Legislative Advocacy

Reverend Frank M Dew
Committee Chair

Frank Dew was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and grew up in Lumberton, North Carolina. He studied at Wake Forest University with a Bachelors in Politics and went on to receive his Masters of Divinity at Wake Forest University. Frank served as pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA for 42 years and is presently retired. He currently serves as Peace And Justice Advocate for Salem Presbytery, and is a volunteer with North Carolina Council of Churches, Bread for the World and PCUSA Hunger Program.

Reverend Marcus L. Fairley

Marcus is a native of Albemarle, North Carolina. Marcus attended Hood Theological Seminary where he found his passion for Social Justice Gospel and hope for the plethora of disparities faced by people of color through Black Liberation Theology. Marcus recently joined Advance Carolina as Constituent Services Program Associate. Rev. Fairley has experience on a national and state level from NAACP in the capacity of Civic Engagement & Faith. He is a General Board Member of GBSCNC, a member of Lott Carey Foreign Missions Thriving Pastors under 40, and serves as the Second Vice Moderator of Rowan Baptist Association. Rev. Fairley is the proud pastor of the historic St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. When he is not spreading the gospel or spearheading initiatives to liberate people of color, he enjoys traveling with his lovely bride, listening to music, and locating the nearest beach to relax.

Reverend Alan Felton

Reverend Alan Felton is a life-long Methodist and North Carolinian. Alan grew up in Edgecombe and Wilson Counties. He and his wife, Joan, are parents of two children, John Alan and Virginia Gayle, as well as two beloved dogs, Lucy and Freedom.

Alan earned a B.A. in History (concentrations in American and African history) along with a minor in political science from North Carolina Wesleyan College. He received his M. Div from Duke University’s Divinity School along with a specialization certificate in gender studies there. Alan served in the U.S. Army infantry and almost fifteen years in politics and government before entering the ministry, including nine years at the North Carolina Department of Revenue where he held various positions including planning director, assistant secretary for tax compliance, assistant secretary for business systems, and chief of change management and organizational development.

He is the vice-president of the Methodist Federation for Social Action’s NC chapter and a member of Duke Divinity School’s national alumni board. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School. He is a member of the NC Conference’s Connectional Table, a body charged with helping to cast and implement the Conference’s vision for healthy congregations and effective leaders in every place making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and he serves as chair of the Table’s Diversity and Racial Equity Team. He also serves on the Capital District’s Racial Healing Team and the District’s Buildings and Relocation Committee. He sits on the board of directors for the NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation. He is currently pursuing his doctor of ministry degree in the area of preaching and homiletics at Hood Theological Seminary. 

He has a passion for the proclamation of the Gospel, making disciples through personal and organizational development, and working for justice in the world, particularly at the intersections of race and gender. Before arriving at North Raleigh, he served as pastor in churches in Oxford, Henderson, Apex, and Durham, North Carolina.

Reverend Jill V. Isola

Reverend Jill Isola is currently a pastor at Northminster Presbyterian Church (USA) in Hickory, NC. Jill brings a passion for justice to her work with the legislative committee of the NCCC.  She holds a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, and experience serving churches in northern NJ, Michigan, Virginia, South Carolina as well as experience in community organizing work in Richmond, VA.  Rev. Isola serves in the Presbytery of Western NC helping to coordinate the work of the Peace and Justice committee around justice issues that include food insecurity, affordable housing, affordable and accessible physical and mental healthcare, faith-based harm reduction, racial equity and diversity and creation care.