Our Cohort Members

Elders

  • Edward Burnley Sr.

    Elder Edward Burnley Sr. earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice and a Certificate in Police Science from the Community College of Philadelphia. He also received a certificate in drugs, alcohol, and crisis intervention training from Penn State University. He served in the USAF for four years and received an honorable discharge. After his service, he worked for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania as a managing investigator until his retirement. Additionally, he coached high school basketball at Friends Select School in Philadelphia. Currently, he serves as an elder and a member of the men's choir at Cedar Park Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. His hobbies include bowling, golfing, and playing pinochle.

  • Ruby Davis

    Elder Ruby Davis is an elder at New River Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. She was a longtime member of Reeve Memorial Presbyterian Church prior to its closing. A Commissioned Lay Pastor, Ruby loves teaching the Word of God and seeing the changes God manifests in the lives of God’s people.

  • Melany Dewalt

    Elder Melany Dewalt is an elder at The Welcome Church in Philadelphia. Melany has been a part of The Welcome Church for at least 5 years. She is part of the Christian Leaders Institute and has a real heart for the homeless in our city. Melany feels a calling to bring the word to God's people.

  • Debi Ferrarello

    Debi Ferrarello spent 40 years in healthcare, working in home health, hospitals, private practice, and in a nonprofit she co-founded as a nurse and lactation consultant. Debi is currently serving as Director of Discipleship and Engagement at First Presbyterian Church of Ambler. Outside of church, she loves taking walks in nature, reading, and dancing, along with spending time with her husband and two energetic and inquisitive grandsons.

  • Mark Fifer

    Elder Mark Fifer is A 50-year member of Gladwyne Presbyterian Church, currently serving as an elder. Mark is a retired school teacher, coach, and administrator who worked in the field of education for 46 years. He serves on the board of POWER, a multi-faith interracial social justice organization. He and his wife Ginger live in Paoli with their yellow lab named Louella. They have three children (all educators) and four grandsons.

  • June Higgins

    Elder June Higgins is an Elder at Oxford Presbyterian Church. June serves in many leadership areas at Oxford and within the presbytery. At Oxford, she sits on Session; and serves on the Worship and Sacrament, Christian Education, Communication and Media, and Finance Ministry Teams. Within the Presbytery, she has been commissioned to preach in its churches and serves as a member of other Presbytery committees. She is currently retired from a 30-year career as a Software Engineer at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Her pastime is looking at old sitcoms and meditation. June and her husband, Lloyd Higgins (RE) are residents of Philadelphia.

  • Becky Hunt

    Elder Becky Hunt is a elder at Gwynedd Square Presbyterian church, where she has been a member for 44 years. Becky currently serves on the Finance and Worship committees, sings in the choir, and plays in the concert band along with the bell choir. She is the mother of two boys, both in their thirties and grandmother to a sweet, energetic two-year-old girl (best job ever). Becky is happily retired after 40 years as a QA supervisor at Quest Diagnostics. In her spare time, she volunteers at Keystone Opportunity Center and loves to travel with her husband.

  • Contina Lee Lundy

    Elder Contina Lee Lundy has worshipped and served at The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown for over 35 years. She has served the church in many capacities including Moderator of Presbyterian Women and Chair of various committees and events. Contina is Clerk of Session at First Germantown and Program Director of FPCG Freedom School. Contina is the Vice Moderator of the Presbyerty's Commission on Ministry, a Commissioner to the 223rd General Assembly, and Co-Moderator of the Family Leave Task Force approved by the 223rd General Assembly. Contina is also on the Coordinating Team for Triennium 2025 where she serves as the Coordinator of the Production Team. She is passionate about The Lord's work in the urban church, especially with young adults and children.

  • Grace Marable

    Grace Marable has been a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church for over 35 years. Grace is an ordained deacon and leader of Bethel's Mission Programs (including food distribution, clothing, mental health assistance, senior adult care, and advocacy for the homeless). She is part of the Matthew 25 team at Bethel working to dismantle structural racism and eradicate systemic poverty. Her favorite word is HOPE. She enjoys cooking, reading, learning, and helping others. Grace is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and enjoys spending time with her family.

