The Diocesan Council Clergy (Elect 2 for 3-year terms)
The Rev. Melinda M. Artman
Redeemer, Sayre
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
My vocation is to build community. I spent 30+ years as an economic development and planning professional. The skills developed over the course of my career include organizational management; developing long range plans and identifying the tools and strategies to bring those plans to fruition. I have an unconventional call: serving an Episcopal and an ELCA congregation. I would like to be part of developing innovative ways to share the Good News of the Gospel and build up the body of Christ. I would be a voice for the rural and scattered parishes in the northern most portion of our diocese.
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The Rev. Peter Pearson
Supply clergy
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I bring vision, creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and lots of courage. These things have repeatedly been evidenced in my life and ministry. Change is good, change is life, change is necessary as we walk into an uncertain future. I’d like to help.
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The Rev. Andrew VanBuren
St. Gabriel’s, Douglassville
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I am a newcomer to the Diocese of Bethlehem, having served in the Diocese of Rochester. I bring a fresh perspective to the diocese and to Council. Additionally, I have served on a handful of diocesan bodies in the past, so I understand the importance of clear leadership and inclusion of all voices. Finally, I work as a trainer in the College of Congregational Development, an Episcopal educational curriculum that offers tool to parishes to grow into more faithful, effective, and healthy bodies. I believe that the skills I have from working with the College will be helpful in fostering growth in the Diocese of Bethlehem.
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The Rev. Dr. David A. Zwifka
St. Luke’s, Lebanon
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
Over the course of forty years in ministry, I have been active in several areas of ecclesial life: priest/pastor, diocesan staff (finance office), seminary professor, seminary formation director, ecclesiasitcal judge, instructor for local ministry clergy and lay formation. I believe that I can support the work of Diocesan Council in its finance and program responsibilities with the experience gained from with these diverse ministries. I also have a deep knowledge of and appreciation for the processes involved in mission visioning and strategic planning, which may be of value in the work of Council.
Diocesan Council Lay (Elect 2 for 3-year terms)
Melissa Amator
Trinity, Easton
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I am honored to have been asked to submit my name to the Nominating Committee. While I have never served at the Diocesan level, I hope my efforts at mission and outreach in my home parish have in some small way demonstrated how important I think it is. I’ve worked with other members of my parish in developing a survey tool with the goal of implementing new missional goals. Working as a team, I and six other parishioners identified several areas of need in our parish and met bi-weekly for several months to discern ways to do successful outreach. I currently serve on the vestry of my home parish. Thanks!
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Ross Mangina
Trinity, Bethlehem
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I have had the opportunity to serve the church in a variety of positions. Currently I am the Senior Warden of Trinity Church, Bethlehem and a member of the Diocesan Lay Leadership Development committee. Previously, in the Diocese of Newark, I served in my parish as a Treasurer and Warden and was a volunteer assistant to the diocesan CFO. It would be an honor and privilege to bring these experiences to bear as a member of the Diocesan Council.
The Standing Committee Clergy (Elect 1 for a 4-year term)
Jane Arrington Bender
St. Margaret’s, Emmaus
Seeking Second Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
Having completed my three-year term on the Standing Committee, I can say that I have found it to be extraordinarily fulfilling – starting out with Bp. Sean and now with Bp. Kevin. It would be a true honor to serve for a second term. I have lived in the Diocese my entire adult life and have been ordained since 1998. I have served the congregations of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity; St. Anne’s, Trexlertown; All Saints, Lehighton; and presently St. Margaret’s, Emmaus. I have been a deputy to the General Convention four times (one as alternate). The Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement is my home.
The Standing Committee Lay (Elect 1 for a 4-year term)
Carol C. McMullen
St. Luke’s, Scranton
Seeking Second Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I am a lifetime banker, with a specialty in finance and administration as a Trust Officer with Peoples Security Bank, Wealth Managment Group. I hold CTFA and MBA designations and bring 30 years of experience in finance and administration to the Committee. St. Luke’s, Scranton, is my home parish where we are focused on walking the path of Christ in service to a downtown community – a very diverse subset of our human family. As a member of a parish that has very limited resources, I am cognizant of the struggles that many parishes face, knowing that we must remain committed to living into our faith through service.
Commission on Ministry Clergy (Elect 1 for 3-year term)
The Rev. Charles Barebo
Cathedral, Bethlehem
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I am a good listener and communicator. By nature and vocation I am a facilitator, coach and manager. Having been through my personal discernment process and now another individual’s I am aware of the role of discernment and the vital role the COM plays. Working and praying with others helps me grower closer to Jesus and helps me to see Jesus in others.
Moving through the discernment and ordination process is a vulnerable place. It is also a sacred place and I desire to help all stakeholders – seekers, commission members and the diocese through this vital process.
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The Rev. Rodney Conn
Cathedral, Bethlehem
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
Servant ministry is at the heart of all deacons and motivates my desire to serve the diocese. Trained as a chemist, I have learned to take a holistic approach to analyzing systems and use that to provide paths to continuous improvement. As Bp. Jack’s chaplain and serving on Diocesan Council, I have come to appreciate the oneness of the diocese in doing the work of Jesus, but that our needs are not “cookie cutter”. I believe that I can help COM to identify and provide the tools needed to identify the call of an individual, ways to empower their ministry, and set up a systematic approach to help parishes do the same.
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The Rev. Christine Sutton
Prince of Peace, Dallas
Seeking Second Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
It is my honor and privilege to served as a deacon in this diocese for just over ten years. I am very interested in serving on this committee, discerning and assisting folks in their call to ministry. That call being both lay and ordained ministry. After serving one term I feel the knowledge and experience I have gained will allow me to continue to be a dedicated and productive member. It is truly a pleasure meeting and getting to know my fellow Episcopalians from all around the diocese.
Commission on Ministry Lay (Elect 1 for 3-year term)
Paul Barnwell
Trinity, Pottsville
Seeking First Term
The gifts and skills I bring to the Diocese of Bethlehem and this ministry include:
I applaud those that go boldly from the pews to the practice, as they respond to God’s call. It is my hope that my approach will always be pragmatic and fair. I happy that I am a lifelong Episcopalian and member of Trinity Church, Pottsville. It is my sincere hope that my participation in this committee will be an asset to the Diocese. As a member of the task force for Racial Justice and Reconciliation, I invite this additional opportunity to serve the Diocese.