Dr. Diane Kessler

Diane Kessler retired as executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches in 2007, after serving the Council for thirty-two years (associate director from 1975-1988).  A graduate of Oberlin College and Andover Newton Theological School, with honorary doctorates from Episcopal Divinity School and Hebrew College (6/08), she is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ with a background in social ethics and ecumenics.  She edited the English report of the 8^th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and recorded minutes for plenary sessions of the 9^th Assembly.  She is serving a second term on the Joint Working Group (1999-2006, 2007-2013), responsible for fostering relationships between the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church.  She has authored or edited six books and many articles.