  • Betsi Moise

    Elder Elisabeth (Betsi) Sillcox Moise has worked for the Presbytery of Philadelphia for over 12 years where she manages the website and social media postings. She is a graphic designer by trade and seeks to use her skills to express the joy of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. She is an elder and member of Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church in Norristown.

  • Victor (Vick) Rivera

    Elder Victor Rivera is an elder at West Kensington Ministry. He serves his church and the community around him by putting programs and projects together for the youth in the area, as well as maintaining and running the ministry's recording studio. Victor also works as a clay artist for a clay studio. His hobbies are sports, music, cooking, and art.

  • Rick Simmons

    Elder Rick Simmons grew up a half block from Warminster Presbyterian Church and has worshiped as a Presbyterian all his life. While there, Rick was on Session, served as clerk, and the nominating committee. For close to 30 years, he has been a member of The First Presbyterian Church in Springfield. Rick is the clerk there, has chaired many committees, and enjoys singing in the choir. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling with his wife in their travel trailer and spending time with his daughters and two fabulous grandchildren.

  • Nichole Vaughn

    Elder Nichole Vaughn is an elder at Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Nichole is a Human Resources professional with almost 30 years of experience, but the greatest title that she carries is Auntie. Nichole is the aunt who will spoil your children rotten and then send them home to you! She is also an avid crafter and sewist. Whenever she has free time, you will most likely find Nichole in her craft studio, creating and watching Netflix.

  • Carol Wagenheiser

    Elder Carol Wagenheiser is the Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator at First Presbyterian Church of Warminster, where she is an ordained Ruling Elder and a member of the senior choir and the handbell choir. A retired occupational therapist, she provided services to school-age and preschool children through the Bucks County Intermediate Unit for more than 30 years. She holds a master’s degree in education from Holy Family University and a Certificate in Youth Ministry and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. In June, she expects to complete her Certificate in Ministry courses through Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She lives in Jamison, where a camper van is parked in her driveway and ready to go explore another Pennsylvania State Park. She also enjoys graphic arts, including photographing birds and creating church visuals such as PowerPoints for special services and weekly emails.

  • Wrenton Wright

    Elder Wrenton Wright is a member of Oak Lane Presbyterian Church and has served, on and off, as an elder there for around thirty-seven years. He currently chairs Oak Lane's Finance Committee, a position he has held for almost ten years. Prior to this, Wrenton served as an officer in the United States Air Force before going on to work at Mobil Oil Corporation and later Pepsi-Cola. After retirement, he started his own business as a delivery service partner with Amazon. Wrenton is now fully retired.

Clergy

  • Rev. Judith Brackett

    Ordained for 10 years, Rev. Judith Brackett is a second career pastor currently serving a mid-size church. Her interests include making Mediterranean food, creating hospitable places, and writing spiritual prose. Judith joyfully practices the theology of the table - an understanding that every table where people gather can be an extension of Christ’s table, a satisfying feast for the soul.

  • Rev. Mindy Campbell

    Rev. Mindy Campbell has served as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Warminster since 2019. She previously served as Associate Pastor at FPC Philadelphia and as Pastor of FPC Woodbridge, NJ. A native North Carolinian, Mindy moved to the Northeast in 1999 to attend Princeton Theological Seminary and now considers herself a permanent transplant. She lives with her husband, Peter in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia with their cat Dogberry. Peter’s two grown children live nearby and two granddaughters give them lots of joy.

  • Rev. Wonjae Choi

    Rev. Wonjae Choi has spent her career helping churches create healthy systems. Since graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, she has served congregations in several presbyteries, including the former Elizabeth and New Brunswick presbyteries, Lackawanna, and Philadelphia. Wonjae has been married to her husband for almost 30 years, and they have two active teenage boys. Please pray for her.

  • Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight

    Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight currently serves as Associate Pastor for Outreach Ministry, Congregational Care, and Worship Coordination at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, where she has been in ministry for nearly ten years. Sarah received her B.A. in Psychology from Austin College in Sherman, TX, and her Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Currently, Sarah has the incredible privilege to serve as the Vice-Moderator for the Presbytery of Philadelphia. She is married to Bill who is also a Presbyterian Minister, and they are parents to two fabulous daughters, Margaret and Eleanor.

