Stated Clerk: Ruling Elder, Marsha Heimann
The Stated Clerk is elected by Presbytery to a three-year term. The Clerk keeps the minutes and records of Presbytery and Presbytery Council; communicates with other governing bodies; draws up the Docket for Presbytery Meetings; interprets the Book of Order; and helps guide the Presbytery in its work and mission.
Office Manager: Robin Mathias
Moderator: Teaching Elder, Carol Brown
The Moderator is elected annually by the Presbytery. The Moderator conducts all meetings of the Presbytery; represents the Presbytery to the religious and secular communities; helps guide the Presbytery in its work and mission; conducts services of Ordination and Installation; and is its highest elected Officer.
Rev. Dr. Carol Brown is a native Pennsylvanian, born and raised in Pittsburgh. She graduated from Slippery Rock University, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. This led her on to an eye opening journey to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky in 1975 where Carol was the only woman minister in a Presbytery of 105 churches! She found her calling to be a hundred miles from a “real” hospital. The message she left behind when ministering to rural USA was that “with God, you can do anything!” This belief gave these wonderful caring people, who had a heart for the less fortunate, a new sense of self and ability to accomplish what they did not see possible.
In 1983 Carol joined the Lehigh Presbytery when she became a part time tentmaker at Stroudsburg. Believing in God’s calling, taking on other part time jobs to make ends meet, Carol waited until 1988 to become a full time staff member at the First Presbyterian Church of Stroudsburg. She earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She remained with this meaningful congregation until her retirement in 2012. Throughout her time in this Presbytery, Carol has been a frequent member on the Committee on Ministry, Vice Moderator/Moderator (27 years ago), and Commissioner to the Synod and General Assembly.
Time spent outside the ministry is with family and friends. Carol has a younger brother and sister who have provided her with five niece/nephews which created the path for her to be a proud aunt to three great nephews/nieces, and a great-great aunt to a niece coming in January. She shares a house with Jane Koelble, and enjoys spending time with her two daughters and their families. Carol likes to put to use the multitude of skills learned on mission trips by “doing it herself” for many home repairs. Outside she likes to hike and bike while finding time inside to read and work on counted cross stitch. Keeping up on technology, Carol takes advantage of a few fun computer games. She found a great support through years of membership in the International Association of Women Ministries (treasurer 1979-present) which has provided the opportunity to travel around the world when attending Assemblies of the World Council of Churches (Vancouver, Australia, Korea) and local IAWM gatherings to Cuba, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and Scotland, to name a few.
Trusting God’s plan, in August of 2016 Carol and Jane sold the Stroudsburg home in one day and bought a place the same week in Reading where they now reside. Carol sings with the Reading Choral Society and volunteers with Berks Encore, helping seniors with their income taxes.
Vice Moderator: Ruling Elder, Deborah “Debbie” Prince
The Vice Moderator is also elected annually by the Presbytery. The Vice Moderator assists the Moderator and helps guide the Presbytery in its work and mission.
Deborah Prince was born in Illinois and grew up in western Pennsylvania. She graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio. From there she earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Kansas and married Richard Prince, a fellow Wooster and KU math graduate. They moved to Stroudsburg in 1971 when Dick, who died in 2004, joined the faculty at East Stroudsburg University. Almost immediately they joined the East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church. Deborah joined the faculty in 1981 and retired in 2009. Last year she moved to Kirkland Village. She enjoys traveling and visiting her son and daughter-in-law in New York City and her daughter and granddaughter in Los Angeles.
Deborah grew up in the Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church where her father was the Minister of Music. She has been active in church since the day she was born and recognizes with gratitude and thanksgiving the many blessings she has received through the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ. She has served Lehigh Presbytery by serving on the Board of Trustees, various special committees and the Permanent Judicial Commission. Currently she serves on the Expect Hope Team.
Chairperson of the Lead Team: Teaching Elder, Ruth Ann Christopher
The Chairperson of the Presbytery Lead Team is elected annually from its members. The Chairperson chairs the meeting of the Presbytery Lead Team, and helps guide the Presbytery in its work and mission.
Ruth Ann was born in Summit Hill, PA. She attended Kutztown University and received a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1980. She then attended Pierce Junior College in Philadelphia, majoring in Computer Programming while also attending Temple University, majoring in Accounting. Ruth Ann specialized in financial applications as she worked in various capacities in the Information Technology field. Over a period of 10 years, she served as Project Leader with Advanced Cybernetics in Reading, Programming Manager with the Dial Corporation in Hazleton, and Senior Programmer/Analyst with North Penn Transfer in Lansdale. Sensing a call to ministry, she attended Princeton Theological Seminary and received her Master of Divinity in May of 1993. In October of 1993, she began serving as pastor of Faith United Presbyterian Church in Pen Argyl.
In addition to her duties as pastor, Ruth Ann enjoys hiking, biking, computer design, art, reading, and NFL football. She has served Lehigh Presbytery as chair of Trustees, Moderator of the presbytery, chair of Presbytery Council, and co-chair of Kirkwood Camp Board.
Treasurer: Mr. Nelson Rabenold
The Treasurer is elected by Presbytery to a three-year term, without limitation. The Treasurer monitors the work of the Bookkeeper, provides a monthly overview of Presbytery’s finances for the Board of Trustees, makes recommendations to the Board as appropriate, and serves ex officio with the Finance Committee.
Nelson Rabenold has worked in public accounting for over 40 years. He was self-employed as a CPA in the Lehigh Valley for over 30 years. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown since 1986 and has served as an Elder, Deacon, Trustee (Treasurer), and was an active member of the church’s theatre group, the Presbyteers.
Nelson is married with two grandchildren and one on the way. He enjoys golfing, travel, and bridge.