Standing Committee Members

Christopher Cassidy has been a parishioner at St. Stephen’s in Delmar since the late ‘nineties. He has been married to his wife, Debby, for 45 years. Together they have three adult sons, three daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Chris has served as Lector, Vestry member, Senior Warden, Finance Committee Chair, Stewardship Committee Chair, Search Committee Co-Chair, Delegate to Diocesan and two General Conventions. He also serves as a member of both the Trustees and Finance committee for the diocese. Chris has served as a member, and now President of the Standing Committee for the Diocese. Chris is a Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Advisors in Albany. He and his wife reside in Delmar, New York.

Father Tom Malionek is in his second term on the Standing Committee. He has also served on Diocesan Council, the Commission on Ministry, and the Great Chapter of the Cathedral, and as Dean of the Hudson Valley. Associated with the Albany Diocese since 2008 and canonically resident throughout his ordained ministry, he was Rector of Saint Paul’s, Kinderhook, from 2015 through 2024. With long experience in ministries of spiritual direction, discipleship, and formation, he sees the Holy Spirit intent on shaping and molding, not just holy individuals, but a holy People — the Body of Christ, the Church — through sound teaching, strong liturgy, rootedness in tradition, and commitment to a personal and corporate way of life with Christ at the absolute center. He and Mtr. Judith (Rector of Saint John’s, Troy) have two phenomenally stellar grown children. Though retired from full-time parish ministry, he remains active in the diocese. He is an avid amateur chef and shovels snow for fun.

The Rev. Katherine G. Alonge-Coons (Mother Kathy Coons) – a graduate of St Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry (MDiv), SUNYA School of Social Welfare (MSW), Siena College (BA Sociology). A Bi-vocational priest at Grace Church, Waterford, NY; Licensed Clinical Social Worker; employed as Rensselaer County Commissioner of Mental Health; 2018 & 2022 Deputy to General Convention; and active in Albany Episcopal Cursillo ministry. Married to Earl Coons since 1982 residing in Troy, NY. With two adult daughters: Melissa and Grace.

The Reverend Thomas Pettigrew has been a priest for 12 years, currently serving as the Rector of St. George’s, Schenectady. Previously he was Rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, Warrensburg. He has served on Diocesan Council; the Profile & Search Committee, where he moderated the Listening Sessions around the Diocese; as the moderator of the CtK Listening Sessions held throughout the Diocese; and the Consecration Planning Committee. In his free time, he enjoys hiking in the Southern Adirondacks; participating in living history events throughout the Mohawk & Hudson Valleys; and making contacts around the world through amateur radio.

Fr. Derik served as a curate for two years at St Stephen’s Delmar, two years at Christ and St. John’s, Rouses Point and Champlain. Served St. Francis in Grayling, Michigan for 14 years and has been serving as Rector of Christ Church Ballston Spa since 1994. His 30 year ministry at Christ Church has brought significant growth, building projects, outreach to the community, evangelism and discipleship. In the Diocese he has served as a Dean, served on the Standing Committee, and currently is serving the CTK Advisory Board. He and his wife Cathy have 10 children and 6 grandchildren.

The Rev. Arthur Garno is the Rector St. John’s Delhi NY and St. Peter’s Hobart NY since October 2020. Prior to his current position, Fr. Art was Priest-In-Charge of St. Paul’s Waddington NY. Fr. Art was ordained to the Deaconate in 2005 and the Priesthood in 2017. He served at St. John’s in Ogdensburg before appointment in 2009 as Deacon Vicar at St. Paul’s and subsequently Priest-In-Charge. During this time, Fr. Art was Director of Workforce Development at SUNY Canton and before that worked in the Electronics Industry in Manufacturing Engineering. Fr. Art has served several terms on Diocesan Council and is now serving the Diocese on the Standing Committee. Fr. Art and his wife Tammy have two grown children, The Rev. Scott Garno, priest in the Albany Diocese and Stacy Summers who works in special education, in the Albany area. They have 7 grandchildren; Josiah with our Lord and Samuel, Maria, Tobias, Payton, Parker and Piper.

Lynne was ordained as a deacon in 1991 and currently serves at St Lukes on the Hill in Mechanicville/Halfmoon. In the Diocese, Lynne serves on the CtK healing team, the Missions Committee ,the Deacons Council and the Welcome Home Initiative prayer team. She has previously served on both the Commission of Ministry and the Standing Committee. Before retiring , she worked as the social work supervisor for the Hospice of Saratoga. Lynne is married to her dearly loved husband Clark and has 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

Sue Ellen has a diverse church background: raised in the Presbyterian church, then a member of the Church of the Nazarene, then received as a member of the Episcopal church in 1996. She moved into the Diocese of Albany in 2000. She retired from a 44 year career in Nursing in 2017. Her home parish is Calvary, Burnt HIlls. She loves and cherishes her involvement in the Diocese of Albany through Cursillo, Healing a Woman’s Soul, Daughters of the King, and the Welcome Home Initiative. Sue Ellen considers it an honor to serve on the Diocesan Convention planning committee, Episcopal Charities, and the Standing Committee. She was a lay deputy to the General Convention in 2009, 2012, and 2015 and has plans to return to the next General Convention, scheduled for 2022. She is dedicated to prayer and labor toward discerning God’s will for the Tenth Bishop of Albany.

Jean Stevens-Lauria has been an active member of the Diocese of Albany since 1978. Her home parish is St. George’s in Clifton Park, where she currently serves as Senior Warden. She is a retired Associate Commissioner of the New York State Education Department. She has been actively involved at St. George’s for over 40 years, serving on the vestry, Chair of Trustees for St. George’s School, Stewardship Committee, Facilities Management, including multiple capital campaigns, Altar Guild, Choir, and Christian Formation programming, including Alpha, the Disciples program, multiple Bible studies and EFM. Jean is a trained facilitator for Healthy Congregations. She was elected to the Standing Committee at the October 2020 Annual Convention.

Gary Sorensen attended Albany Collage of Pharmacy receiving a BS in Pharmacy and New York teacher’s certification secondary level-science. As a professional person he worked in the Pharmaceutical field from 1998-2011. He has been attending St. Ann’s Church in Amsterdam, NY, for 13 years. The last 8 years he served as Warden. He is also head of the men’s group, leader of the building and grounds committee and helps out in ministry on an as needed basis.

Dave Malsan has been a member of St Paul’s Kinderhook since 1989. He has served there as a vestryman (21 years), Warden (2 years), videographer, Strawberry Festival chairman, children’s Christmas mass coordinator, and gravedigger. He has served in this diocese on the Disciplinary Board, Diocesan Council, and Deputy to General Convention. In 2017 Dave retired from NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision as a Labor Relations Specialist, with a focus on employee grievances and discipline. Dave has been married to his wife Bonnie for 36 years, and lives in Valatie.

A retired middle school counselor, Barbara Breen has been a parishioner at St. Mary’s, Lake Luzerne, for 20 years. She currently serves as a warden, ECW co-president, lector, office volunteer, and member of the Altar Guild, DOK, and Stewardship Committee. She represented the Southern Adirondack Deanery on the Profile and Search Committee and since February has filled a vacancy on the Standing Committee. Widowed for 2½ years, Barbara is blessed by the faithfulness of her family, friends, church, and especially our Lord.