Cathedral Church of the Nativity
2014 Nominating Committee Candidates Profiles
(Vote for 3, 1-Year Term)
CHIP MONTGOMERY
Chip lives in Bethlehem. He has been a member of the Cathedral since
1969. He is married to Alison and they have 2 children Alyssa and Ian. His
parents are Dee and Jean Montgomery. Chip works in Marketing/Sales for
Honeywell. His parish activities include nine years on Vestry (1 year as
Junior Warden), 12 years Camp Staff, 4 years Convention Delegate, Judge of
Election for 5 years, Third Millennium Fund Board member and Board
Secretary for 4 years, Head Usher, Past Choir member, Nominating
Committee 4 years, etc., etc. Some of Chip’s hobbies and activities are watching Rugby, Single Malt
Scotch, Cigars, Celtic Cultural Alliance Board Member and Board Secretary, Camp, making spaghetti
sauce. When asked what he is most excited about to the future of the Cathedral, he said “Tony
Pompa”! He feels one of the greatest challenges for the Cathedral’s future is new members and
sustaining existing members. He also feels we need to increase involvement of the entire parish. I
feel that the bulk of the parish sits around and let’s about 10% of the people do all the work. He said
if everyone could get motivated to assist in some small way imagine the energy and things we could
accomplish.
PHIL SCHENKEL
Phil has been a member of Nativity since 1987. He married Maureen at
Nativity in October 1990. Their son Matthew was baptized there in January
1993 and he is now a Junior Political Science Major at West Chester
University. Phil is a commercial real estate broker with 27 + years in the
industry. Some of his parish activities include: Usher and Lector since 1987,
Vestry from 1998-2004 (2 years as Jr Warden) and 2008-2011 (1 year as Jr.
Warden and 1 year as Sr. Warden), Third Millennium Fund Board, from 20002007 and 2009 to present. He is also a Member of various other committees,
sub-committees and general initiatives. Some of Phil’s hobbies/activities are
golfing, running, reading as well as assisting my lovely wife Maureen behind
the scene in some of her new business ventures she has pursued since closing her store Mixed Bag on
Main in Bethlehem in October of 2013.
RAYMOND ARCARIO
Raymond and his wife Karyn live in Coopersburg. They have four sons. He
works for the State of New Jersey as a government official. Raymond has
attended Nativity since 1999. He has been involved in the following ministries:
Youth Camp (currently director), Property Committee, Capital Campaign,
Sunday School Mentor, J2A, Rite 13 and YAC, Acolyte Master (currently),
Vestry (Jr. Warden one year, Sr. Warden five years), Diocesan Council
(currently). Ray has experience on Vestry both here at Nativity and in his
former parish. He cares deeply about our parish and wants to continue to
serve the Dean and the parishioners. Ray is most excited for our continuing efforts looking forward
and how Nativity continues to be the wonderful presence in Bethlehem. He feels our greatest
challenge for our future is having parishioners look to the church first as their foundation—with the
ever increasing demands for time, church life gets “fit-in” rather than being the rock upon which our
lives are built.
RICHARD VAN WYK
Richard lives in Bethlehem with his wonderful wife Denise who works at Liberty
High School. Their daughter Aubrey is working hard trying to break into the
film industry and they have a son Nyke whose musical career is moving forward.
Richard works as a Sales Rep for Reynolds and Reynolds. They have been
attending Nativity since 1999 when they moved to Bethlehem. Richard is part
of the Friday morning Men’s Group. He has worked with the homeless shelter
and pancake supper. Richard has excellent organizational and leadership skills.
He is most excited about the future of the Cathedral’s growth in both
membership and outreach. He feels that growth in membership and being an inner-city church and
outreach ministries as the greatest challenges for our future.