Methodist pastor elected to head interfaith council

The Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council on Wednesday elected a Costa Mesa pastor to head the organization this year.

The Rev. Julie Elkins of First United Methodist Church is the new president.

Serving with Elkins are Vice President for Programs Greg Kelley of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Newport Beach; Treasurer Karen Stoyanoff of the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa; the Rev. Sarah Halverson of Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa and Felicity Figueroa of Irvine United Congregational Church as vice presidents for membership; and the Rev. Bradley Stienstra of Newport Harbor Lutheran Church and Lane Calvert of the Baha’is of Costa Mesa as the vice presidents for special events.

The group also chose Rabbi Susan Conforti of Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach as president elect for 2015.

The interfaith council was founded in 1978. For more information, visit https://www.nmiinterfaith.org or call (760) 641-0301.

— Bradley Zint