Sylvia Carlson, Treasurer, Greensburg, PA
Teaching elder, honorably retired; second career clergy; active in presbytery and Presbyterian Women; traveled to Sudan as part of Redstone’s partnership with the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church and involved in Sudan Mission Network; volunteered with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance after Katrina; GA Junkie; sylviac65@comcast.net
Will McGarvey, Pittsburg, CA
Serving shared ministry with UCC congregation; active in many justice groups, including More Light Presbyterians board; Adjunct Faculty, Pacific School of Religion; raised as a Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints) and served a two-year mission; willymac4@me.com
Diane Monger, Davenport, IA
Teaching Elder, clergy couple; served PCUSA at all levels and in many capacities as clergy and volunteer; active involvement in governing body and justice work; GA junkie (has missed only 5 since 1976); revdcmonger@aol.com
David Oliver-Holder, Secretary, Bayfield, WI
Teaching Elder, clergy couple; Pastor, Bayfield Presbyterian Church; active in many local and justice ministries; ordained in American Baptist Church, USA; volunteer ambulance driver; manitou2@charter.net
Manley Olson, Co-moderator, Minneapolis, MN
Ruling Elder; retired college dean; service at all levels of the PCUSA, including presbytery moderator and member of General Assembly Council; active in many justice groups; GA junkie; hymn text writer; birder; served on planning committee for Re-Imagining Conference; manleyolson@gmail.com
Charlsie Ramsey, Newark, OH
Teaching Elder; Pastor, Hanover Presbyterian Church; second career clergy; worked 25 years in the oil industry; led women’s support group and annual retreat in Houston; served churches in Arizona; moderated and served on numerous Presbytery committees; love attending seminars and workshops; revramsey@windstream.net
Sylvia Thorson-Smith, Co-moderator, Tucson, AZ
Ruling Elder, retired from Grinnell College where she taught sociology, religious studies and gender/women’s studies courses; involved at all levels of PCUSA in women’s, sexuality, LGBT issues; editor/writer of several major studies; co-founder of Voices of Sophia; lover of books, movies, and Airedale terriers; sylviats@cox.net
Kate Trigger, Minneapolis MN
AmeriCorps member working at Minneapolis Work Force Center; theatre major and graduate of Luther College; 10-time attendee to General Assembly; Young Adult Advisory Delegate to the Birmingham GA; ktrigger@gmail.com
John Van Nuys, Crawfordsville, IN
Teaching Elder; Pastor, Wabash Ave Presbyterian Church; serving on local Habitat for Humanity board; convener of local poverty relief network; short-term mission work in Democratic Republic of the Congo; jcvchurch@att.net
Vicki Moss, Staff for Communications/Website, Ridgewood, NY
Teaching Elder; Pastor, Ridgewood Presbyterian Church; General Assembly booth coordinator; church educator, musician, chaplain; sailing and kayaking enthusiast; self-described mermaid; luseana@me.com
And this is our opening prayer for the days to come, written by our Co-Moderator Ruling Elder Manley Olson. We hope you pray this with us:
God of justice
We are called, individually and collectively, to work for justice. Be with us as we begin our journey as a Coordinating Team as we try to discern how we can do that work in this time in the PC(USA).
We are the successors of groups that have an admirable history of doing justice. We need to know and honor that past but give us the courage to move ahead and not dwell too long on past accomplishments.
We are part of a denomination that is anxious about the future. Help us to face that future with vision and confidence, knowing that the work of justice is an ongoing endeavor, not a one-time quick fix.
But most of all we live in the present, in this time and place. In a world and a church that need to hear a voice for justice, help us to proclaim your extravagant love and justice.
As we discern what it is that we can do, give us a sense of wonder to the possibilities that are ours to explore and embrace. Give us a sense of openness and respect for each other’s gifts as we engage openly and freely in our deliberations.
We pray for those of us on this team, for our families, our congregations and our communities. We pray for the PC(USA) and all those in the church who are working for your justice.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for Diane and Tom as they start a new chapter in their lives with a new call. We ask for healing for John Shuck and his family as they continue the grieving process.
And now we lift up our individual prayers, spoken or silent...
All of these prayers, spoken and unspoken, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
