Jacqueline Smith-Bennett

Carla Christopher Wilson (she/her/hers) studied psychology, education, and writing at Columbia University in the City of New York before pursuing her Master of Divinity at United Lutheran Seminary – Gettysburg and certification as a Pastor Developer/Redeveloper. Carla is currently co-chair of Lower Susquehanna Synod’s Toward Racial Justice Task Force and a congregational coach in the synod’s R3 program. Before entering ministry, Carla spent years as an educator and case manager in domestic violence shelters, state prison systems, and school districts then worked professionally as a community activist and diversity educator / cultural competancy trainer. A former Poet Laureate of York, Pennsylvania (2011 – 2013), Carla was the 2014 Arts and Cultural Community Liaison for the City of York. She has twice received the key to the city for her community empowerment and education initiatives, which range from founding Equality Fest, a multi-thousand attendee festival in celebration of LGBTQA Marriage Equality, to creating a retailer cultural competency training model for urban renewal business districts. She has been the force behind regional campaigns and community organizing training curriculum for groups like Food and Water Watch, Put People First – PA, the Y.W.C.A. of York County and York County Libraries. She has designed diversity programming for multiple school districts, businesses, and faith communities, and has been a keynote speaker, featured performer and workshop facilitator for dozens of organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions around the globe, from Rutgers, Penn State, and Northern Arizona University to organizations in Kosovo, Albania, Flint, Chicago, Baltimore, Phoenix and Philadelphia in the last few years alone. A multiply published poet and writer, her diversity work has been highlighted on NPR, in the Boston Globe, and is regularly featured in PennLive. More about her can be found at carlachristopher.com. Carla is available for pulpit supply, Bible study and small group facilitation, and congregational consulting.

Pastor Titus Clarke began his ministry, in Liberia, West Africa where he was born, and lived until 1992; when he came to the United States as a result of the Liberian Civil War.  He developed and organized the Peoples’ Community Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland in 1992 and served as their pastor for several years.  He currently serves St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in York as Pastor/Redeveloper.

He earned his M.Div. from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and has done coursework in Pastoral Counseling pursuant to a Master of Science degree in Spiritual and Pastoral Care at Loyola University Baltimore, MD.  He has vast training and experience in church and leadership development. For Pastor Clarke, central to congregations’ development/redevelopment, is forming organic and authentic relationships; that change lives, empower people and transform communities.

He is humble, Spirit driven, faithful and passionate about ministry.  Guided by the model of Christ’s Ministry; witnessed to in the Gospel of Luke, Pastor Clarke sees all people as simultaneously saints and sinners, saved and equipped by the grace of God to reflect God’s grace and purpose.  He believes in the giftedness of each human being and seeks to create space for each person to live out their calling.  He firmly maintains that the calling of the church is to proclaim and work toward extending the Kingdom of God.  In this kingdom, swords are beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks; righteousness and justice walk together and each human being is freed to be who God made them to be.

Gale Wenk du Pont currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Towards Racial Justice Task Force for the Lower Susquehanna Synod. She received a certificate in Missional Preaching in 2020 and a certificate in Trauma- Informed preaching in 2022. She works with different community agencies that focus on homelessness, supporting returning citizens, health equity and inclusivity, domestic violence, racial justice and religious allyship. Gale leads worship at two area nursing homes, runs a spiritual direction group for women at the Cumberland County Prison and serves as a supply preacher for non-communion services. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Camp Hill, is part of their visitation ministry and facilitates pre-confirmation classes.

Pastor Jay Eckman is a graduate of the United Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. Prior to his call to ministry, he grew up in Lancaster, PA, and has a B. A. in Sociology from Millersville University. During college, he worked as a youth director and felt a call to congregational ministry. Jay serves as pastor of Tree Of Life Church in Harrisburg, PA. Pursuing his passion for faith formation with youth and young adults, Jay serves on the LSS’s youth ministry team to help plan Alive, Winterfest, and the Leadership Training Camp. With his wife, Rev. Elizabeth Eckman, Jay loves to exercise, travel, and hang out with family and friends. Jay praises God through reading, writing, fellowship, and quality time with God’s people.

