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.

2022 Members

Martha Jordan, Co-Moderator, Presbytery of Lackawanna

Bernice Adams, Co-Moderator, Presbytery of Redstone

Barbara Adams-Smelter, Presbytery of Philadelphia

Brian Choi, Huntingdon Presbytery

Cliff Foster, Presbytery of Redstone

Joel Hurley, Lehigh Presbytery

Judy Mayer, Washington Presbytery

Margaret Mielke, Presbytery of Carlisle

Susan Nesti, Presbytery of Redstone

Kate Sillman, Huntingdon Presbytery

Ex-Officio Members

Charlie Best, Past Moderator, Presbytery of Carlisle

Forrest Claassen, Synod Executive

Wayne Yost, Synod Stated Clerk

Elizabeth Connelly, Synod Connections Coordinator

Mike Givler, Synod Communications Coordinator

Executive Presbyter Advisory Members

Anita Bernhardt, Presbytery of Lake Erie

Ed Thompson, Presbytery of West Virginia

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

  • Margaret Mielke -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, second 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 -

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

  • Allison Maus -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

  • Kate Sillman -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, first term

Kiskiminetas

  • Dave Koehler -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

Lackawanna

  • Martha Jordan -

    2022 Co-Moderator and 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

  • Lisa Paulette -

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

Northumberland

  • Tracy Fetzer -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, second term

  • Lisa Kraus -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, first term

Philadelphia

  • Barbara Adams-Smelter -

    Ruling Elder Racial Ethnic At-Large Commissioner, Class of 2022, second term

  • Barbara Chaapel -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, first term

  • Elaine McCray -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2021, first term

Pittsburgh

  • Carol Divens Roth -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, 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 -

    2022 Co-Moderator and Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2024, second term

  • Cliff Foster -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, first 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

  • John Edward Harris -

    Teaching Elder Commissioner, Class of 2023, first term

Washington

  • Judy Mayer -

    Ruling Elder Commissioner, Class of 2022, second 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 2022, first 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