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Synod PW Search Committee Request
The Search Committee is already at work seeking nominations for the following positions on the Administrative Team:
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Treasurer
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Hospitality Coordinator
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Mission Coordinator
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Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries
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Search Committee
These are 3 three-year terms. While each position has a special skill set, we must find individuals who work well together as a team and are as geographically representative of the Synod as possible.
Please send the name, address, phone number and email address as well as the position for which you are recommending someone along with your name, contact information and a brief statement of why you think this person would make a good person to fill this position to Sue Mummert, search chair, at suemummert.pw@gmail.com with Synod PW Search in the subject line. Thank you for your help with this important work!
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2023 Presbyterian Women Gathering Highlights
The 2023 PW in the Synod of the Trinity Summer Gathering met in July at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, PA. Attending were 69 women, including a number of first-time participants, from across the Synod.
Speakers for the general sessions were: the Rev. Forrest Claassen, the Synod Executive of the Synod of the Trinity; Susan Jackson-Dowd, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Women, Inc.; the Rev. Cheri Harper, Mission Associate for Presbyterian Women; and Angela Regan, founder and Executive Director of Welcome Home SIS (System Impacted Survivors), our 2022 and 2023 PW Synod Mission Project. Gathering music was led by PW’s Patti Hart and Hazel Johnston.
The gathering offered three sections of small group workshops, most of which were led by PWs from around the Synod with topics exploring Horizon’s Bible Study, PW 101, I Love to Sing the Stories, Disaster Preparedness, Stories of Hymns, Sister Act (about Welcome Home SIS) and a Racial Wealth Gap Simulation.
At the business meeting, we approved changes to the by-laws to update Administrative Team coordinator position titles in keeping with current titles. Additionally, we elected new leaders to the administrative team who were installed at the Tuesday evening program.
The Mission team provided hands-on mission activities for gathering participants to make Christmas cards for incarcerated persons and fleece knotted blankets for a local project.
During the gathering participants had the opportunity to bid on baskets provided by each presbytery. The silent auction baskets raised $1,525 for our 2023 Mission project, Welcome Home SIS. The Hunger Fund collection raised nearly $236. The Contingent Offering collected $955.
The gathering concluded with a Blessing of the Hands service and closing worship and communion led by the Rev. Rebecca Tanner.
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Welcome Newly Installed PWS Leaders
We would like to congratulate and thank those who were recently elected and installed to the Administrative Team of Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Trinity at the PWS 2023 Summer Gathering!
Joyce Johnston, left, receives the gavel from Susan Nesti.
Joyce Johnson – Moderator
Joyce is from Kiskiminetas Presbytery and recently served an extended term as our Treasurer. She is married, recently retired, has two adult children with six grandchildren. She is an active community volunteer and enjoys crafts.
Rev. Jane DeFord – Vice Moderator for Programs
Jane is from the Presbytery of Donegal. Jane is a retired pastor but is still active and involved. She is married with three adult children. She has served as presbytery moderator and previously served as our Synod representative to the Board of Directors.
Rev. Dr. Betsy McCormick – Spiritual Enrichment
Betsy is from Northumberland Presbytery, currently serving in the Presbytery of Donegal as a staff chaplain at Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center in Harrisburg. She has served 14 years as a mission co-worker and 20 years as a pastor in the U.S.
Holly Kithcart – Peacemaking/Hunger
Holly is from Huntingdon Presbytery. While they have dissolved the Presbytery Coordinating Team, she has tried to stay in touch and active with Presbyterian Women. She has served as registrar for several regional gatherings of the central region.
Susan Nesti – Hospitality, 1 year, unexpired term
Susan is from the Presbytery of Redstone. She is married with three daughters, loves to cross stitch and sew and binge movies. Susan is retired from her work with the Intermediate Unit and is a seven-year breast cancer survivor. She has previously served as our hospitality coordinator, vice moderator for programs and most recently as our PWS moderator.
Jean Bigger – Search Committee Member, 1 year
Jean is from Lackawanna Presbytery. Jean is a retired special education teacher focused on visually impaired students. She recently served as our secretary and has attended gatherings at all levels: regional, Synod and Churchwide.
Carolee Atkinclose – Search Committee Member, 3 years
Carolee is from the Presbytery of Redstone. She is a retired business educator. She is married and living on a farm. She has previously served as our secretary and our hospitality coordinator.
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2023 PWS MISSION PROJECT – Welcome Home SIS
The 2023 PWS Mission Project will continue to support the Welcome Home SIS – A Safe Space for System Impacted Survivors project. The project, located in Ohio, helps women who have been released from incarceration rebuild their lives for successful re-entry into society. It is a Christian-based transitional housing and re-entry program – that receives NO government funding – to help women who are more likely to be homeless when released from incarceration.
Since 2020, the program has helped 30 women and 19 children, including eight women and three children between January and June of this year (2023). They break down the help needed into several categories:
Immediate Needs: Transportation from prison to the house, clothing (usually women come out of prison with only their prison sweats) and a nice lunch.
Basic Human Needs: safe housing (rent) and food. The women begin to pay rent after they get a job.
Critical needs for Re-Entry: Dignity Bags with nice girly hygiene items; Identity Package for State Identification Card and sometimes birth certificates; and Advocacy/Benefits to help with case management and career specialists.
Get Fresh Garden Program to help provide fresh fruits and vegetables.
For more information about Welcome Home SIS visit their website by clicking here and check out their YouTube videos.
PWC Mission support should be sent to PW Presbytery Treasurers by Dec. 15, 2023. PWP Treasurers should send PWP Mission Project support to Diana Stiles by Dec. 31.
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2024 PW Churchwide Gathering
Save the Date – Aug. 8-11, 2024 in St. Louis, MO
Countdown to Churchwide Gathering with information on registration, hotels, etc. click here.
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PDF version of the Presbyterian Women’s Administrative Team available by clicking here.
