Nan Cobbey, former Communications officer for Diocese of Haiti, to preach at Opening Eucharist

“Beyond Ourselves” is the theme of the 109^th Convention of the Diocese of Lexington, with an emphasis on Haiti, companion diocese of Lexington.  Nan Cobbey, Associate Editor of Episcopal Life, the national newspaper of the Episcopal Church in the USA, and former Communications officer for the Episcopal Church of Haiti’s Office de Developpement, will preach at the Opening Eucharist of the 109^thConvention of the Diocese of Lexington, Thursday evening, Feb. 17, at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington.  The annual convention business sessions will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, with housing and banquet at the Marriott at Griffin Gate.

Cobbey, who served as Features Editor/Writer for Episcopal Life before being named Associate Editor in 2003, founded and edited Bulletin de Nouvelles, the tri-lingual diocesan newspaper of Haiti, which was printed in Kreyol, French and English. She coordinated projects for the dicoese’s social and economic development office, and conducted orientation for all visiting North American church and political officers.

A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in political science, sociology and psychology, Cobbey has done graduate study in theology, ethics and issues of social justice at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and in language, literature, political science and art at the Universite de Paris (Sorbonne) in Paris, France. Fluent in French, Spanish and Haitian Kreyol, she has received numerous awards for feature and news writing. Known as a “creative, high-energy, results-oriented self-starter,” Cobbey is passionate about social justice issues, including economics, ethics, politics, poverty, anti-racism and human rights.  Her other interests include Caribbean cultures, ethnic cooking and cultural values expressed through food and hospitality, gardening and landscape design and Scottish country dancing.

Ann Davis McClain, St. Peter’s, Paris, and Mary McMillin, Holy Trinity, Georgetown, convention committee co-chairs for the banquet, announce plans for a gala diocesan gathering in the Pavilion at the Marriott at Griffin Gate which will include a candlelight dinner with musical accompaniment, choices of four entrees, and after-dinner listening and dancing to the music of the band “Eclipse.”  “We encourage communicants across the diocese to use the form in The Advocate to join in this wonderful evening,” the co-chairs urge.

Information regarding nominations and resolutions will be included in the January edition of The Advocate.