Governance
The members of the Center for Children and Theology Board of Directors are deeply committed to children’s spiritual nurture. This commitment, along with years of experience and specific gifts of leadership, allow them to guide and sustain the Center’s work. Meet the wonderful people who support our director and staff.
Amanda Messinger
President of the Board, Formation Leader
- Catechist: Levels 1, 2, 3 (CGS)
- Former Formation Leader: Level 1 (CGS)
- Montessori: 6-12 years (AMI)
- Contributor to: Families Reading Project
Amanda Messinger began her career when interviewed by Catherine Maresca for lower elementary directress at Christian Family Montessori School, straight out of finishing her studies at the Washington Montessori Institute.
A fringe benefit of the position was Saturday mornings spent in formation, Level I with Rebekah Rojcewicz and Level II with Catherine. As she and her husband relished the weekly theological insights, she had no idea the deepening of her faith that lay ahead as catechist, formation leader and DRE for her faith community. She completed Level III formation at the first course offered by Catherine and Rebekah. A few years later, while a stay-at-home mom and catechist, Catherine asked her to join in helping found a center dedicated to bringing the very best of theology to the child, while sharing the child’s profound spirituality with the church. Amanda has served on the Center for Children and Theology’s board ever since, most recently as President.
She and her husband enjoy watching birds and butterflies among the native gardens at their home in McLean, Virginia.
Del Christian
Vice President of the Board
- Catechist: Levels 1, 2, 3 (CGS)
- Montessori: 6-12 (AMI)
- Learning Disability Therapist
Del lives in Windsor, California and works as a directress and catechist for 6-12 year-old children at St. Helena Montessori School. She has a master’s degree in learning disabilities from Northwestern University and an AMI Elementary Montessori degree. She is trained at all three levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and began work as a catechist in 2009. She also shares the catechesis with children as a volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity in Richmond, California. She has been a board member since 2021.
Craig Price
Treasurer of the Board
- CFP
- CFTA
Craig Price is a Managing Director in Mesirow. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations and has numerous credentials. He loves to support non-profits from a small robotics team in his home town to his alumni association to the Center for Children and Theology.
Rebecca Malone
Secretary of the Board
- Catechist: Levels 1, 2, 3 (CGS)
A resident of Montreal, Canada, Rebecca Malone supports children’s ministry at her parish, with a particular focus on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in Level One and Level Two atriums. Raised in New York, Rebecca worked for eighteen years in Baltimore as a middle school teacher and school administrator. In 2025, she completed a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO, and currently serves on the board of the Center for Children and Theology. In her spare time, she enjoys playing around with technology and maintaining a multi-year streak learning French in Duolingo. She and her husband Tom Malone have three sons.
Catherine Powell
Member
- Catechist: Levels 1, 2, 3 (CGS)
The Rev. Catherine Powell has led Episcopal schools and congregations for more than 40 years. She is trained in all three levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and helped begin atriums in nearly twenty congregations in Massachusetts and North Carolina. She has served on Christian Formation committees in three dioceses, led workshops on children’s spiritual development, and directed summer conferences for children in elementary, middle, and high school. Currently retired, she lives in Wilmington, NC and teaches tai chi.
Karen Broering
Member
- Catechist: Levels 1, 2, 3 (CGS)
Karen lives in central Ohio with her husband and three sons, all of whom are her favorite. Her life experience includes 18+ years in the atrium and parish ministry, a Master’s in Theology from Ohio Dominican and a Master’s in Primary Education, and caring for her chickens, dog and cats. Her favorite parable is the True Vine, which is why she published I am the Vine, You are the Branches through CCTHEO (second book “Rejoice With Me” soon to follow!). She is also a 4th grade teacher in her local school district.
The Center for Children and Theology is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, a nonstock membership corporation operated exclusively for religious, scientific and educational purposes. It is overseen by the Board of Directors whose members are elected, serving three-year renewable terms. Beyond directing the Center’s mission, board members volunteer time and expertise to ensure fiduciary responsibilities are met, maintain the Center’s professional and ethical standards, further its public image, recruit future collaborators, and support its staff.
