Our Session
We envision our leadership structure like the Session and the Pastor sitting together around a round table, discerning in prayer together the direction that God is leading the church in for this season. Each voice is important and each voice votes their own conscience, not that of a group of people. We do not represent different voices in the congregation, the congregation elects leaders (Ruling Elders) to serve on Session for a 3 year term to vote their conscience in the leadership of the church for that season.
Ruling Elders
They have responsibilities in leadership, governance, and worship. They discern God’s calling for the life of a congregation and measure its faithfulness to that call. The PC(USA) resources ruling elders through its Leadership Formation program so congregational leaders can grow through their service and minister in innovative ways to their communities.
Nancy Lister-Settle
Elder for Passion, Peace, and Justice
- What is your favorite part of church service? My favorite part of the church service is a good (thought-provoking, challenging, enlightening) sermon.
- What makes you feel most connected to God? I feel most connected to God when joining with others to follow the Gospel message of Jesus. I always feel the Holy Spirit guiding us toward compassion, peace and justice.
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
My greatest effort during my term on Session will be to revitalize our partnership with Canton Virginia in El Salvador. I am personally bound to sisters and brothers there and want to enable others to share in that indescribable experience.
Carolyn Rogers
Elder for Worship
- What is your favorite part of church service? The sermon. I like to reflect on the message during the week.
- What makes you feel most connected to God? Outside, enjoying the beauty of Nature - especially at sunset.
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on? Continuing to explore ways of enhancing the worship experience for our congregation.
Jon Kimple
Elder for Outreach
- What is your favorite part of church service?
- What makes you feel most connected to God?
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
Corrine Rowe
Elder for Christian Education and Fellowship
- What is your favorite part of church service?
- What makes you feel most connected to God?
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
Curt Pion
Elder for Property
- What is your favorite part of church service?
- What makes you feel most connected to God?
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
Cy Schoonmaker
Elder for Personnel
- What is your favorite part of church service?
- What makes you feel most connected to God?
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
Cindy Carpenter
Elder
- What is your favorite part of church service?
- What makes you feel most connected to God?
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
Max Bejarno
Youth Elder
- What is your favorite part of church service? I enjoy when we do the Passing of the Peace during the church service. It's nice to say hello to everyone and to get up and move around the sanctuary.
- What makes you feel most connected to God? I feel most connected to God when I pray or take communion at church.
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on? During my term on session, I hope to learn how things work behind the scenes at church and to share my ideas with the other elders.
Officers
Sherry Madole
Treasurer
- What is your favorite part of church service? My favorite part of the service is the sense of community—especially the time when we pass the peace. It’s a meaningful moment to connect with one another, share kindness, and be reminded that we are all part of something bigger together.
- What makes you feel most connected to God? I feel most connected to God through prayer and through the quiet “God moments” in everyday life—those times when His presence becomes clear in both simple and unexpected ways.
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on? During my term, I hope to simplify our processes and strengthen accountability, helping ensure that everything we do is clear, effective, and supports the mission of our church.
Dennis Britson
Elder for Business and Finance
- What is your favorite part of church service? It has been said that the gospel in one word is love and love includes caring about and supporting others, which is the largest reason why our Joys and Concerns segment of the worship service is my favorite.
- What makes you feel most connected to God? Nature, the world and universe around us, is one of the biggest reasons for my belief in God. I feel most connected to God when I am outside in nature and not focused on the other environment we live in, that is controlled and man-made.
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on? My goal has two parts. First, I want to make our members more aware of how much financial support is needed for our church to operate. Second, I want to make our financial structure and records more transparent and easier to understand by perpetuating financial reports to the session and members in understandable formats.
Julie Kopecky
Clerk of Session
- What is your favorite part of church service?
During the times of the service that we are able to quietly reflect are my favorite parts of the church service.
- What makes you feel most connected to God?
Early morning walks in nature and in the quiet at night are both times that I feel most connected to God.
- During your term what is one thing you want to accomplish or improve on?
During my time as clerk, I hope to streamline the position, to provide ease for the next clerk. I also hope to add an assistant or co-clerk to assist with communication and duties of the position.