. She has been a board member since 2016. When not working for the church Theda can be found working on a house renovation project, enjoying the outdoors or playing pickleball.
Xaris Martínez
Board Member
Xaris A. Martínez is a historian who works at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. She grew up as a Mennonite pastor's kid in California and missionary kid in Guatemala before completing degrees at UCLA and the University of Mississippi and doctoral coursework at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Xaris is a member of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship and is involved in the sanctuary movement and racial equity efforts in her community.