Leadership

Governing Commission

IMG_2947The Governing Commission acts on behalf of the Synod Assembly throughout the year. It includes the Synod Co-Moderators, eight elected commissioners, four ex-officio (three Synod staff members plus the previous moderator) and two advisory Executive Presbyters.

2023 Members

Bernice Adams, Co-Moderator, Presbytery of Redstone

Brian Choi, Co-Moderator, Huntingdon Presbytery

Cliff Foster, Presbytery of Redstone

Joel Hurley, Lehigh Presbytery

Dave Koehler, Kiskiminetas Presbytery

Allison Maus, Huntingdon Presbytery

Elaine McCray, Presbytery of Philadelphia

Susan Nesti, Presbytery of Redstone

Beth Wierman, Beaver-Butler Presbytery

Jim Wilson, Presbytery of West Virginia

Ex-Officio Members

Martha Jordan, Past Moderator, Presbytery of Lackawanna

Forrest Claassen, Synod Executive

Michael Wilson, Synod Stated Clerk

Elizabeth Connelly, Synod Connections Coordinator

Mike Givler, Synod Communications Coordinator

Executive Presbyter Advisory Members

Anita Bernhardt, Presbytery of Lake Erie

Rhonda Kruse, Lehigh Presbytery

Commissioners

IMG_4056Commissioner training resources, including roles and qualifications as well as information on the election process, are available here.

The Synod of the Trinity Assembly consists of a total of 38 Commissioners: one Teaching Elder and one Ruling Elder are elected from each presbytery. Six At-Large Racial Ethnic Commissioners (Teaching or Ruling Elders) are also elected from selected presbyteries. Commissioners may serve two consecutive three-year terms.

Beaver-Butler

  • Charles Cline -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, second term

  • Beth Wierman -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

Carlisle

  • Dale Williams -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, first term

  • Destini Hodges -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Donegal

  • Jesse North -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Scott Szabo -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, second term

Huntingdon

  • Brian Choi -

    2023 Co-Moderator and Teaching Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Allison Maus -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Beth Farmer -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Kiskiminetas

  • Dave Koehler -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

Lackawanna

  • Martha Jordan -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, second term

Lake Erie

  • Ellie Johns-Kelly -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, second term

  • Paul Sallade -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, second term

Lehigh

  • Alex Hendrickson -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Joel Hurley -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, second term

Northumberland

  • Martha Manning -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Philadelphia

  • Barbara Chaapel -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term

  • Elaine McCray -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, second term

Pittsburgh

  • Susan Rothenberg -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

  • Darlene Figgs -

    Teaching Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2023, second term

  • Elsie Knappenberger -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, second term

Redstone

  • Bernice Adams -

    2023 Co-Moderator and Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, second term

  • Cliff Foster -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term

  • Susan Nesti -

    Ruling Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

Shenango

  • Susan Black -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, second term

  • Elizabeth Wallace -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, first term

Upper Ohio Valley

  • John Hargleroad -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Michael O’Neil -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Washington

  • Meg Steele -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

  • Mark Woomer -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, first term

West Virginia

  • Emily Harden -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Jim Wilson -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term

Committees, Work Groups, Task Forces & Teams

The Synod has numerous committees, work groups, task forces and teams that assist in carrying out the mission and ministry of the Synod of the Trinity. Click on the link to see who’s helping to carry out this important work.

Group Title PDF
Commissioners Roster
Committee on Presbytery Records Roster
Committee on Representation and Nomination Roster
Communications Strategy Team Roster
Finance and Budget Advisory Team Roster
Grants and Scholarships Advisory Team Roster
Innovation Grants Advisory Team Roster
Permanent Judicial Commission Roster
Personnel Advisory Team Roster