First Institutional Baptist Church
GOVERNANCE COUNCIL
ELECTION Meet the Candidates
The Governance Council (GC) is tasked with the oversight of the operational aspects of ministry life at FIBC. Tasks include everything from budget oversight, to staffing approvals and leading special initiatives. Voting by secret ballot will take place on Sunday, January 25, 2026 during the Annual Church Business Meeting to fill the vacancies. Individuals with questions about the candidacy process, voting or GC should contact the office or a member of the GC. FIBC Governance Council Members Pastor James L. Harris, Jr., - Chairperson Sister Susan Hall - Vice-Chair Sister Myranette Robinson - Secretary Deacon Bennie Hargrove Reverend James Morris, Jr. Reverend Delores Pickard Brother Obie Saddler Deacon Darnell Sells Pastor Robert "Ty" Jones – Ex-officio Brother Deangelo Hall – Ex-officio
DR. M.C. BURTON My name is Doctor M. C. Burton. I was baptized a Christian at age 11. I am a 30 year "Phoenician" and a tithing member of FIBC for over 20 years, along with my wife, the Honorable Sandra D. Kennedy.
I want to represent the full FIBC membership on the Governance Council. I recently retired, after 11 years, as the first Director of Integrated Surgical Services. For 9 years, l was a consultant to the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Planned Parenthood as well as 2 national bank Executive Boards and many community groups such as Jack and Jill and 100 Black Men. My experience, dedication and commitment to excellence has prepared me for this opportunity. I promise to be your 24/7 transparency connection to Board proceedings. I will genuinely listen to your concerns while assisting the GC in moving its agenda forward. FIBC is trending in an exciting direction. Old members are returning, new members are joining and a revived aura of friendliness and enthusiasm is everywhere. Together, we can accomplish even more as we seek to restore our joy, recapture our children and youth and reestablish our financial base. As a highly successful businessman I will use my knowledge to help guide our church.
REV. LEVADA COKER I bring a strong professional background in Human Resources, with extensive experience in organizational leadership, personnel management, and policy development. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with leadership teams to strengthen organizational effectiveness through strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and thoughtful decision-making.
My experience includes managing complex personnel matters, facilitating conflict resolution, and developing policies that promote accountability, transparency, and operational excellence. I am skilled at balancing compassion with responsibility, ensuring that individuals feel valued while maintaining standards that support the overall health of the organization. These competencies align well with the needs of church governance, where wise leadership, integrity, and clear systems are essential to fostering a thriving ministry environment. I have been a committed member of FIBC for 25 years. Over this time, FIBC has been both my spiritual home and a place where I have grown in faith, service, and community. My long tenure has given me a deep appreciation for the church’s history, culture, and evolving mission. During my tenure, I have held several leadership positions, including Women's Ministry, Clergy, Bible Study Teacher, and Governance Council Chair. I seek to serve on the Governance Council out of a genuine love for FIBC and a deep commitment to its continued faithfulness and future. I am passionate about governance, discipleship, finance, outreach, and education, and I believe strong leadership and sound policies are vital to sustaining a healthy church. I desire to contribute my Human Resources expertise, institutional knowledge, and servant-leadership approach to support wise decision-making, responsible stewardship, and accountability. My goal is to help strengthen systems that honor God, empower leadership, and serve the congregation with integrity, ensuring FIBC continues to grow in purpose, unity, and impact.
BRO. ROBERT HARMON Robert Harmon has been a dedicated member of FIBC for more than thirty-seven years. Through his marriage to Shenetta, he is blessed with two children, Jamel and Nikayla. Together, Robert and Shenetta successfully led and expanded the Marriage Enrichment Ministry for over seven years, serving the church community as a team. He also served as an FIBC Trustee for five years, demonstrating his commitment to church stewardship. Actively involved in church life, Robert consistently attends Noon Day Bible Study, Men’s Retreats, and a variety of church activities. Currently, he is a member of the Senior Ushers’ Ministry, where he previously served as Vice President. His ongoing participation reflects his dedication to supporting others and fostering fellowship within FIBC. Professionally, Robert is a business owner and Financial Adviser with a proven track record of growing significant assets under management. His guidance has helped clients retire successfully, send children to college, build emergency funds, reduce debt, and reach other important life goals. He also identifies and mentors talented individuals, empowering them to operate and own their financial service businesses. Robert believes his leadership skills and financial expertise will contribute meaningful value to the Governor’s Council. He is committed to supporting the vision and future growth of FIBC in building God’s kingdom.
