19 Pleasant Avenue, Portland, ME 04103 207-772-1918
As Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches, Rev. Saxby directs the work of the Council and serves as the primary liaison with community groups, local and government officials, the media, and national organizations with whom the Council works on a wide range of projects and programs. A Unitarian Universalist minister and formerly an attorney, Rev. Saxby also served for three years as Associate Minister of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in South Portland, Maine. Prior to that, she served as Associate Minister for six years at The First Parish, Unitarian Universalist in Portland and as the first minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, Maine. She is a graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1995), The Washington College of Law at the American University (J.D., 1985) and James Madison College, Michigan State University (B.A., International Relations, 1982).
Rev. Saxby can be reached at jsaxby@mainecouncilofchurches.org.
Eric C. Smith joined the Maine Council of Churches in 2007 as Congregational Outreach Coordinator, and travels throughout Maine bringing the work of the Maine Council of Churches to individual congregations, assisting churches with their own mission, and focusing on how the Council can help congregations work together on social justice issues.
Eric is a lifelong member of the First Parish Church UCC in Freeport and for four years was Assistant Minister for Children, Youth and Mission with the First Parish Church UCC in Gorham. He has served on the national staff of the United Church of Christ and as a UCC delegate to the ecumenical dialogues of the Consultation on Church Union and Churches Uniting in Christ; as well as the National Council of Churches' Young Adult Ministry Team, working to develop and share young adult ministry models across denominations. Eric has studied at both the University of Southern Maine and Chicago Theological Seminary.
Eric C. Smith can be reached at the esmith@mainecouncilofchurches.or
Martha Stein joined the Maine Council of Churches in the spring of 2008 shortly after relocation to Maine. Her first project was to plan the Maine Council of Churches' 70th anniversary celebration. Moving forward, Martha is planning and executing all of the Council's fundraising activities, working with the staff, board members and volunteers.
Martha's backgroup includes over 15 years in large corporations, where she worked in a variety of functions such as operations, systems, marketing, customer service and business planning. Martha has worked as a volunteer and staff member for a local chapter of the American Red Cross, a community arts organization, and a low-income women's health group.
Martha received her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Martha can be reached at mstein@mainecouncilofchurches.org.
Sandi Buzzell joined the MCC as our Administrative Assistant in October 1999. Sandi has an extensive background working in non-profit agencies. She worked for ten years and was honored for her work at the Blind Children’s Learning Center, a preschool for blind and visually impaired children in southern California. She has also worked for Catholic Charities of Maine and for the Training Resource Center in Portland. Sandi’s extensive administrative background supports all areas of the Council’s work. She is a valuable member of our staff, expertly managing the daily operations of the Pleasant Avenue office. Sandi serves on the Board of Tengo Voz (I have Voice), a grassroots organization committed to Latino Women and their families in the Greater Portland area. Sandi can be reached at sbuzzell@mainecouncilofchurches.org