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, five ex-officio (four Synod staff members plus the previous moderator) and two advisory Executive Presbyters.

2025 Members

Susan Nesti, Co-Moderator, Presbytery of Redstone

Meg Steele, Co-Moderator, Washington Presbytery

Cliff Foster, Presbytery of Redstone

Alex Hendrickson, Lehigh Presbytery

Destini Hodges, Presbytery of Carlisle

Stan Howes, Huntingdon Presbytery

Mark Juengel, Lackawanna Presbytery

Dave Koehler, Kiskiminetas Presbytery

Judy Veon, Presbytery of Shenango

Jim Wilson, Presbytery of West Virginia

Ex-Officio Members

Brian Choi, Past Moderator, Huntingdon Presbytery

Forrest Claassen, Synod Executive

Richard “Skip” Noftzger, Synod Stated Clerk

Elizabeth Connelly, Synod Connections Coordinator

Mike Givler, Synod Communications Coordinator

Executive Presbyter Advisory Members

Tom Harmon, Beaver-Butler Presbytery

Kristal Smith, Presbytery of Carlisle

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

  • Jim Ihlenfeld -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

  • Beth Wierman -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term

Carlisle

  • Dale Williams -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, second term

  • Destini Hodges -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Donegal

  • Julie Allport -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

  • Jesse North -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

Huntingdon

  • Dennis Braun -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

  • Brian Choi -

    Teaching Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term

  • Stan Howes -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Kiskiminetas

  • Dave Koehler -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term

Lackawanna

  • Mark Juengel -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

  • Dan Klaproth -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

Lake Erie

  • Pauline Kraus -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

Lehigh

  • Alex Hendrickson -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term

  • Yvonne Lewis -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

Northumberland

  • Martha Manning -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

  • Pam Meilands -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

Philadelphia

  • Barbara Adams-Smelter -

    Ruling Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

  • Barbara Chaapel -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term

  • Yvonne Rudolph -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

Pittsburgh

  • Susan Rothenberg -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

  • Anita Perry -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

Redstone

  • Audrey Cottle -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

  • Cliff Foster -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term

  • Susan Nesti -

    2025 Co-Moderator and Ruling Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term

Shenango

  • Judy Veon -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term

  • Marsha Parrish -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term

Upper Ohio Valley

  • John Hargleroad -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term

  • Barry Hall -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

Washington

  • Meg Steele -

    2025 Co-Moderator and Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term

  • Mark Woomer -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, second term

West Virginia

  • Elizabeth Campbell-Maleke -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, 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
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