NBA Announces Staffing Updates for 2018

by NBA Cares

NBA StaffNBA Staff

The National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is grateful for the ongoing commitment of our staff and is pleased to announce several staffing updates for 2018.

As the NBA deepens and expands its programmatic work, two contract staff are growing their roles with the NBA moving forward.

Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker has been serving in a contract position as NBA Organizing Specialist with the Ferguson Justice Initiative. Effective February 1, 2018, she transitioned to Program Coordinator for Advocacy and Activism, a new .50 FTE staff position with the NBA. This work flows from NBA’s mission to “advocate for the well-being of humanity” and is done in collaboration and consistent communication with fellow NBA staff to equip the NBA and our ministry partners to deepen engagement in advocacy and activism. Following the trajectory of the work begun with the Ferguson Justice Initiative, these efforts utilize relationships, wisdom, and processes built and tested through that work.

Based in St. Louis, MO, Dietra will nurture engagement strategies with the NBA and our partners to transform root causes of social injustice. This includes equipping and training partners to address the critical social justice issues most relevant to their work, and collaborating with NBA staff to cultivate partnerships across the life of the church to coordinate efforts related to social justice theology, action, and advocacy.

Rev. Héctor Hernández has been serving as Convener of the NBA Prison and Jail MinistriesPeer Group. He continues in that role and now also serves as Hispanic Outreach Coordinatorwith the NBA Mental Health Initiative (MHI), effective August 1, 2017. Hector has particular responsibility leading the MHI team on adapting, implementing, and evaluating the MHI design within and in relation to the Disciples Hispanic communities across the church. This includes developing collaborative relationships with the Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries (Obra Hispana), the Hispanic Convenciones, regions, other general ministries, congregations, and appropriate ecumenical contacts. Hear more about this work via videos from Héctor (in Englishand Español).

Based in Indianapolis, IN, Héctor works approximately 35 hours a month with NBA as contract staff, in addition to serving as Interim Pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana Nueva Creación in Indianapolis, IN.

“Deepening our engagement in the areas of mental health and wellness within the Hispanic community and supporting the work of Disciples’ advocacy and activism each reflect the NBA’s commitment to creating communities of compassion and care in ways that matter most given the needs of this day,” says Rev. Rebecca Hale, NBA Executive Vice President.

Additionally, effective January 1, 2018, three full-time staff members have been promoted in recognition of their excellent work and the increased responsibilities they have taken on during their tenures with the NBA.

Rev. Rebecca Hale, previously Vice President of Mission and Ministry, now serves as Executive Vice President. Her role with the NBA continues to adapt to the needs of the NBA and the church. Rebecca represents the NBA within appropriate general church settings in order to support the broader work of the church, catalyze a forward-leaning programmatic vision and strategy for the NBA, and maintain missional consistency and integrity across program areas, developing a program infrastructure to ensure both innovation and sustainability. Rebecca is based in Lenoir City, TN.

Rev. Dani Loving Cartwright, previously Assistant Vice President of Operations, now serves as Vice President of Operations. In this role, Dani directs and manages a variety of administrative and missional activities to ensure efficiency and continuity across the organization.  She is a strategic thought-partner with the NBA Leadership Team and coordinates the organization’s strategic planning process and the implementation of such plans. Dani is based in Dallas, TX.

Kara Whitehouse, previously Administrative Assistant, now serves as Executive Support Manager, overseeing and providing ongoing administrative support services to the onsite and deployed staff of the NBA. Setting the tone for hospitality and creating a welcoming office environment, Kara manages the St. Louis office day-to-day responsibilities and vendor relationships, coordinates event logistics, assists team directors in their planning timelines and details, and will supervise a part-time Office Assistant. Kara is based in St. Louis, MO.

“As the NBA goes deeper and wider to assist Disciples ministries in creating communities of compassion and care, we adjust our internal staffing to meet current and future needs,” says Mark D. Anderson, NBA President and CEO. “I am grateful for the incredible leadership that is woven throughout NBA.”

Please join us in recognizing these talented, dedicated staff as they live out their vocational calls with the NBA and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)!

Printer-friendly version here! >>

As the health and social services general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the National Benevolent Association partners with congregations, regions, general ministries, and a variety of Disciples-related health and social service providers to create communities of compassion and care. Founded in 1887 by six women responding to the needs of the day and on their doorsteps, for more than 130 years the NBA has continued to serve “the least of these.” Learn more at www.nbacares.org.