BRO. RICHARD HOLMES Richard Holmes is the Owner and Principal of Fiduciary Partners AZ, LLC, a Private Fiduciary firm based in Goodyear. He retired as a Vice President from the Wealth Management Division for Comerica Bank in 2017. Prior to joining Comerica, he was a Vice President and Senior Trust Officer at Bank of America. His experience in financial services spans over 40 years in Trust Administration, Trust Accounting, Trust Business Automation Systems, and Trust Tax. His career in banking began in 1968, working in the mailroom at The First National Bank of Chicago. He is a Past President of the National Association of Urban Bankers, and served as President of the Phoenix and San Diego Chapters of the organization. Richard has been an active member of First Institutional Baptist Church since 1979, having served in various capacities, including the Trustees Ministry, Young Adult Ushers, Supervisor of Youth Ushers, Director, Men of Praise Choir and as part of the Men’s Praise Team. He is currently part of the Men’s Ministry Leadership Team at FIBC and the Ministry of Protection. Richard has in the past served as Treasurer for FIBC and for FIBCO Family Services. Over the years, Richard has taught accounting classes at Western International University, and has presented a number of financial literacy programs for youth and adults. As we continue our transition in leadership under our new Senior Pastor, I feel that I have the requisite skills and experience to make a difference at FIBC. Since my retirement, I have more time to devote to serving in this capacity, especially when it comes to business and finance.
BRO. KEVIN MYATT Hi! My name is Kevin Myatt. I’m retired from the position of Senior Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer for Yale New Haven Hospital and Healthsystem, a renowned health care center in Connecticut. I started this position in December 2007 and directed both the strategic and the daily operations of the human resource function, impacting several hospitals and centers. I retired in 2021. I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Virginia State University, an MBA from Arizona State University and an Honorary Ph.D. in Business for the University of New Haven. My career provided me the opportunity to work in progressively responsible positions in a variety of industries. My wife of 47 years, Gail, and I have two married daughters, Brooke, and Brittany and four grandchildren. I have historically been involved in the communities in which we have lived and participated on boards including, but not limited to: Aid to the Adoption of Special Kids, Chair of the Trustees for FIBC, the Urban Leagues of Phoenix and Nebraska, and more. I have been identified as an enthusiastic speaker and Gail and I split our time between Scottsdale, AZ and Martha’s Vineyard, MA. I began my membership at FIBC in 1990 and resigned in good standing in 1996 when we left the Valley. My family reinstated our membership when we returned to the Phoenix area. My reason for wanting to join the Governance Council is a simple one. I am a servant of God and would like my service to Him to include utilization of my skills and knowledge to further His kingdom building at FIBC.
REV. CLAUDIA PHELPS-WADE I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Governance Council Ministry at First Institutional Baptist Church. After nearly twenty years as a member of this congregation—come July 2026—I feel called to again support our church's mission through wise guidance, prayerful discernment, and faithful stewardship during this important season in our church's life. Throughout my time at FIBC, I have had the privilege of serving in various capacities that have deepened my understanding of our church's ministry and operations. Most notably, I served for four years as the Director of Evangelism and Discipleship, a role that required me to align programmatic goals with our church's mission while managing resources and building collaborative relationships across ministries. I have also volunteered in the nursery, with KITABU, and in lay leadership through the Governance Council and Clergy Caucus Ministries. Each of these experiences has shaped my perspective on how effective governance supports and sustains meaningful ministry. My thirty-five years of paid and volunteer ministry experience, combined with my background in social services, business, and education, have equipped me to approach complex decisions with both strategic thinking and pastoral sensitivity. As a special education teacher, I work daily with systems, policies, and processes that must serve diverse needs while maintaining clear standards and accountability. Serving on the Governance Council would allow me to contribute my experience in strategic planning, policy development, and collaborative leadership while continuing to grow spiritually and deepen my commitment to our community. I am particularly interested in helping our church navigate the balance between honoring our rich traditions and embracing the new directions God is calling us toward.
CANDIDATE NOTES
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