HERE - Church of the Good Samaritan

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Candidates for 2015 Vestry and Deanery/Diocesan Delegate
Election Results will be announced at the Annual Meeting
Sunday, February 22, 2015
CANDIDATE Q & A FOR 2015 VESTRY ELECTION
JUSTIN CRAWFORD
1. Briefly describe your family, occupation and professional and community involvement.
My wife Amy and I took in four foster children in March of 2014 (all sisters, ages 5, 10, 12
& 13) whom we are hoping to be able to adopt sometime in 2015. Professionally, I provide
for my family as an attorney and management/business consultant. I run an international
shipping agency and a small business consulting firm, and am currently finishing up an
APCLB (in Law & Business) from NYU Stern School of Business, as well as an LLM (in
Taxation) from NYU Law School. Beyond my involvement with Good Sam, my community
involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for the International Institute for
Justice and Development, as well as volunteering for the Bridge of Hope ministry and the Young Men and Women
In Charge Foundation (YMIC or YMWIC).
2. How long have you regularly attended worship at Good Samaritan? In which ministries have you been involved and in what capacity?
We moved to PA in 2010, in part because I fell in love with Good Sam and wanted to make this church my home,
and have been faithfully attending here ever since. I’m part of a small group, help out with Café Good Sam from
time to time, as well as the Christmas Tree Sale and Fair Days. I serve as part of the leadership team for the Freedom in Christ Retreat, and am also presently serving as the Group Coordinator for a Bridge of Hope Mentoring
Team.
3. In what diocesan level ministries and/or ministries in previous parishes have you been involved?
I led the Men’s Ministry, taught Adult Sunday School, and was occasionally asked to preach at the Clinton AG
church I attended in my mid 20s. When I moved to Phillipsburg and joined a CMA church there, I was again asked
to teach Adult Sunday School and spoke at a few conferences I helped organize. I also helped lead the young
adult group there. Finally, in my last move before coming to PA, I was one of the founding members of a non-denom church start-up that today has grown to have thousands of members in 4 branches, plus a large online presence that brings in members across multiple continents.
4. From your point of view, what is the greatest challenge or opportunity you see facing Good Samaritan in
the next three to five years?
To settle into and capitalize on Good Sam’s unique identity as an (1) evangelical, (2) Anglican/Episcopalian (3)
missional church. This combination of attributes is rare and beautiful to find… especially when coupled with the
beautiful and vibrant community found here. This church is in a truly unique position to make Christ real to a generation hungry for a faith that actually has relevance to their lives by helping them become captivated by the beauty
of (1) the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives, (2) liturgy and ritual to help express the
ineffable of an incomprehensibly beautiful God – of Beauty Himself, (3) all enflamed and evidenced by a passion
for serving those around us through the loving works of a community united with a heart for missions and service.
5. Please describe how you understand the gospel message. What is that message to you?
Freedom. (Gal. 5:1) Freedom, not just from the fear of the just consequences of my shortcomings that Christ has
paid the price for (Rom. 4:25), but freedom to experience life more fully. Freedom to become truly human, and to
become the man God uniquely created me to be, as Christ has become the new Adam. (I Cor. 45-49)
DINA GIBSON
I am married to Jim Gibson, a wonderful kind Canadian man. I am the mother
of James (19) a young man with a strong faith and Sydney Gibson (17) who
loves doing community service projects particularly in foreign countries. I
have worked as a youth minister for FOCUS (Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools) and as a high school counselor (Bishop Eustace Prep)
and have served on The Women’s Committee at The Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia.
2. How long have you regularly attended worship at Good Samaritan? In
which ministries have you been involved and in what capacity?
