Board of Directors

The overall management of Pilgrims of Ibillin is carried out by a diverse Board of Directors. The Board establishes both long-term strategy and an annual operating plan for the organization - - which includes objectives to be pursued and specific projects to be supported in furtherance of the organization’s mission.

The Board of Directors also makes all final decisions on where funding is to be directed to overseas organizations and in support of what specific projects or initiatives. Finally, the Board exercises oversight of the organizations funded by Pilgrims to ensure that money is directed to projects that Pilgrims supports and in a manner consistent with U.S. laws and regulations.

Board Members - Pilgrims of Ibillin, 2011

The Rev. Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, President
Retired seminary president and pastor, Chicago, IL

Mr. Don Liebich, Vice President
Retired business person, member of Episcopal Church, Hailey, ID

The Rev. Dr. Duncan Ferguson, Secretary
Retired Presbyterian Pastor and past president, Assoc. of Presbyterian Universities and Colleges, Freeland, WA

Mr. Jeffrey Cowhey, Treasurer
Business Executive, Member of Roman Catholic Parish, Pennington, NJ

The Rev. Donald Brown
Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of North Haledon, NJ

The Rev. David Dillon, O. Carm.
Retired Catholic Priest, Darien, IL

Mr. Billy Ekofo
Producer & photographer, grad student, member Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth, VA 

Ms. Barbara Exley
Peace activist, Roswell, GA

The Rev. Dr. Donald Griggs
Retired Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and church educator, Livermore, CA

The Rev. Dr. Peter Henry
Senior Pastor, Grosse Pointe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Grosse Pointe, MI

The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Matsushima
Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Williamsburg, VA & Inverness, IL

The Rev. Robert Pryor
Retired Presbyterian Pastor and former missionary to Iran, Caldwell, NJ

Dr. Elias Shakour
Former MEEI Administrator, now working with Michigan Economic Development Corporation, member St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ann Arbor, MI

Ms. Michelle Shakour
University of Notre Dame, member St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, South Bend, IN

Mr. George Shalabi
Retired Business person, Lifelong friend of Father Chacour, Madison, WI

Rev. Dr. L. Michael Spath
Professor, Purdue University, and UCC Pastor, Fort Wayne, IN

The Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner
University teacher and consultant on Middle East, Evanston, IL

Staff
The Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer
Executive Director
336-499-5310 or pilgrims@triad.rr.com 

The Rev. Joan Deming
Development Director
608-241-9281 or jdeming7@gmail.com