  • Rev. Dr. Bernard Downing

    Rev. Dr. Bernard Downing is a native of Philadelphia, and an Army veteran, who currently serves as Supply Pastor of Oak Lane Presbyterian Church. He is married to the former Michelle Spraggins and they are blessed with two teenage girls. Bernard is a recent graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary with a Doctorate in Ministry. He is grateful for the ministry that God has placed in his life and seeks every opportunity to fulfill his calling. Nevertheless, Bernard also enjoys other activities as well such as concerts, music, dancing, martial arts movies, and sports. He also enjoys spending time with his family on trips and vacations.

  • Rev. Roberta Kearney

    Rev. Roberta Kearney recently celebrated 30 years of ministry as a Minister of Word and Sacrament. The first half of her ministry she served as an Associate Pastor responsible for the discipleship of children 5th grade and under and their families. For the last 15 years she has been a transitional pastor with six different congregations in eastern Pa and central New Jersey. Roberta has served churches with 2,200 members and churches with 75 members. Every experience has involved learning at least one new skill.

  • Rev. Dr. Cheni Khonje

    Rev. Dr. Cheni Khonje was born in Blantyre, Malawi, and when she was 28 days old, her family became political refugees. They lived in Zambia, The Netherlands, and then moved to the United States. She holds a Master's degree in Medical Microbiology, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Lutheran Seminary with a concentration on Prophetic Preaching. She is an avid knitter and loves cooking and football: soccer, and American. Cheni is a loving aunt to all children.

  • Rev. Dr. Jade King Bass

    Rev. Dr. Jade King Bass is a member at large in the Presbytery of Philadelphia. She has served as a minister of congregational care and supply pastor at various churches. She has also guest-preached at several churches within the presbytery. Jade is actively involved with various committees of the presbytery and The Synod of the Trinity. Her diverse interests include photography, travel, adult coloring, jazz music appreciation, attending plays, singing, cooking, reading, teaching biblical studies, exploring positive social media use, writing, and even learning conversational Spanish.

  • Rev. Adan A. Mairena

    Rev. Adan A. Mairena was born in Central America and was raised in Chicago, Texas, and New Mexico. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Adan moved to Pennsylvania in 2003 to serve as a Lilly Resident in Ministry at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. He was then called by the Presbytery of Philadelphia to be the organizing pastor of The West Kensington Ministry. Adan also serves as pastor at Yeadon Presbyterian Church. He enjoys traveling, reading the newspaper, blogs, weekly news magazines, going to the movies, playing guitar, and listening to live music.

  • Rev. Kari Olson

    Rev. Kari Olson has served as the Pastor of East Falls Presbyterian Church since 2018. A native of Seattle, Washington, she attended Princeton Theological Seminary beginning in 2012 and has happily called the East Coast home ever since. Prior to serving at East Falls, Kari was a Solo Pastor in Lehigh Presbytery. Kari enjoys playing guitar and piano, doing all kinds of word puzzles (Wordle, Connections, crossword puzzles), and playing board games with her fiance, Jason. She is looking forward to a sabbatical and her wedding this summer!

  • Rev. Dr. Joyce Shin

    Rev. Dr. Joyce Shin serves as Pastor and Head of Staff at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church in Swarthmore, Pa. Joyce earned her B.A. at Rhodes, a liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee. She then studied Ethics in Germany at Tübingen University as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar. In 2000, Joyce completed her Masters of Divinity at The Divinity School of The University of Chicago. There she also received a Ph.D. in Theological Ethics. Joyce is married to Michael David, who serves on the medical faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Infectious Diseases. Together, with their daughter, who is away at college, they live in Swarthmore.

  • Rev. Stephanie Templin Ashford

    Stephanie Templin Ashford is the Pastor at Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church. Originally ordained in the UCC, Stephanie has been serving in the PC(USA) since 2004. She has served congregations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington. Stephanie resides in Newtown, PA with her husband, two teenage children, and her beloved dog, Gabriel. She enjoys Starbucks coffee, travel, backpacking, and terrible reality TV dating shows.