SCI's Floating Chapel in the New York Harbor

About Us

Founded in 1834 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, though nondenominational in terms of its trustees, staff and service to mariners, the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey (SCI) is the largest, most comprehensive mariners’ agency in North America. Annually, its chaplains visit thousands of vessels in the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Oakland, and along 2,200 miles of America’s inland waterways extending into the Gulf of Mexico. SCI’s maritime education facilities provide navigational training to nearly 1,600 mariners each year through simulator-based facilities located in Houston, TX and Paducah, KY. The Institute and its maritime attorneys are recognized as leading advocates for merchant mariners by the United States Government, including the US Congress, the US Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labor Organization and maritime trade associations.

Staff at SCI

Laura E. Amerman
Associate Director of Development, Major & Planned Gifts
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 206

The Rev. Kempton D. Baldridge
Chaplain
Ministry on the Rivers and Gulf - Ohio River Region
Paducah, KY
+1 270-210-5626

Oliver Brewer
Director of Communications
+1 914-595-6386

Joseph J. Brooks
Financial Services Specialist
Port Newark, NJ
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 202

Janice Broussard
Administrative and Marketing Assistant
Houston, TX
+1 713-674-1236

Kelly Butts
Administrative and Marketing Assistant
Paducah, KY
+1 270-575-1005

Carrie Christensen
Special Events Special Events & Online Giving Manager
New York, NY
+1 212-385-6391

Captain Buddy Compton
Director of Inland Training
Center for Maritime Education
Paducah, KY
+1 270-575-1005

Michael De Cesare
Assistant Director
Center for Maritime Education
Houston, TX
+1 713-674-1236

Michael Stuart Garfinkle, PhD
Clinical Researcher, Piracy Trauma Study
Port Newark, NJ
mgarfinkle@seamenschurch.org
+1 212-349-9090 ext. 240
Skype: drgarfinkle

Chao Huang
Staff Accountant
New York, NY
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 214

Matthew Hyner
Simulation & Database Manager
Houston, TX
+1 713-674-1236

Jennifer Koenig
Associate Director of Development
New York, NY
+1 212-349-8142

The Rev. James Kollin
Chaplain
Port Newark, NJ
973-589-5828 ext. 217
+1 973-220-0723 mobile

The Rev. Marjorie D. Lindstrom
Chaplain & Field Education Supervisor
Port Newark, NJ
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 219
+1 973-220-0728 mobile

Stephen Lyman
Operations Manager
Port Newark, NJ
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 205

Bob McKoon
Facility Coordinator
Oakland, CA
+1 510-839-2226

Captain Greg Menke
Director, Paducah Center for Maritime Education
Paducah, KY
+1 270-575-1005

The Rev. Michael Nation
Chaplain
Ministry on the Rivers and Gulf - Lower Mississippi River & Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Region
+1 504-982-0072

Leslie O'Neal
Controller
New York, NY
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 232

Captain Stephen Polk
Director, Maritime Education & Training
Houston, TX
+1 713-674-1236
+1 281-853-5659 mobile

Maya Rabayev
Senior Accountant
New York, NY
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 210

The Rev. Winston Rice
Chaplain
Ministry on the Rivers and Gulf - Gulf of Mexico Coastal Region
+1 504-450-7709

The Rev. David M. Rider
President & Executive Director
New York, NY
+1 212-349-9551
+ 917-288-0187 mobile

The Rev. Megan Sanders
Chaplain and Tri-State Church Coordinator
Port Newark, NJ
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 218
+1 973-220-0724 mobile

Paige Sato
Program Manager, Christmas at Sea
Port Newark, NJ
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 204
+1 973-204-2774 mobile
cas@seamenschurch.org

Dr. Jay Downs Siska, Ed.D.
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Center for Maritime Education
Paducah, KY
+1 270-575-1005

Susannah Skiver
Development & Communications Associate
+1 917-310-3429

Douglas B. Stevenson, Esq.
Director, Center for Seafarers' Rights
New York, NY
+1 973-589-5828 ext. 209
+ 1 917-975-1069 mobile
csr@seamenschurch.org

Janet Temchus
Receptionist
Port Newark, NJ
+1 973-589-5828

Johnathan Thayer
Archivist
New York, NY
+1 718 997 3650

William Viniard
Building Facility Coordinator
Paducah, KY
+1 270-575-1005

Julie Vroon
Assistant to the Executive Director
+1 212-349-9552

Adrienne Yee
Director, International Maritime Center
Oakland, CA
+1 510-839-2226 ext. 107

Board of Trustees

CHAIRMAN
Richard T. du Moulin

VICE CHAIRMAN
Bruce G. Paulsen, Esq.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT
The Rev. David M. Rider

VICE PRESIDENTS
David S. French****
Baxter W. Graham
Niels M. Johnsen
Thomas L. McLane
Craig E. Philip

CLERICAL VICE PRESIDENTS
The Rev. Dr. Daniel P. Matthews

SECRETARY
Peter M. Tirschwell

TREASURER
Kathleen C. Haines

HONORARY CHAIRMAN
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk

MEMBERS
Mrs. C. Robert Allen III*
Arthur L. Armitage*
Morten Arntzen*
George D. Benjamin****
Richard S. Berry, Esq.*
Timothy J. Casey
Gale Chen*
The Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper*
Peter John Goulandris
Chester D. Hooper, Esq.*
George M. Isdale, Jr.****
Niels W. Johnsen*
Mark K. Knoy
Gerhard E. Kurz
The Rev. Canon Peter Larom***
Richard M. Larrabee**
James R. Lawrence
Henry C.B. Lindh*
Sal Litrico
Deirdre H. Littlefield
Alfred Lee Loomis III****
Capt. James J. McNamara*
RADM Robert C. North (Ret.)
Jeffrey M. Platt
Charles A. Robertson*
The Rev. Jean R. Smith, D.D.***
Robert D. Somerville
Cindy Spoor
Herbert W. Swain, Jr.
John P. Tavlarios
Paul R. Tregurtha
The Rev. Dr. James R. Whittemore***

*Honorary
**Ex Officio
***Director Emeritus ****Chairman Emeritus


The Seamens Church Institute of New York & New Jersey

SCI

ABOUT SCI

The Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) is North America's largest and most comprehensive mariners' service agency, promoting safety, dignity, and improved working and living conditions for millions of men and women serving in the maritime workplace. Founded in 1834, the Institute is a voluntary, ecumenical agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church.