I have been going to the Church of the Good Samaritan since 1986. I have been involved with The Women’s
ministry (leading Bible studies, coordinating prayer for many retreats): The Children’s Ministries (co-chairing and
volunteer at the Vacation Bible School Camps and teaching Sunday School). I have been involved with Youth Ministries (I have been on mission trip with the youth to South Dakota, North Dakota and Kensington. I have taught
Sunday School and worked with the youth group). Different help ministries (Van leader for Mercy Ministries and
volunteered at the Food Closet) Prayer Ministries: I have helped organize and been involved with many prayer
groups, meeting weekly to pray for The Church of the Good Samaritan. I have helped with the healing prayer ministry both organizing it for retreats and volunteering during services both on Sundays and Wednesdays. I also help
lead prayer in new Chapel services. Evangelistic ministries: I was part of Evangelism Explosion and, as mentionned
earlier, VBS. I also served on the Discernment Committee for our new Rector.
None
We are experiencing attrition at a greater rate than we are gaining members. We are losing families who have
been at Good Sam for a long time and have been of great service to our body. This is weakening our body. We
need to both listen to these people who have left or are considering leaving and we need to seek God on changes
that may need to be made. We may have to humble ourselves, confess our sins and let God heal our community.
Prayer is paramount, as is listening. I believe God has great plans for our church, we need to bow before Him and
hear what He has to say to us.
The Good News is while we were still sinners Jesus died for us (so that we no longer have to pay the penalty for
our sin) and he rose from the dead conquering death, so that if we will give our lives to Christ we may live with
God forever!
KEVIN HICKS
My wife, Pam, and I have been married for over 36 years and we have two grown children,
Christie, living at home and working at Vanguard and Brian, working as an IT guy in New Jersey. I retired last January after 35 years as a Research Chemist and Research Leader for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research Center in Wyndmoor PA. I still consult in the areas
of foods and biofuels and I’m enjoying being an officer in the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, the nation’s oldest agricultural society, established in 1785. My wife and
I live just a few miles from The Church of the Good Samaritan on Wisteria Drive in Malvern.
2. How long have you regularly attended worship at Good Samaritan, and in what
ministries here have you been involved? In what capacity? My family and I started attending Good Samaritan shortly after moving to Malvern from Glenside PA in 1993. I have
been active in Men’s Ministries for most of that time. I was the Chairman of the Men’s Leadership committee for
a few years and enjoy attending the many men’s events. I was co-originator of Café Good Sam many years ago
and I still enjoy leading a team and making sure that our parishioners get hot coffee and pastries each Sunday.
Pam and I are in a Life Group and I’ve been a member of a small men’s Friday morning Bible study group called
the Bellis Breakfast Boys for many years. I’ve enjoyed serving on the Missions Committee for several years and
enjoyed serving as the Chairman since last year. I’ve enjoyed serving on the vestry where my natural interest has
been in supporting our Missions and Outreach activities.
3. In what diocesan level ministries and/or ministries in previous parishes have you been involved? In my previous parish, St. Peter’s Glenside, I served on the Vestry, on many committees, as Rector’s Warden, Youth
Group Leader, on a Rector’s search committee, and Adult Education Coordinator.
the next three to five years? Our greatest opportunity is to live out our name as the “Good Samaritan” in our local community, our country and
throughout the world through our Missions and Outreach programs. Our greatest challenge may be to create
growth in attendance and membership in the future but this can surely be done by the joyful proclamation of the
Gospel.
The Gospel message is the good news that Jesus Christ died for all my sins, allowing me to one day stand before
my Creator and have eternal life. It also means that during the years I have left on this earth, I can begin to live into
the Kingdom of God by my works and actions towards God and others – to try my best to love the Lord my God
with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and love my neighbor as myself.
TED KLENSKE
My wife Ginny, our daughter Julia, and I live in the Downingtown area in a single family
home that we purchased 20 years ago (and just paid off!). Ginny works for a large corporation implementing health insurance software. Julia is a senior at West-Mont Christian
Academy in Pottstown. I received my BA from Eastern University and an MA from Penn
in sociology. I have had positions in media research, survey and market research, application programming, and data analysis and reporting. By far most of my work life has
been in teaching: sociology at the college level, math and social studies in high school
and middle school, and fourth grade, media, and math at the elementary level. Two years
ago, I retired from teaching at Windsor Christian Academy, where for eight years I was
blessed by the opportunity to include my Christian worldview with secular subjects for
elementary and middle school children.
