Introducing the Church Clarity Board of Directors

As we officially relaunch Church Clarity and prepare to secure our own formal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, we are thrilled to introduce the passionate, dedicated individuals who will be guiding the organization forward as our new Board of Directors.

This new board, selected by the Relaunch Committee, will serve for one year as we focus on rebuilding and expanding Church Clarity’s mission: advocating for transparency in faith communities—scoring churches on how clearly they communicate policies impacting LGBTQ+ inclusion and women in leadership.

We are excited to announce our newly elected officers:

• Chairperson of the Board: Julian Joseph
• Secretary: Sarah O’Neal Sharpe
• Treasurer: Rebekah MacDonald

A New Chapter for a Crucial Mission

Church Clarity—co-founded by George Mekhail, Kai Ngu, and Tim Schrader Rodriguez in 2017—is a volunteer-verified website database that has grown to include over 9,000 submitted churches, with over 5,000 published scores. The organization was built on the belief that ambiguity is harmful and clarity is reasonable.

After the co-founders departed in 2020, a core set of long-time volunteer leaders, including Spencer Noble,  Adrian Waller, and Phil Lucia worked hard through transitions and disruptions to keep the organization afloat.

This relaunch begins by establishing formal governance through this Board of Directors, which will be responsible for the vision, strategy, fundraising, and management oversight as we pursue our formal 501(c)(3) status. The mission remains unchanged: Clarity is Reasonable.

Meet the Board Members

Each member of the Board of Directors brings a unique perspective and commitment to the principle that ambiguity is harmful and clarity is reasonable. Here are a few words from each member on why they’ve chosen to join the board:

• Julian Joseph (San Diego, CA): "Church Clarity matters to me because I’ve seen the harm that unclear church policies can cause, especially for LGBTQ+ folks, women, and anyone trying to find a spiritual home where they can belong."
• Rebekah MacDonald (High Point, NC): "I joined the board because I want to help shape tools that empower people to make informed decisions about where they belong and who they can trust. Without transparency, there’s no accountability."
• Sarah Sharpe (Collingswood, NJ): "I joined the board following the relaunch to be a part of the work that helped me find a spiritual home."
• Martiall Pitts (Fort St John, BC, Canada): "Church Clarity matters to me because transparency is a matter of justice... I'm here to help create a world where no one has to question if God's love extends to them."
• Chelsea Harmon (Boston, MA): "Being unclear only benefits the church institutions, and harms the people that are excluded by the policies. Church policies should be public, and folks should have access to policy information..."
• Spencer Noble (Everett, WA): "Church Clarity exists to highlight church policies and encourage transparency in church policies regarding women in leadership roles and LGBTQ+ participation in church life."
• Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez (New York, NY): "I chose to co-found and now join the board of Church Clarity because I believe transparency is essential for accountability... People deserve to know the truth about the spaces they’re walking into.

A Note of Thanks

We want to take a moment to express deep gratitude to co-founder Kai Ngu for their incredible support and vision as an advisor to the new board. We also recognize and thank the entire team of volunteers that has kept Church Clarity running since its launch in 2018. Your dedication is the foundation of this relaunch.

Read the full board profiles on our website and social media soon. We are excited to share new updates as we prepare to relaunch and continue this important work.