Rev. Elizabeth Peter Eckman (she/her) is an Associate Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Shiremanstown PA. After receiving her B.A in Telecommunications from The Pennsylvania State University, she worked at CBS 21 News as a Production Assistant/News Director before feeling a call to ministry. Never having thought of being a Pastor before, Elizabeth dove into seminary trusting in God’s plans for her, receiving her M.Div from United Lutheran Seminary in 2020. Elizabeth has been a part of three ELCA Youth Gathering Planning Teams (2015, 2018, 2022) and spoke on the main stage in Houston 2018. She is a member of the Lower Susquehanna Synod’s Toward Racial Justice Task force and the planning team for Winterfest. Elizabeth loves singing with her Alumni Choir from Penn State, singing in the kitchen, cooking, cats, and taking lots of naps as well as every Marvel movie made. She loves going on walks and navigating life with spouse Rev. Jay Eckman.

Moses Robson Kavishe

The Rev. Matthew Lenahan is pastor developer of Zion Lutheran, Akron, Peter’s Porch, and directs the Wittel Farm Growing Project. He is currently developing a cooperative mission partnership with St Paul, Lititz as their mission and outreach pastor responsible for starting a house church network. He is passionate about racial and ecological justice. Trained by Faith in Action Network in faith-based community organizing, Lenahan and his congregation are members of POWER Lancaster. He is also trained in anti-racism for congregations, coaching for congregations, and 3DM discipleship. He has served on the LAMPA policy council and is experienced in congregational advocacy. He is available to coach congregations in mission strategy, community engagement around broad social issues, white privilege and systemic racism. He believes white Lutheran congregations have their own work to do to confront racism internally and externally. Matt, an LTSG graduate, was ordained in 2001 and has served congregations in the Lower Susquehanna Synod. Matt is married to Cherie and they have three children: Jonah, Luke, and Elijah. In his “spare time”, Matt loves to bike and play guitar.

Megan R. McClinton is a 1996 MAR graduate of LTSG who has served churches in the ELCA since that time and is currently a member of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA/ELCIC and serves as Minister of Music and Education at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in York, Pa. She has been in an interracial marriage for 27 years, with Rev. Brian A. McClinton and they have a 26 year old daughter, Katelyn. Megan grew up in Baltimore City, Maryland where she experienced great diversity both in her public schooling, and her faith life. She has co-lead a support group for people in interracial relationships and currently is leading a Bible Study Forum on Institutionalize Racism at Mt. Zion, where they have discussed a variety of topics including, but not limited to history, definitions, current statistics, interracial relationships, marginality, and Christian love of ALL neighbors. Megan is available to lead introductory anti-racism workshops, Bible Studies on introductory, intermediate and advanced levels, and Level 2 workshops on White Fragility and the History of White Co-opted Christianity in the U.S.

Stacy Schroeder is a writer, spiritual director, and lifelong Lutheran who has served in various volunteer and professional capacities in the church, including as a youth and Christian education director and as director of Camp Nawakwa. She is coordinator of our synod’s biweekly justice blog and co-author of Nawakwa: 75 Years at the Camp in the Woods. In the past, Stacy has worked with both local and national nonprofits focused on issues of race, adoption, and social justice. She has also been a member of synod council and of the synod’s mission committee. Stacy feels a strong call to support those who have been hurt by the church and to explore creative ways to be an authentic expression of God’s love in the world today.

Tim Seitz-Brown is husband to Ann, and father of three adult children: CJ, MaryBeth, and Jeremy. An Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor since 1987, he has served congregations in Easton, Ephrata, Thomasville and Biglerville in Pennsylvania. From 1999-2000, he served as an ELCA Global Mission volunteer, teaching Bible Knowledge and English at a high school in Tanzania. Before becoming a pastor, Tim was a fish farming extension officer/ US Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica from 1981-83. Currently, he is active as a faith leader in the Pennsylvania Poor Peoples Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival and March on Harrisburg (a nonpartisan, anti-corruption advocacy nonprofit). He is a member synod council of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA and is a member Towards Racial Justice Team and an experienced speaker and trainer in areas of public witness, advocacy, the historical roots of white privilege and racism.

Pastor Beth Martini is an assistant to the bishop in our synod.  She serves as the staff liaison to the Towards Racial Justice task force.  She served as pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Duncannon, PA from 2012 to 2017.  Her passions include fostering authentic Christian community by connecting people to one another, to God, and to creation.  She lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband, Pastor Alex Martini and her two children.