We came to Good Sam in 2000 and quickly connected with a small group (life group). I joined a weekly men’s
breakfast Bible study group (which has become known as the Bellis Breakfast Boys), and was an active participant
in Men’s Ministry programs, retreats, and Cafe Good Sam duty. I was asked if I could coordinate ushers for the
9am, Christmas, Easter, and special services throughout the year. For want of a better term, I was “head usher” for
about five years and became acquainted with many parishioners. For several years our family attended Windsor
Baptist Church in Eagle, where I was teaching at their school, Windsor Christian Academy. When I retired in 2012,
we returned to Good Sam. I’m back with the Bellis Breakfast Boys, have joined usher and Cafe Good Sam teams,
and am a member of the recording ministry. In 2014, Ginny and I took the Adult Confirmation Class and were confirmed in the Episcopal Church last Spring.
At Church of the Savior in Wayne we were involved in the small group ministry. I taught a class for small group
leaders and co-led a Bible study. At Windsor Baptist Church we joined a small group and taught high school Sunday school. I served on the Christian Education Committee and sang in the choir. For two summers, I organized
and ran the week-long Vacation Bible School attended by over two hundred children.
Every challenge that God presents is also an opportunity for advancing His Kingdom one soul at a time. We find in
James the challenge that every believer, every Church body, and the Church universal will always face: “But don’t
just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.”(NLT 1:22) I pray that God would show the vestry opportunities
to aid each person who comes into contact with our Church (members, attenders, strangers) to grow to be more
like Christ and so to act more as Christ would have us act toward everyone.
John 3:16 sums up the entire gospel. God’s gift of eternal life through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, is the heart of
the gospel message. God’s love for us is the foundation upon which all else rests. The Father showed the nature
of His love by sacrificing what was most precious to Him – His Son - to save us who could not save ourselves
from eternal spiritual death. Jesus, also out of love, took our punishment (paid the price for our sin) to make true
relationship with God possible. The Holy Spirit brings us into love and harmony with God so that we believe the
message of eternal life and trust in Jesus. God continues to shower His grace on me every day. I have peace with
God, knowing that He is with me now and forever. I have hope for the future beyond this fallen life, knowing I will
be in heaven with Christ. And I have joy in living, knowing that the Spirit will continue to reveal all truth through the
Scriptures and prayer and guide me into fruitful relationship with God and my neighbors.
GEORGE SCHEFFEY
Carole and I have been happily married for 28 years, with two wonderful daughters. Krista has been working for two and a half years at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, and is looking forward to starting her service in the Peace Corps this February.
Kimberly is a senior at Messiah College, and is also adjusting to married life - she and
Josiah were married at Good Sam last July! I have held a variety of software engineering
positions since I graduated from West Chester University in the mid-70s. Currently, I am
a Sr. Project Manager at Delaware Investments in center city Philadelphia. When the girls
were young, I coached several teams, mostly in the Great Valley Basketball League, and
continued to volunteer at various school and Girl Scout activities until they finished high
school.
2. How long have you regularly attended and worship at Good Samaritan, and in what ministries here have
you been involved?
Worship and involvement at Good Sam started for me when we moved to Malvern in 1996. Initially, Carole and I
taught Sunday School classes for both the girls’ classes. After they moved into middle school/youth group, I started participating in Men’s Ministry activities. I became more and more involved, and this led to various leadership
roles over the last 13 years. I’m also an usher, and volunteer when I can other ministries (Food Closet, Fair Days,
Christmas Trees). In 2012, I was elected to the Vestry and last year became the People’s Warden. One of the key
elements of my faith is involvement in small men’s groups – the group I’m currently in has been meeting regularly
for about 10-11 years.
No formal interaction at this level.
I believe our greatest challenge is to discern how best to apply the resources He has provided us to further the
mission/vision we have defined for the church - to spread the Good News and enable the body of Christ to flourish.
