The Rev.
Christopher deForest
Bishop
The Rev.
Rachael Dietz
Executive Associate to the Bishop
Deacon
Kathleen (Kat) Tigerman
Director of Evangelical Mission
COORDINATING STAFF
Eric Gombert
Director of Operations
(Part time)
Stacey Burke
Communications & Growing Young Coordinator
(Full Time)
Laurie Christman
Leadership Support Coordinator
(Full Time)
Debbie Skinner
Mission Support Coordinator
(Part Time)
The Rev.
Jira Albers
Licensed Lay Ministers Coordinator
(Part Time)
The Rev.
Tara Lynn
Portico Regional Representative
ASSOCIATES OF THE BISHOP (PART TIME)
The Rev.
Samantha Drennan
Northern Lehigh
The Rev.
Charles H. Grube
Scranton & Wilkes Barre
The Rev.
Jean L. Huber
Lehigh & Bethlehem/Easton
The Rev.
Zach Labagh
Schuylkill
The Rev.
Drew Neidig
East & West Berks
The Rev.
Niels H. Nielsen
Pocono
The Rev.
Carl Shankweiler
Hazleton/Lehighton
MISSION DISTRICT DEANS (VOLUNTEER)
The Rev. Colleen Cox
The Rev. Nelson Quiñones
The Rev. Barry L. Spatz
The Rev. Jennifer Heavner
The Rev. Michael Scholtes
The Rev. Cindy White
The Rev. Michele Kaufman
The Rev. Dody Siegfried
The Rev. Inge Williams
SYNOD COUNCIL (VOLUNTEER)
The synod council is the board of directors for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and serves as the synod’s interim legislative authority between meetings of the synod assembly. The Synod Council normally meets four times a year. Visitors are welcome to sit in on council meetings except for executive sessions.
Officers
Bishop
Vice President, Chair of the Council
Secretary
Treasurer
Members
Click on the name to email member
Facts and Responsibilities
The council consists of the four officers (Bishop, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer), two youth members, and twenty other people, nine of whom are elected by the nine mission districts. Officers are elected by the Synod Assembly. The Bishop serves for a term of six years; the Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are elected for terms of four years. The two youth members, one male and one female, are elected for two-year terms. The Vice President is limited to two consecutive terms in office, must be a layperson and may not receive a salary. The Secretary and Treasurer may be either lay or ordained and may or may not receive compensation for their duties.