Bishop Stacy F. Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, has announced that Charles Allen Wynder, Jr. has been named Episcopal Church Missioner for Social Justice and Advocacy Engagement.
As Missioner for Social Justice and Advocacy Engagement, Wynder will be responsible for engaging Episcopalians in building, resourcing and empowering advocacy movements and networks for social justice at a local and community level. Additionally, the Missioner will develop and support diocesan State Public Policy Networks; build and support locally led coalitions for social change according to the policy positions of The Episcopal Church (with a particular focus on racial-justice and related issues); and execute other creative-leadership initiatives to mobilize Episcopalians on issues of social change.
Wynder’s position is a member of the churchwide Justice and Advocacy staff with offices in Washington DC.
"Chuck Wynder's practice of building and enhancing learning communities through engagement and deep listening with individuals and communities is exactly what the church needs to do the work of transforming unjust structures of society,” said Lelanda Lee, an Executive Council member from the Diocese of Colorado and a member of the interview team. “His experience makes him well suited to tackle the many intersectionalities that occur in diverse issues of social justice."
“Chuck Wynder brings to The Episcopal Church a very deep passion for justice in a variety of contexts, an immense set of relational gifts, and a profound theological depth,” noted Alexander Baumgarten, Episcopal Church Director of Justice and Advocacy Ministries for The Episcopal Church. “As the Missionary Society increasingly strives to equip the Baptismal ministry of advocacy at a local level, I am confident Chuck’s work will support and enrich the ministry of Episcopalians working to be catalysts for equality, justice, and transformation in their communities.”
Most recently Wynder was the executive director of the Boston Workers Alliance. Prior to that he held leadership positions at such organizations as National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Legal Services of Eastern Virginia; served as an adjunct professor at Hampton University; and maintained a private law practice.
The recipient of many awards, Wynder previously served on the Diocese of Massachusetts Mission Institute Task Force; vestries of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Washington, DC and St. Cyprians in Hampton, VA; Diocese of Washington Task Force on Black Congregations; Washington Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, and various legal and civic associations.
Wynder is a graduate of Episcopal Divinity School, University of Michigan Law School and Syracuse University.
Wynder begins his new position on June 18. He will be based in Charlotte, NC. He can be reached at cwynder@episcopalchurch.org.