Grace Under Fire Award: Outstanding

Michael G. Pappas was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He graduated from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA) in 1983, after which he successively worked as a lobbyist, regional field director for a presidential campaign and investment banker for the oldest municipal bond firm in New Jersey.

In 1987, he left the world of politics & finance and enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, MA) attaining an M.Div., with honors, in the class of 1992. An ordained priest of the Greek Orthodox Church, Michael served parishes in Palos Hills, IL, Stockton, CA, and San Francisco, CA.

During his sixteen-year ministry, he was a prolific writer, contributing articles to numerous religious and secular periodicals. As well, he devoted energy to work with the homeless and to further ecumenical/interfaith relationships. After transitioning from parish ministry in 2007, he was selected by the San Francisco Interfaith Council to the newly created administrative post of Executive Director.

In his tenure as Executive Director Michael has helped increase the Council’s budget and programs substantially; strengthened existing and cultivated new relationships with civic leaders, NGO’s, judicatories and congregations; and significantly projected the SFIC through expanded use of technology.

His previous/current board memberships include: Mayoral appointments to the San Francisco Disaster Council, San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement's 2010 Census Complete Count Committee; San Francisco Assisi Sister City Committee, and San Francisco Human Rights Commission, where he chair’s the Commission’s LGBT Advisory Committee. Michael also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter.

Michael has served as a Board Member of the National Shrine of Saint Francis; Board of Directors & Program Committee Chair of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio; The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Executive Committee and Advisory Board; Episcopal Charities Board of Trustees; Night Ministry Advisory Board Member. Until recently he  was a member of the United Religions Initiative (URI) North America Region Leadership Council and was elected by that Region to serve as a Trustee on URI's Global Council.

He traveled to Turkey as a participant in the Pacifica Institute Cultural Exchange, attended the United Religions Initiative Global Assembly in Mayapur, India; the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia; spent a week in New Orleans doing disaster relief; and was the guest of the Jewish Community Relations Council in their Community Leaders sojourn to Israel.

He is the father of two sons, George and Paul, and one daughter, Julia. He is a congregant at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco.