"Leadership through love and grace."
CIPS C.A.R.E. TEAM
CARE stands for Confidential, Authentic, Reliable, and Ethical—values that define the mission of this dedicated group. The CARE Team is composed of a select group of mature, highly skilled, and prayerfully vetted leaders from diverse backgrounds. They are committed to supporting public servant leaders within the CIPS Network who may be facing personal or professional challenges.
With utmost confidentiality, authenticity, reliability, and adherence to ethical standards, the CARE Team provides counsel, guidance, and ministry to help leaders navigate distressing issues and restore their well-being.
Additionally, the CARE Team serves as accountability partners for the President of CIPS, ensuring adherence to ethical, biblical, professional, and personal standards of integrity.
A Safe Place
Ministry is at the core of CIPS. We love. We care.
CIPS was founded to be a safe place—free from judgment and the divisiveness of politics.
We are that safe place where you can find support, understanding and encouragement.
Meet the CIPS C.A.R.E. Team
Dr. Darrell L. Bock
Honorable Greg Contreras
Honorable Greg Contreras
Darrell L. Bock is an American evangelical New Testament scholar. He is executive director of Cultural Engagement at The Hendricks Center and Senior Research Professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, United States. Bock received his PhD from Scotland's University of Aberdeen.
Honorable Greg Contreras
Honorable Greg Contreras
Honorable Greg Contreras
Duncanville, Texas Mayor Greg Contreras is the first Hispanic and first ethnic minority to serve as Mayor of the City of Duncanville. A 43-year resident of the City, Mayor Contreras previously served the City in a number of capacities including Building Official, managed Health and Code Enforcement, Interim Assistant City Manager and Interim City Manager.
Vicky Gunning
Honorable Greg Contreras
Dr. Peggy Jones
Vicky Gunning is Director of Employee and Alumni Engagement based in the Dallas office of Locke Lord LLP. Vicky is a commercial real estate and debt finance lawyer. She negotiates complex asset based and real estate secured loans, syndicated credits and debt restructurings. Vicky creates a culture that gets deals done efficiently and collaboratively.
Dr. Peggy Jones
Honorable Ronald E. Jones
Dr. Peggy Jones
Dr. Peggy R. Jones, a registered nurse, educator, and Christian counselor is a loving , caring, servant-leader. She was valedictorian of her high school class in Tatum, Texas. Peggy earned a B.S. Degree in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University, an M.A. in Career Education from ETSU (Texas A& M Commerce), and a PhD. in Christian Counseling from Cornerstone University.
Honorable Ronald E. Jones
Honorable Ronald E. Jones
Honorable Ronald E. Jones
Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Jones is the former senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, the oldest African American Church in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as Pastor Emeritus. Dr. Jones was elected Mayor of the City of Garland, in 2007, serving three terms. He served five and one-half years as Assistant City Manager for the City - serving a total of 29 years for the City of Garland.
Honorable Tom Lombard
Honorable Ronald E. Jones
Honorable Ronald E. Jones
Tom Lombard served on the North Richland Hills, Texas City Council for 10 years (2009-2019) and is the former longtime Chairman of the Board of Christians In Public Service (CIPS).
Tom served as President of the North Central Texas Council of Governments and was actively involved in the Texas Municipal League and National League of Cities.
T. J. Patterson, Jr.
Honorable Dorothy Burton
Honorable Alan Steelman
T. J. Patterson, Jr. is Pastor, Elm Grove Missionary Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves as Legislative Affairs Manager, City of Ft. Worth. A graduate of North Texas State University and TMS School of Law, Texas Southern University, T.J. previously served as Senior Assistant City Attorney; Chief of the Civil Enforcement Sectio
T. J. Patterson, Jr. is Pastor, Elm Grove Missionary Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves as Legislative Affairs Manager, City of Ft. Worth. A graduate of North Texas State University and TMS School of Law, Texas Southern University, T.J. previously served as Senior Assistant City Attorney; Chief of the Civil Enforcement Section, Asst. Attorney General, Financial Crimes and Chief of the Civil Enforcement Section of Financial Crimes Division, Texas Attorney General.
Honorable Alan Steelman
Honorable Dorothy Burton
Honorable Alan Steelman
Alan Steelman, best-selling author, former member of Congress (R-TX), former member of White House Staff, and former Vice Chairman of Alexander Proudfoot Company. He has served as Chairman of the Dallas Council on World Affairs, a Board Member of Sterling Software (NYSE), Aristocrat Technologies (ASX), and the Texas Growth Fund. Alan is
Alan Steelman, best-selling author, former member of Congress (R-TX), former member of White House Staff, and former Vice Chairman of Alexander Proudfoot Company. He has served as Chairman of the Dallas Council on World Affairs, a Board Member of Sterling Software (NYSE), Aristocrat Technologies (ASX), and the Texas Growth Fund. Alan is a graduate of Baylor University, holds a master’s degree from SMU, and was a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.
Honorable Dorothy Burton
Honorable Dorothy Burton
Honorable Dorothy Burton
A trailblazer, CIPS Founder Dorothy Burton is a former four-term City Councilmember for the City of Duncanville, Texas and is the first African American elected to the Council.
She is a former Chair of the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, twice elected Board Chairman. And is the first African-American to serve as Boar
A trailblazer, CIPS Founder Dorothy Burton is a former four-term City Councilmember for the City of Duncanville, Texas and is the first African American elected to the Council.
She is a former Chair of the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, twice elected Board Chairman. And is the first African-American to serve as Board Chair.
A former member of the National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) Board of Directors, Dorothy earned an M.A. in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary, an M.A. in Urban Affairs and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington.
