During a Synod of the Trinity Special Assembly meeting on May 26, Synod commissioners unanimously voted to elect Kristal Smith as the Synod’s new stated clerk. She will begin her new role with the Synod on June 1.
Most recently, Kristal served as the Presbytery Leader for Governance and Congregational Leadership at the Presbytery of Carlisle, having stepped down from that position at the end of February.
“Rev. Smith is conscientious and thoughtful and cares deeply about the spiritual health of the Church,” said Synod Executive the Rev. Forrest Claassen. “In just a few short years, she has won the trust and respect of the stated clerks across the Synod. I am grateful for the wisdom and care she will bring to the office of Synod Stated Clerk. I look forward to partnering with her in making the Synod a place that ‘supports and challenges presbyteries to be vital, innovative and faithful.'”
Having grown up outside of a faith tradition, Kristal was preoccupied with “how” questions in the first half of her life, which led to a Chemical Engineering degree. Then she moved on to “why” questions, which led her to life partner, Dave, and earnest faith exploration in the PC(USA). Since ordination in 2005, Kristal has served as an associate pastor, hospital and Hospice chaplain, visitation pastor for four Lutheran churches, and most recently as Co-Leader for the Presbytery of Carlisle. She and Dave are empty-nesters living in Lebanon, PA, where they enjoy connecting with their three adult children from afar and spending time in God’s great creation.
“In talking with Kristal,” said Erin Kobs, the chair of the nominating committee, “the search committee was very impressed with her background as a stated clerk, her thoughtfulness when answering our questions, and most of all, her relational nature. Kristal has wonderful relationships with the current presbytery clerks. We are confident in her abilities to help the Synod move forward in working towards its identified ends.”
Forrest has been the acting stated clerk since Jan. 1, taking the reigns from Richard “Skip” Noftzger, who spent a year as the Synod’s acting stated clerk following Michael Wilson’s move to the Board of Pensions in 2024.