I think it’s particularly important that we to continue to reach out to those in our surrounding communities who look
to us for both material and spiritual support.
The Gospel is filled with Jesus’ teachings and examples of how to interact with others as we spread the message
of God’s promise of eternal love and life. I try to keep things simple and focus on what Jesus describes as the two
greatest commandants – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,”
and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These commandments require action, and I use them to guide what I think
and say and do.
CHERYL SPARKS
I am married to Kent, and together we have two adopted daughters, Cara Ellen and Emily.
They are in their first year of college. I just recently finished my doctorate and now I teach
marriage and family counseling at Eastern University and have a part-time counseling practice in Wayne.
My family and I have attended Good Samaritan for a little over seven years (I think). I’ve been
involved in various women’s Bible studies, the Alpha marriage course and a follow up “Beta”
study. I spent a year on the missions and outreach committee, and have been involved with
the Freedom in Christ retreats. I love being a lay eucharistic minister.
I am not involved in any diocesan ministries and this is my first time belonging to an Episcopal church. I’ve been
active in other denominations (Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Non-denominational).
Good Sam has an opportunity to engage the GenX and following generations in an authentic way that allows them
to identify with Christ and serve Him radically. I believe they will be drawn to Christ by being offered opportunities
to engage in ways that are more important than debating the doctrinal disputes that sometimes distract Evangelicals. When we are busy truly serving Christ in the least of his sheep, unchurched people are drawn to that much
more than to Sunday “church.” To do this, I would like to see Good Samaritan become even more welcoming to
diverse people. I hope we will grow in our awareness of how many people in our world feel marginalized and oppressed, individually and systemically, and that we can offer sanctuary, just like the good Samaritan of Scripture.
The Gospel is the good news that we are not left as orphans in a broken world, but God has become human, lived
a sinless life and borne our infirmities in order to offer us forgiveness and redeem us, restoring us to right relationship with God, others and people. I believe Jesus is our fellow heir, the first, but not the last, to be resurrected; I
believe the Holy Spirit is alive and active and speaks to us and through us, using Scripture, the church, other people, our experience, and nature (including science). All truth is God’s truth. I believe people are all made in God’s
image, and though the likeness is marred, it is not eradicated. I love people and the myriad ways each finds to
reflect God’s glory. The good news to me personally is that I am loved not because I am perfect, or even good, but
because God is gracious. He makes beautiful things out of broken people, and I want to be a grace sharer, who is
unafraid to reveal my own brokenness as well as my own healing. It’s a way of showing hospitality!
DEBBIE VOLK
I have been married for 25 years and have five children ranging in age from 11 to 24 years
old. Before I was a mother, I worked as a mechanical engineer. I have homeschooled a
couple of my children, volunteered at my children’s school, coached soccer, and been
involved with several political campaigns. I work very occasionally at a couple of parttime jobs and also am taking a class to help me get into a new field.
2. How long have you regularly attended worship at Good Samaritan, and in what
ministries here have you been involved? In what capacity?
I have been attending Good Sam since 1999. I have served on the vestry the last three
years in the areas of fellowship (I head the hospitality committee) and newcomers. I have
been a small group leader or assistant for the Alpha course for several years and helped run a small group for
a couple of the women’s retreats. I serve as prayer minister at the 9:00 service and occasionally serve as a Lay
Eucharistic Minister Visitor. I have taught Vacation Bible School for a number of years and in the past have taught
Sunday School. I am also participating in a Life Group and the Women in Christ Bible study.
I served as a Stephen Minister, helped at an after-school program at an inner-city church, and also taught Sunday
school and VBS at other churches.
I see several things as a challenge to us at Good Sam. I think because of the busyness of our culture and with so
many things vying for our attention in the electronic age we live in, it is important for each of us to make time for
God each day and seek His will in our lives. The strength of our church will only be as strong as our individual relationships with Christ. Likewise, encouraging people to take the time to get involved in a small group and/or one
of the worthwhile ministries offered at Good Sam is important so that they reap the benefits of that experience.
