The Board of Directors of the Seattle Seafarers Center is excited to announce a successful conclusion to our search for a new Executive Director. Back in November we announced that our Executive Director Mr. Ken Hawkins intended to retire. While his passion for our work continues, he will step down as a member of our staff in the coming weeks.
After a time of reflection and a thorough search process, we are pleased to announce that The Rev. Cristi Chapman has agreed to serve as the next Executive Director of the Seattle Seafarers Center. Cristi will officially start on February 15.
Cristi is an Episcopal priest and was ordained in 2017. Most recently, Cristi served at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle as an associate to the Rector and as the Canon for Spiritual Growth and Stewardship. Cristi also served as an intern for the SSC in 2016. Prior to ordination, Cristi worked at the University of Washington for 15 years as the Director of Cost Accounting and at KPMG for five years.
Cristi believes that every encounter holds the possibility for transformation. That happened many times during Cristi’s internship with SSC. Her hope is that others discover that reality, too, as they engage in ministry with SSC. Cristi is passionate about connecting people together and about helping others discover their own gifts for ministry. That includes the practice of ministry of presence and hospitality with seafarers. She is delighted to lead this vibrant, critical ministry in Western Washington and looks forward to working with all those who so faithfully care for merchant and cruise ship seafarers. Cristi can be contacted at chapman@mts-seattle.org.
The Seattle Seafarers Center (SSC) is an ecumenical, non-profit in West Seattle focused on ministry to those men and women who work on merchant and cruise ships. SSC is a part of a global ministry encompassing over 100 international centers and is an affiliate of two international seafarer ministries: the Anglican Communion’s Mission to Seafarers and the Roman Catholic Stella Maris.