Governing Commission
The 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
Destini Hodges, Presbytery of Carlisle
Stan Howes, Huntingdon Presbytery
Dave Koehler, Kiskiminetas Presbytery
Judy Veon, Presbytery of Shenango
Chris Weichman, Presbytery of Lake Erie
Beth Wierman, Beaver-Butler Presbytery
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
Commissioner 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
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Jim Ihlenfeld -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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Beth Wierman -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term
Carlisle
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Dale Williams -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, second term
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Destini Hodges -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term
Donegal
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Julie Allport -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term
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Jesse North -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
Huntingdon
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Dennis Braun -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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Brian Choi -
Teaching Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term
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Stan Howes -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term
Kiskiminetas
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Dave Koehler -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term
Lackawanna
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Mark Juengal -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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Dan Klaproth -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
Lake Erie
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Chris Weichman -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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Pauline Kraus -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term
Lehigh
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Alex Hendrickson -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term
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Yvonne Lewis -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term
Northumberland
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Martha Manning -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term
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Pam Meilands -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term
Philadelphia
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Barbara Adams-Smelter -
Ruling Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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Barbara Chaapel -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term
Pittsburgh
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Susan Rothenberg -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term
Redstone
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Audrey Cottle -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term
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Cliff Foster -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term
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Susan Nesti -
2025 Co-Moderator and Ruling Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2026, second term
Shenango
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Judy Veon -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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Marsha Parrish -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, first term
Upper Ohio Valley
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John Hargleroad -
Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, second term
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Barry Hall -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term
Washington
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Meg Steele -
2025 Co-Moderator and Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2025, first term
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Mark Woomer -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2027, second term
West Virginia
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Elizabeth Campbell-Maleke -
Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2026, first term
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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 | |
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 |