We need to connect with others on a deeper level and be vulnerable so that God can minister to us in a powerful
way. Lastly, because people tend to shy away from sharing their faith with others, I think it should be a priority to
encourage and equip people to do just that. We came to Christ because someone shared their faith with us, and
so we are called to bless others by doing so.
If you repent and believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, then you are reconciled to God and can have eternal
life. I believe that I am to to live out the Christian faith by following Jesus’s commandment to love the Lord our God
with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. I try to do love God by worshipping Him, studying His word, praying, trusting Him, and being aware of how God is acting in my life. I try to love
my neighbor by reaching out and praying for those that are struggling, asking for forgiveness and forgiving those
with whom I struggle, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who don’t believe.
STAN WILLIAMS
I am married to Betsy Williams who is currently serving as the leader of the Altar Guild
here at the Church of the Good Samaritan. We have been married for 15 years and do
not have any children. I am a professionally licensed electrical engineer specializing in
electric power systems. I have worked in system planning and operation functions of
electric power organizations for almost 30 years. I currently work for PJM Interconnection
in Audubon, PA. PJM Interconnection ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric
power system serving 60 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia. I am
currently Director, Performance Compliance & Market Settlements. In this role, I am responsible for ensuring PJM has integrated market operations required to ensure accurate settlements, billing and data analysis to support PJM’s market structure.
Betsy and I began attending the Church of the Good Samaritan shortly after moving to this area from North Carolina in 2003. Since joining our church in 2006, I served on the Greeter Team for several years as well as Café Good
Sam. I served on Ed Goll’s Café Good Sam Team and am currently an active member on Deryck Livingston’s Team.
In addition, I am also an active member of the Men’s Ministry and participate in many group activities. Betsy and I
are also members of the Hartley Connett Home Group.
To date, I have not had an opportunity to participate in diocesan level ministries and/or ministries in previous parishes as I was a member of a Baptist church in North Carolina prior to joining Good Samaritan and becoming a
confirmed Episcopalian. Throughout my professional career I have strived to bring my Christian beliefs to all of my
work efforts. I have both served on and led many committees with neighboring electric power systems to develop
and implement solutions to resolve operational issues where our respective systems interconnect with each other.
I believe the team management and facilitation skills I have acquired over many years can be successfully applied
to diocesan level ministries in southeastern Pennsylvania and can be helpful in working with the vestry, clergy and
staff at the Church of the Good Samaritan.
I see the greatest challenge facing Good Samaritan over the next three to five years is to continue to our efforts to
spread the gospel message within our community in a positive manner that attracts new members and expands
our capabilities to minister to each other.
I understand the gospel message to be that Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, became incarnate in the form
of man who lived among us to both show us how to live and to be the perfect sacrifice required to pay the price
for all of mankind’s sins. God did this because he loves each of us and wants to have a personal relationship with
everyone. This gift is one that we have a responsibility to share with others so that all may have the opportunity to
accept the gift of salvation and enjoy eternal life with our Heavenly Father.
CANDIDATE Q & A FOR 2015 DEANERY/DIOCESAN DELEGATE ELECTION
GLENNA GEIGER
My five children are all grown, with families of their own, and some worship here at Good
Sam. I am retired now, but worked as a professor of English as a Foreign Language,
teaching in universities in China, Kenya, and Lithuania, as well as at Eastern University.
My current community involvement is with Surrey Services for Seniors.
My late husband and I first came to Good Sam, with our five children, in 1964 and worshipped regularly until 1993, when we went to another parish. In 2008, I began attending
Good Sam again, and transferred back in 2012. In my earlier years at Good Sam, I was in the
choir and ECW. I was part of the nucleus of the Prayer and Praise ministry begun by Father Dan Sullivan and was
one of the music leaders. I also served as an adult advisor to the Youth Group in the 1970s and served in the Inner
Healing Ministry and on the Vestry in the 1980s. Currently, I am a counselor with the HELPS Ministry.
At the diocesan level, I was a docent and sacristan at the Cathedral from 2001 to 2008. In my most recent parish, I was a lay reader and chalice bearer, sang in the choir, volunteered in the Thrift Shop, and served as a Lay
Chaplain as well as a delegate to the Conestoga Deanery and Diocesan Convention. I was also a member of the
Liturgy Committee, which developed and implemented special liturgies. In addition, I trained new acolytes and
chalice-bearers and wrote the handbooks for those ministries.
I believe the greatest challenge facing Good Sam is the maintaining of its identity as an Episcopal Church while
growing in compassion and understanding and acceptance of differing opinions. I believe the greatest opportunity for Good Sam lies in its unique position in the Diocese, where Good Sam can be a force for growth and positive
change. Good Sam has grown into a loving and caring community of hope and healing, and I would like to see that
growth continue, as well as continued participation in the life and ministry of the Diocese.
The Gospel message for me is that God sent Jesus to show me how to trust and obey the Father, and that because
of that trust and obedience Jesus gave his life for me, that I might be saved from the power of sin and have eternal
life with him.
CANDIDATE Q & A FOR 2015 DEANERY/DIOCESAN DELEGATE ELECTION
SKIP TRETHEWEY
I have been married to my wife Gerri for 54 years and we have two children, a daughter
Melissa and a son Ted. We have six grandchildren and two great grand children. After 42
years I retired from the Sun Oil Company where I was the Director of Corporate Insurance
as well as president of our captive insurance company Helios Assurance Company Ltd.
Currently I am on the Garden Committee at Hershey’s Mill where we live.
My wife and I have been regularly attending Good Sam for roughly ten years. I have
worked as a table leader at Alpha, have helped with the annual Christmas Tree sale as well as at Fair Days. I belong to a men’s Monday morning Bible study group and the Monday Morning Counters team. I am a Life Group
Leader and work at the Food Closet every other Thursday morning.
Prior to coming to Good Sam my wife and I were long time members (50 +years) of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Drexel Hill, Pa. While there I was a Sunday School teacher for several years and served on the Vestry
several times. I was a Deanery representative and served on a variety of other committees.
There is the ever present challenge of staying faithful to scripture, ( the Word of God). I think we need to be alert
in identifying young men and women who feel called to the ministry and then assist them with their ecclesiastical
development. Within the next couple of years a new Bishop will be chosen for our diocese and our Good Sam
community will have the opportunity to work to influence the selection of a person who is faithful to scripture as
well as a proactive shepherd to the clergy and parishioners of the diocese. A person who will have a positive progrowth influence on our diocese. 5. Please describe how you understand the gospel message. What is that message to you?
God sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to teach us and to die on the cross for our sins. That
God loves each and every one of us and wants us ultimately to be with him in heaven and while we are still here
on earth to spread the Good New of the salvation story.
The following language is in our by-laws regarding voting for vestry:
“The members of the parish who shall be qualified to vote at any election for Vestry members and Deanery/
Diocesan representatives and upon all questions which may come before any meeting of the parish shall all be
baptized persons of the age of sixteen years or upwards who shall have been worshippers in this parish as their
usual place of worship for at least one year and shall appear on the records of the corporation to have contributed
to its support during the preceding calendar year.”
Candidates for 2015 Vestry Vote for up to 5
Justin Crawford
Dina Gibson
*Kevin Hicks
Ted Klenske
*George Scheffey
Cheryl Sparks
*Debbie Volk
Stan Williams
*incumbent
Candidates for Diocesan/Deanery Delegate Vote for up to 2
Glenna Geiger
Skip Trethewey
Potluck Dinner & Annual Meeting
Sunday, February 22
Dinner 5:00pm in Ashton Hall
A-H Salad or Vegetable to serve 8
I-S Main Course to serve 8
T-Z Dessert to serve 8
Annual Meeting 6:00pm in the Church
Church of the Good Samaritan
212 W Lancaster Avenue Paoli, Pennsylvania 19301
610-644-4040 www.good-samaritan.org

HERE - Church of the Good Samaritan

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